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Behavioral Health Legislation Tracking

House Bill Number
Title
Summary
Status
HB 419
Universal Background Checks (Isaacsohn-D, Robinson-D)
Requires the notices of involuntary hospitalizations and civil commitments currently required to be sent to the Attorney General’s office to be made available upon request to sheriffs, federally 4 licensed firearms dealers, and law enforcement agencies for the purpose of conducting incompetency records checks prior to assisting in the transfer of a firearm from an unlicensed transferor to an unlicensed transferee
Referred to Government Oversight Committee 4/2
HB 675
Social Work Internship Grant Program (Whitted-D, Baker-D)
Establishes and appropriates funds to the Social Work Internship Grant Program to grant up to $20,000 to eligible students enrolled in social work degrees that qualify for internships. The program is to be administered by an Ohio Chapter of a national professional organization of social workers selected by the Chancellor of Higher Education. Applicants must be prioritized based on practice and geographic shortages, first-generation students, and financial need. Grants received under the program would be exempt from state and local income taxes.
HB 571
9-8-8 Number on Student Materials (White - R)
Requires schools and higher education institutions to include the national suicide and crisis lifeline telephone number on student identification cards, student planners, and electronic portals.
2nd Hearing – Sponsor and Proponent Testimony Behavioral Health 11/12
HB 491
Government Expenditures (Young - R, Peterson - R)
Requires political subdivisions to provide information on expenditures to the Treasurer of State for inclusion in the Ohio State and Local Government Expenditure Database
First hearing sponsor testimony House State and Local Government 5/14/24
HB 506
Overdose Reversal Drugs (Jarrells - D)
Require schools that elect to maintain a supply of overdose reversal drugs to adopt a policy on the administration, maintenance and use of the overdose reversal drugs in accordance with certain requirements.
1st Hearing Sponsor Testimony Primary & Secondary Education 11/13
HB 354
Marijuana Tax (Callendar-R)
Modifies the law governing the cultivation, processing, dispensing, testing, and taxation of adult use cannabis and adds funds that will be established for the receipt of excise tax revenue including 12.5% to a 988 fund, 10% to the substance abuse and addiction fund for mental health and addiction services in county jails and 2.5% to that fund for OhioMHAS workforce development efforts.
Sponsor Testimony in House Finance 12/6
HB 344
Eliminate Replacement Property Tax Levies, Complaints (Mathews-R, Hall-R)
Eliminates the ability of taxing authorities to seek replacement levies
4th Hearing All Testimony-Possible Amendments in House Ways & Means 2/6
HB 341
Marijuana (Click-R)
Adds law enforcement cannabis training fund to purposes for which marijuana revenue can be used and changes distribution of revenue between funds accordingly. Revises the fund name of “addiction fund” to Substance abuse addiction and recovery fund”.
Introduced 11/28
HB 300
Opioid Use Treatment (Baker-D, Ray- R)
Requires OhioMHAS to establish a pilot program for remote treatment of opioid use disorder through licensed opioid treatment programs for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. and to make an appropriation. Any licensed opioid treatment program may apply and up to ten will be selected to participate in the pilot program. Each selected program will be required to procure a remote methadone treatment vendor from a list created by OhioMHAS. Makes an appropriation of $750,000 for operation of the pilot program.
1st Hearing Sponsor Testimony Behavioral Health 10/31
HB 275
Medical Marijuana Control Program (Young-R, Plummer-R)
Requires pharmacists to affix warning labels to opioid analgesic prescriptions and to counsel patients receiving a prescription for five or more days. Establishes a Medical Marijuana Control Program Fund to which all receipts of the medical marijuana control program are to be deposited and used only for the administration and enforcement of the program. Makes changes to the review of patient information in the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System.
Referred to Health Provider Services 9/26
HB 257
Authorize Certain Public Bodies to Meet Virtually (Hoops-R, Claggett-R)
Authorizes public bodies, with certain exceptions, to meet and conduct business virtually if a policy has been adopted by the body that provides for each of the following: notice to the public at least 72 hours in advance, public access to the meeting, votes to be taken by roll call vote, 48 hours advance notice to the chairperson by members intending to attend virtually, in- person meetings required to vote to approve a major nonroutine expenditure, significant hiring decision, to support a tax issue or tax increase and when the greater of 10% or 2 members notify the chairperson that an item requires an in- person discussion.
Passed by House 73-3 11/30 - 3rd Hearing All Testimony Senate Government Oversight 11/13
HB 249
Mental Health / Civil Commitment Requirements (Hillyer-R, Galonski-D)
Adds a deterioration standard to definition of “person with a mental illness subject to court order”. OHA Amendments address existing gaps in the pink slip process regarding transfer or discharge of a person that has been pink-slipped to a general hospital. Adds state highway patrol troopers to persons authorized to pink slip.
2nd Hearing – Proponent Testimony - Behavioral Health 10/31
HB 248
Suicide Prevention License Plate (Demetrious- R, Manchester-R)
Creates a “Suicide Prevention” license plate with design to be approved by OSPF. Contributions to be paid to OSPF for suicide prevention programs, education and advocacy.
2nd Hearing Homeland Security 11/29
HB 231
988 Suicide Prevention Line (Pavliga-R, Miller-D)
Establishes a 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis telephone line. Establishes a 9-8-8 administrator at OhioMHAS and specifies duties. Requires 988 administrator, in conjunction with local jurisdictions, to designate crisis centers and mobile crisis teams to provide services to persons accessing the 988 hotline. Requires ADAMH Boards to oversee the operation of crisis centers and mobile crisis teams in collaboration with the 988 administrator. Sets Wireless charge at 10 cents per pre-paid customer and specifies authorized uses of revenue which includes the hiring of staff at local alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services boards and the department of mental health and addiction services to oversee the 9-8-8 hotline and assist the 9-8-8 administrator. Requires mobile crisis teams and centers to report certain information to the 988 administrator on a quarterly basis. Requires OhioMHAS to set rules implementing the requirements which includes establishing the scope of powers for OhioMHAS and ADAMH Boards for overseeing the 9-8-8 hotline.
Referred Finance 9/12
HB 227
ADAMH Boards (Pizzulli-R)
Revises Chapter 340, requirements for OhioMHAS certification applications and investigations, and operation of recovery housing residences.
Referred Behavioral Health 9/12 - Companion Bill to SB 105
HB 220
Prohibit Conversion Therapy with Minors (Lightbody-D)
Prohibits certain licensed health care professionals, including mental health professionals and chemical dependency counselors, from engaging in conversion therapy for minor patients. “Conversion therapy” is defined in the bill as the practice of seeking to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to reduce or eliminate sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward a person of the same gender.
Introduced 6/22
HB 170
Extreme Risk Protection Order Act (Grim-D, Thomas-D)
Allows family members, household members, and law enforcement officers to obtain a court order that temporarily restricts a person's access to firearms if that person poses a danger to themselves or others.
Introduced 5/10
HB 168
Marijuana Adult Use Tax (Callender-R, Weinstein-D)
Introduced 5/9
HB 97
Mental Health Assistants (Pavliga-R)
Creates a new licensure category for “certified mental health assistants” providing the following mental health activities under certain conditions as authorized by a supervising physician with which the mental health assistant has a supervision agreement: Ordering diagnostic, therapeutic, and other medical services; Ordering, prescribing, personally furnishing, and administering drugs and medical devices; Prescribing physical therapy or referring to a physical therapist; Ordering occupational therapy or referring a patient to an occupational therapist; Referring a patient to emergency medical services for acute safety concerns; Referring a patient for voluntary or involuntary admission for substance use disorder treatment or inpatient psychiatric care; Any other services specified in state medical board in rules.
Companion Bill to SB 60 2nd Hearing – Proponent Testimony Health Provider Services 11/14
HB 86
Liquor Laws / Adult Use Marijuana (LaRae-R)
Imposes restrictions on adult use marijuana advertising, forms and THC content. Limits home grow to 6 plants per residence and raises the marijuana excise tax to 15%. Allows adult use marijuana to be purchased at current medical marijuana dispensaries while new rules are developed. Revenue would also pay for suicide prevention hotline 9-8-8, substance abuse treatment/prevention, safe driving programs and poison control centers, among others.
Substituted & Passed House 28-2 6/21 / Passed Senate 12/6
HB 82
School Coaches (Loyckik-R, Pavliga-R)
Requires school athletic coaches to complete a mental health training course approved by OhioMHAS.
Introduced & Referred Primary & Secondary Education 3/2
HB 68
Gender Transition / SAFE Act (Click-R)
Prohibits courts from considering whether a parent declined mental health services or counseling to affirm the child’s inconsistent perception of gender or sex when considering parental rights and time. Requires mental health professionals to obtain parental consent and screen for comorbidities and trauma before diagnosing or treating a gender-related condition. Requires mental health professionals who diagnosis or treat a minor for a gender-related condition to report certain info to ODH each year. ODH must submit the report to the GA. Prohibits Medicaid from covering mental health services for a gender-related condition.
Passed in House 64-28 6/21 Passed by Senate 12/13 61-27 House Concurrence 12/13 60-31 Vetoed by Governor 12/29 - House Overrides Veto 1/10/24 65-28 Senate Overrides Veto 1/23/24 24-8
HB 38
School Mental Health Days (Blackshear-D, Miranda-D)
Allows school districts to permit students to take up to three mental health days away from school each school year.
1st Hearing / Sponsor Testimony Primary & Secondary Education 4/25
HB 37
Increase penalties for OVI and aggravated vehicular homicide (Johnson-R, Miller-R)
Increases the financial penalties for OVI and increases the financial penalties and prison term for aggravated vehicular homicide under specified circumstances.
Passed in the House 90-0 and has been introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
HB 33
FY24-25 Operating Budget (Edwards-R)
HB 8
Parental Notification Requirements School Curriculum (Swearingen-R, Carruthers-R)
Enacts a "Parents' Bill of Rights". Requires public schools to adopt a prescribed policy that includes the following: Notification to parents of students prior to instruction involving materials that include sexually explicit content (i.e. description of or any picture, photograph, drawing, motion picture film, digital image, or similar visual representation depicting sexual conduct) and identification of the specific instructional material and sexually explicit subjects; allow parents to review such material and provide alternative material if requested; notify parents of changes to student’s service or monitoring related to mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being; prohibit school staff from encouraging a student to withhold info from a parent concerning the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, or a change in related services or monitoring and from discouraging or prohibiting parental notification of /involvement in critical decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being unless it could result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect (which is not based on a parent's religious or political beliefs); notify parents at the beginning of each school year of each health care service offered at their student's school and work with parents to create a health care plan for each student that is approved by the student's parent; permit a parent to file a written concern regarding a topic addressed in the policy, notify parents of this right and establish a resolution process.
Passed in House 65-29 6/21 3rd Hearing Senate Education 12/13
HB 1
Property, Income Tax Changes (Mathews-R)
To modify the law regarding property taxation and income tax rates.
7th Hearing Proponent/ Opponent / Interested Party Testimony House Ways & Means 4/25
Senate Bill Number
Title
Summary
Status
SB 318
ADAMH Board Budgets (Antani-R)
To amend section 340.07 of the Revised Code to authorize county commissioners to act in the place of a board of certain alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health service districts when managing and spending the budget of the district.
Introduced 10/15/24
SB 205
Substance Use Prevention (Johnson-R, Romanchuk-R)
Requires OhioMHAS and the Dept of Education and Workforce to conduct a review of available resources and develop a list of evidence-based curricula, materials, programs, and instructional strategies related to the annual instruction on the harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the use of drugs of abuse, including marijuana, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco which shall include information on how both the short-term or chronic use of illicit exogenous substances to alter one's mood is one of the most harmful things an individual can do for an individual's health.
2nd Hearing Proponent Testimony Senate Education 2/27
SB 197
OVI Conviction – Sealing or Expungement (Antani-R)
Allows for the sealing or expungement of charges dismissed through intervention in lieu of conviction when those charges are connected to a conviction for operating a vehicle under the influence.
Introduced 11/29
SB 164
Suicide Self-Defense Act (Craig-D)
To enact the Suicide Self-Defense Act which would authorize persons to voluntarily enroll in a do not possess firearms registry which would prohibit the possession, sale, or transportation of a firearm to the person. There is a 21-day waiting period for persons requesting removal from the registry. Upon removal, all records of registration are to be destroyed.
Introduced 10/3
SB 105
Mental Health Services (Johnson-R, Sykes-D)
Revises Chapter 340, requirements for OhioMHAS certification applications and investigations, and operation of recovery housing residences.
Companion Bill to HB 227 -4th Hearing – No Testimony Community Revitalization 1/23
SB 103
Kratom Products (Blessing-R)
Regulates the sale of Kratom and Kratom-based products.
3rd Hearing – Opponent Testimony Senate Health 11/15
SB 90
Social Work Licensure Compact (Roegner-R)
To enter Ohio into the interstate Social Work Licensure Compact.
Signed by Governor 5/10/24
SB 60
Licensed certified mental health assistants (Gavarone-R)
Creates a new licensure category for “certified mental health assistants” providing the following mental health activities under certain conditions as authorized by a supervising physician with which the mental health assistant has a supervision agreement: Ordering diagnostic, therapeutic, and other medical services; Ordering, prescribing, personally furnishing, and administering drugs and medical devices; Prescribing physical therapy or referring to a physical therapist; Ordering occupational therapy or referring a patient to an occupational therapist; Referring a patient to emergency medical services for acute safety concerns; Referring a patient for voluntary or involuntary admission for substance use disorder treatment or inpatient psychiatric care; Any other services specified in state medical board in rules.
Companion Bill to HB 97 - 6th Hearing – Possible Vote Workforce & Higher Education 2/28
SB 26
Operating a vehicle, watercraft under marijuana influence (Manning-R)
Changes the laws pertaining to operating a vehicle or watercraft while under the influence of marihuana and the admissibility of evidence for purposes of OVI statutes.
3rd Hearing - Opponent/Interested Party Testimony - Senate Judiciary 5/9
SB 23
Expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority (Lang-R)
To expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services.
3rd Hearing Opponent/Interested Party Testimony Government Oversight 3/8
SB 9
Medical Marijuana (Huffman–R, Schuring-R)
Changes disqualifying offenses. Creates “marijuana cultivation areas” where medical marijuana is cultivated. Adds categories to “qualifying medical conditions” including opioid use disorder as well as any condition that a physician finds would be relieved by medical marijuana or that the person would benefit from medical marijuana. Creates Division of Marijuana Control within Dept of Commerce. Establishes the Medical Marijuana Oversight Commission to develop and oversee the Division of Marijuana Control Requires retail dispensary employee training and registration of patients and caregivers and requirements to be eligible for registration to be established. Expands forms of medical marijuana that may be dispensed including oral strips and topical sprays and lotions. Provides new formula for number of retail dispensary licenses permitted at one time. Increases the permissible tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of extracts, from not more than 70% to 90%.
8th Hearing - All Testimony - General Government Committee 9/20
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