| The Commission tracks legislation pertinent to the Hispanic/Latino community with an emphasis in education, health, and workforce development. Below are important bills that have recently passed or are pending in the state legislature. Recently Enacted Legislation Construction employment On November 19, 2025, the state legislature passed H.B. 246, which requires certain construction industry employers to use E-Verify and sanctions specified hiring practices in the industry. The governor has not yet signed the bill into law. Elections On November 19, 2025, the General Assembly passed S.B. 293, which modifies state law regarding absentee voting and verifying electors’ U.S. citizenship. The governor has not yet signed the bill into law. Notably, the bill requires county boards of elections to promptly cancel the registration of each person identified as a noncitizen based on the Secretary of State’s monthly audit of voter registrations using data from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (“SAVE”). The bill also requires poll workers to challenge the citizenship of a person who presents an Ohio driver’s license or state ID card with a “noncitizen” notation. Any person whose citizenship is challenged at the poll must either provide proof of citizenship to cast a regular ballet or cast a provisional ballot and provide proof of citizenship within four days of the election. The Commission will release guidance for what documentation naturalized citizens should plan to bring to the polls ahead of the Primary Election scheduled for May 5, 2026. Property taxes The legislature has made reducing property taxes a top priority during this General Assembly. Five property tax bills were sent to the governor for signature just before the winter break: H.B. 186, which authorizes an inflation tax credit for property owners in certain school districts, modifies property tax reductions for residential property, and modifies the process for certifying property tax abstracts. H.B. 129, which generally includes fixed-sum levies in the calculation of a school district’s millage floor and authorizes, with limitations, school district fixed-sum levies. H.B. 124, which modifies the process for making property tax sales-assessment ratio studies. H.B. 309, which modifies the law governing county budget commissions and property taxation. H.B. 335, which limits revenue increases from inside millage levies occurring due to a reappraisal or update. Pending Legislation Immigration The legislature has introduced several bills that require state or local agencies to, in some capacity, assist the federal government in enforcing immigration law, including: S.B. 172, which specifies that persons who are, or suspected of being, unlawfully present in the U.S. are not privileged from arrest, with or without a warrant, including in spaces that were previously privileged from civil arrest, such as places of worship. Note: protections afforded under the U.S. Constitution and the Ohio Constitution would continue to apply to any arrest or detention. H.B. 42, which requires certain agencies, including the Department of Education and Workforce and ODJFS, to collect and report data concerning the citizenship or immigration status of persons with whom they come into contact. H.B. 26, which requires state and local authorities to cooperate with the federal government in the enforcement of immigration laws and prescribes funding reductions for noncompliance. H.B. 282, which adds a person’s immigration status as a factor a court must consider when sentencing or ordering bail. Education and Health H.B. 88 passed the House (71-18) on November 19, 2025, and is now pending in Senate committee. The bill (1) requires schools and institutions of higher education to incorporate instruction and policies on fentanyl awareness and abuse prevention, (2) modifies penalties for drug trafficking and possession, and (3) designates August as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month.” Property ownership H.B. 1 and S.B. 88, both titled the “Ohio Property Protection Act.” As introduced, the bills prohibit certain governments, businesses, and individuals (including citizens of “foreign adversaries” of the U.S. as identified by the Secretary of State) from acquiring land that is located within 25 miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure facility. The House Public Safety Committee recently adopted a substitute bill to H.B. 1 that narrowed the bill to land within 10 miles of those locations and exempted Green Card holders from the prohibition against buying land under the bill. Get To Know Your Legislators Find out who your state and congressional representatives are by visiting the Secretary of State’s “Find My District” tool. Enter your full address and select the district you are searching for at the top of the map. Committees are a vital component of the legislative process. Visit the House Committees and Senate Committees websites to learn more about each committee in the Ohio General Assembly. You can watch live streams and recordings of legislative committees and session on The Ohio Channel. Click here to learn how a bill becomes a law. Your Voice, Your Power. Interested in providing testimony?  Tu voz importa, and your representatives want to hear from you! Contact our Public Policy Officer Jessica Sutton at Jessica.Sutton@ochla.ohio.gov or call 614-728-8344 for assistance to: Prepare written or in-person testimony on a bill of interest, Answer questions on relevant bills, or Set up appointments with your legislators. You don’t need to be a lawyer or lobbyist to share your perspective. Your input is valuable, and the perspectives of everyday people are needed to make sure government is serving the needs of the public. Click here to learn how to give written or in-person testimony on bills. News Education New OhioSEE program to bring eye exams and glasses to thousands of K-3 students. Gov. Mike DeWine vetoes bill allowing younger teens to work later. Property taxes Ohio lawmakers send five property tax reform measures to the governor. Politics New Congressional maps approved on October 31, 2025 Ohio gains access to federal immigration database for voter eligibility checks. |
Your connection to the Dayton, Ohio Hispanic and Latino Community
