Statehouse Roundup: What Ohio lawmakers have been up to this term

The two-year state legislative term is nearly 75% over and lawmakers are headed on a lengthy summer break after next week.

Why it matters: Although the Ohio Statehouse is not as productive as in the past , members are still reshaping Ohio in a variety of important ways.

• Major laws already signed by the governor this term include:

🏛 A spousal exception for rape and other sex offenses has been removed from state law.

📱 School districts are required to limit cell phone usage in classrooms.

🧠 A new civic center at OSU will promote "intellectual diversity."

🐄 The 360-acre state fairgrounds site is undergoing significant renovations thanks to $190 million in the latest budget.

💵 Ohio residents earning above $26,050 per year will pay less in income taxes.

🏫 Private school vouchers are now available to more Ohio families.

🍎 A new state director of education and workforce holds some powers once granted to the State Board of Education.

Yes, but: Some approved laws have run into judicial roadblocks.

• Lawmakers banned gender-affirming care for children and banned transgender athletes from playing on girls' and women's K-12 and college sports teams, but a local judge temporarily blocked the law's enforcement .
• The same happened for a law requiring parental consent for children under 16 to open social media accounts.
• A Franklin County judge ruled another law prohibiting cities from outlawing flavored tobacco sales is unconstitutional , leaving Columbus' ban in effect .

What's still to come

The legislative term runs through December, giving time for lawmakers to continue debating other topics:

🎻 HB 2 would provide federal pandemic stimulus money to help pay for Columbus Symphony Orchestra's proposed new hall on the Scioto River. It has already passed the House.

👦 SB 30 would loosen child labor laws by allowing teens to work later hours. It passed the Senate and was introduced last term as well.

🎓 SB 83 would prohibit public colleges and universities from mandating diversity training, commenting on "controversial beliefs or policies" and having academic relationships with Chinese universities.

• Employees would be prohibited from going on strike. It passed the Senate.

👑 HB 178, known as the CROWN Act, would protect students against discrimination related to their hairstyles. It passed the House and has been introduced in two previous terms.

👀 SB 212 would require age verification to watch online porn.

• Reality check: Similar laws in other states have faced legal challenges .

🏳️‍🌈 HB 245 would prohibit drag shows and other "adult" cabaret performances if children are present.

🚌 HB 279 would require seat belts on school buses in the wake of a fatal crash in Clark County.

🤖 HB 367 would prohibit making a "malicious deepfake" of someone's voice, image or likeness and require disclaimers if deepfakes are used in political advertising.

🚔 HB 536 would make seat belt violations a primary traffic offense.

📕 HB 622 would prohibit public libraries from displaying "matter harmful to juveniles" without their parents' consent.

🗳 Various bills would require Ohio citizens to be registered with a political party before voting in that party's primary elections.