Latest news with #HouseBill8
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Cancer survivors, advocates push Ohio Senate for preventative screening access
Apr. 29—Springfield resident and prostate cancer survivor Tom Pamer was one of many to make his way to the Ohio Statehouse this week to advocate for legislation that he hopes will help save lives. Pamer and 100 other survivors took part in the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's Ohio Advocacy Day and urged Ohio lawmakers to require all private insurers cover biomarker testing and prostate cancer screenings. The event comes as the Ohio Senate considers the changes it wants to make to the state's operating budget, a sprawling bill filled with new bills and appropriations to direct state spending over the next two years. Pamer's primary concern was with the bipartisan House Bill 33, which would require insurers to cover preventative prostate cancer screenings for men over 40 with a higher risk of prostate cancer. Pamer himself was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 after taking a preliminary blood test that measured the level of prostate-specific antigens, or PSA, in his system. "That is one of our asks today, that everyone is able to have their PSA test covered whether under-insured or uninsured," Pamer said. "Hopefully, then, everyone would have the same results I did: finding it early, (undergoing) early treatment, and now (there's) no evidence of disease." Prostate cancer, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, is the most common cancer among American men. Advocates were also pushing House Bill 8, which would require private insurers to cover certain biomarker tests — which help identify cancer and the best forms of treatment — if prescribed by a doctor. That bill was passed last year before it stalled out in the Ohio Senate. It was reintroduced this year by state Rep. Andrea White, R-Kettering, who told this outlet Tuesday that she'd be "thrilled" if it wound up in the Senate's budget. ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
6 new laws take effect in Ohio
Six new laws went into effect last week in Ohio. Below is a short, simplified summary of each new law. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] House Bill 531 is also known as 'Braden's Law.' Braden's Law aims to ban sexual extortion by making it a felony. The law also requires service providers to obey warrants, or requests from parents or guardians, for electronic information within 30 days of a minor's death or face a fine. TRENDING STORIES: Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer dies at 83 15-year-old arrested after deadly shooting near Ohio college campus Man accused of threatening person with gun inside Ohio restaurant arrested House Bill 8, which also goes by the Parents' Bill of Rights, bolsters the part of the parent or guardian in deciding when their child is ready to learn about sex. This law requires public schools to notify parents on student health and sex-ed materials. It also says that school districts will collaborate with religious entities for a specific time to offer the release time course in religion. House Bill 37 works to increase punishment for OVI and aggravated vehicular homicide. This law adds oral fluid to the list of controlled substance tests and adds that the court can submit evidence on the presence of the substance, not just the concentration level. It also imposes a mandatory prison sentence for a guilty plea to aggravated homicide of 12-20 years. There is also a raise in fines for OVI related offences. House Bill 206 covers school expulsion, community school closures and increases funding for the school choice program administration. This law allows superintendents to expel students for more than 180 days if they believe that student poses an imminent danger to others. The superintendent then must develop a plan for that student to follow, including an assessment of the student's danger to themselves and others by a psychiatrist, in order to be allowed back to school. It also raises the amount of money allocated to 200550, Foundation Funding - All Students from $4 million to over $8 million. House Bill 29 no longer allows driver's licenses to be suspended for failure to pay court fines or fees. Anyone that has had their license suspended in the past for these offenses are able to have it reinstated. Senate Bill 58 is also called the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. The law makes it illegal for companies to track firearms purchases within the state. It also bans the requirement of liability insurance or other fees on firearms. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
All about six new laws in Ohio that go into effect today
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Multiple new Ohio laws are going into effect on Wednesday, including a statute that requires public schools to allow religious release time and another that increases penalties for drunk driving. On Jan. 8, Gov. Mike DeWine announced he signed 29 bills into law, all of which are set to go into effect on Wednesday. A list of six notable new laws can be found below. House Bill 8, dubbed the Parents' Bill of Rights, requires school districts to adopt a policy that allows students to attend off-premise religious classes during the school day. Formerly, districts were allowed to permit religious release time, but not required to. In Ohio, religious release time programs are legally allowed to teach public school students during the school day as long as they have parental permission, do not use school resources and teach off of school property. The new law does not change these requirements. How Gov. DeWine, Ohio parents feel about proposed bill to ban cellphones in schools Although districts are required to have a religious release time policy enacted by Wednesday, schools have until July 1 to implement most other newly required policies in the law. This includes a policy ensuring content depicting 'sexual concepts or gender ideology' is available for parents to review, in case they would like their children to opt out. Starting in July, staff will also be required to 'promptly notify' a parent if their child requests to be referred to with a name or pronouns that vary from their biological sex at school. Liv's Law increases the fines for the offense of Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence (OVI). Specifically, the statute adds an extra $190 compared with the previous law. For example, the minimum fine for a first-time offense rises from $375 to $565. Video shows disagreement between Columbus principal, police officer The law also increases the maximum fine for aggravated vehicular homicide to $25,000, which is $10,000 more than the law previously allowed. Additionally, Liv's Law allows police to collect oral fluid samples from drivers suspected of driving under the influence, while the law previously only permitted blood, urine and breath testing. Similar to the other kinds of testing used in the state, refusing an oral fluid swab can result in criminal charges. House Bill 206 allows public schools to indefinitely expel a student who poses an 'imminent and severe endangerment' to others' safety. Ohio law previously allowed schools to expel students up to 180 days – or one school year – for bringing a gun or knife to school, making a bomb threat or causing serious physical harm to another person. Students aged 16 years or older could be permanently expelled only if they were convicted in court of a serious criminal offense, according to the nonprofit Ohio Legal Help. The new law allows expulsions past 180 days for students who bring a firearm or knife to school, make a bomb threat, cause serious physical harm to someone at school, make a hitlist, create a threatening manifesto or share a menacing post on social media. Organization offering 'bounty' for removal of invasive trees in central Ohio Under the statute, after 180 days, a student's expulsion can be extended for 90 days at a time, with no limit on how many extensions are allowed. To be reinstated, students are required to undergo a psychological evaluation by a psychiatrist. After the expulsion period, the superintendent, along with a 'multidisciplinary team' they select, will decide whether to reinstate the student. To make a decision, school officials will determine if the student has shown 'sufficient rehabilitation,' while taking the psychological assessment into consideration. House Bill 531, named Braden's Law, classifies sextortion, short for sexual extortion, as a felony in Ohio. Sextortion occurs when an individual is blackmailed over intimate images. The law categorizes sextortion as a third-degree felony; however, the charge could be upgraded to a second- or first-degree felony depending on a variety of factors, including if the victim is a minor or disabled, and if the perpetrator is a repeat offender. In Ohio, a third-degree felony carries a prison sentence of nine months to three years, and a judge may impose a maximum fine of $10,000. A first-degree felony is punishable by 3-11 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $20,000. Will speeding fines in Ohio increase? The law also provides immunity from prosecution to victims who sent explicit images, and implements fines for telecommunications companies who fail to give parents or guardians access to a device that belonged to a deceased minor within 30 days. House Bill 29 ends the practice of suspending driver's licenses for failure to pay court fines or fees, along with some other minor offenses such as school truancy. Residents whose driver's license or motor vehicle registration was suspended for such offenses before the law was passed are able to have their license reinstated. The law also allows those who have had their license suspended for being in default on child support payments to prove that a suspended license prevents them from making the payments and they could be granted 'limited driving privileges.' Within 30 days, impacted individuals will be notified and provided instructions on how to get their license reinstated. Senate Bill 58 enacts the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, which bars credit card companies, banks and other institutions from categorizing or tracking firearm-related purchases. Mail carriers say new contract failed union wishes The law states companies also cannot compile lists of gun purchasers and share such information with third parties, including government agencies, unless required by law through due process. The statute also prohibits the state or any local government from requiring liability insurance to possess a firearm. The legislation was a proactive move, as no local governments in Ohio required firearm liability insurance for gun owners before the law's passage. Nationally, some jurisdictions such as New Jersey and San Jose, California, have enacted such mandates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Ohio parents' rights law for schools takes effect
Ohio's "Parents' Bill of Rights" law takes effect Wednesday, another controversial and sweeping education overhaul, this time at the K-12 level. Why it matters: House Bill 8 shows Republicans' progress in gaining control over public education, particularly in areas tied to the culture wars, including transgender students' rights. What's inside: Districts must now notify parents of "substantial changes" to their child's health and well-being, including "any request by a student to identify as a gender that does not align with the student's biological sex." Separately, districts must also notify parents of instructional materials containing "sexuality content" and provide an opt-out option. Plus: All students must be allowed to leave for private religious instruction during the school day — a practice that has drawn scrutiny amid Hilliard-based nonprofit LifeWise Academy's growing presence. Zoom in: Local districts have made recent moves to comply with the religious teaching mandate, which requires a policy in place by today. That includes Westerville, which previously banned such absences. Columbus' school board revised its policy last month to prohibit religious organizations from sending students back to class with souvenirs like candy and trinkets. The board also reviewed a "Parents' Bill of Rights" policy last week but hasn't voted yet. Between the lines: Underlying the "parental rights" debate are concerns that minors could receive gender-affirming care through school without their parents' knowledge. The big picture: Twenty-four states currently have similar laws, per Ballotpedia, which proponents say are necessary to promote transparency and parents' involvement. "They're the first teachers, they're the best teachers, and that's very, very important," Gov. Mike DeWine said of parents when signing the bill into law. The other side: Critics say such laws are a tactic to instill distrust and fear. School counselors who testified against the bill shared concerns that students with unsupportive families will be deterred from seeking care, and LGBTQ+ activists noted educators may now be forced to out children.
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Five ways a funding overhaul has transformed Texas community colleges
Community colleges in 2023 celebrated a long-awaited investment from the Texas Legislature, positioning Texas to lead the country in connecting young people to the workforce. That year, state legislators reimagined how community colleges are financed with House Bill 8. The old funding formula awarded schools based on enrollment. Schools now have to see their students through to graduation to get money: The new formula ties state dollars to degree and certificate completions, transfers to four-year universities and high schoolers' participation in dual credit courses. The effort was born out of state leaders' desire to better prepare young Texans for the workforce. By 2030, at least 60% of jobs in Texas will require a postsecondary credential, and yet, less than 40% of students earn a degree or certificate within six years of graduating high school. For students, a postsecondary credential often leads to higher wages and increased economic and social mobility. As part of a near-unanimous vote for HB 8, lawmakers poured a historic $683 million into two-year institutions. When the money trickled down to each college in fiscal year 2024, each college saw an influx of dollars that ranged from $70,000 to $2.9 million. Over a year after the law went into effect, community colleges have been working with unprecedented resources to bring down barriers to completion. Some have introduced free tuition benefits; others have expanded their student advising services. Those efforts are reshaping how schools run and who is taking their classes. 'HB 8, at its heart, was an attempt for the Legislature … to say, 'What's the most impactful way that we can ensure alignment between educational outcomes and business and industry needs?'' Ray Martinez III, the president of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, said. 'That's why this is so significant … We have seen tremendous outcomes.' Lawmakers have been fine-tuning funding incentives this session. Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, is shepherding a bill that would give community colleges money for student transfers not only to public universities but also to private schools. Community colleges currently get bonus dollars when students complete credentials of value, or credentials that lead to high-demand, high-wage jobs: VanDeaver's bill would adjust the definition of a credential of value to include more precise labor market data. Here are five ways community colleges have transformed because of the new funding formula: Dual credit boosts enrollment During the COVID-19 pandemic, young Texans cut community college out of their plans. One in ten students in the state — or about 80,000 students — disappeared from campuses. Economic uncertainty acutely affected community college students, who often come from lower-income households and have more work and care responsibilities than their peers at four-year institutions. Many left school for low-skill jobs. Others lost the steam to keep going. Community college leaders have had to find ways to keep students — and one big way has been growing the pool of high school students who get a jump start on college. HB 8 makes it easier for low-income students to take dual credit courses. Community colleges in the Financial Aid for Swift Transfer program, or FAST, now get extra funding when they allow high school students who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch to take classes at no cost. Other students get a discount, with a cap on costs at about $55 per credit hour. Research shows dual credit students are more likely to graduate from high school, enroll in college and finish their degrees faster. The financial help has prompted an upshoot in enrollment. More than 250,000 students participated in dual credit classes through the FAST program in the 2023-24 school year, according to Sarah Keyton, who was the interim commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last fall. Kilgore College in East Texas, for example, saw a 36.5% increase in dual credit enrollment last school year. High schoolers now make up the majority of its student body. Community colleges don't have to participate in the FAST program but nearly all have opted in. Colleges got a total of about $80 million in extra funding last academic year, Keyton said. College leaders are adapting to their schools' changing identities as dual credit students make up a larger portion of their total student populations. Some faculty now spend more time teaching in high schools than on campus. Free tuition gains momentum As young people increasingly question the value of college, a pair of colleges have come up with a new price tag: free. In bold pilot programs, Austin Community College and Del Mar College are waiving three years of tuition for local high school graduates. ''Discount' doesn't change people's perceptions that they can't afford to go to college,' ACC Chancellor Russell Lowery-Hart told The Texas Tribune. ''Free' means something when you're talking about college affordability.' The first class of students to benefit from the free tuition program started this year. ACC paid for it with the $6.8 million it received from the state last year through HB 8. Lowery-Hart wants to use the program to reach students who were not planning to go to college. In a recent survey of ACC prospective students, more than half said they didn't enroll because of tuition costs. When glitches in the revamped federal financial aid application delayed award packages, students in the Austin area told the Tribune that ACC's free tuition program was a much-needed option that eased the uncertainty. Del Mar College is following ACC's footsteps, launching a free tuition benefit this fall for recent high school graduates and adult learners in the Corpus Christi area. Students have to enroll full time and maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to qualify. In what is known as a 'first dollar' program, both Texas colleges are paying for students' tuition before federal and state aid kicks in. That allows students to use their grants and scholarship money to pay for other needs like housing, food and textbooks. Students hired as peer mentors Laredo College has turned nearly 80 students into peer advisers, multiplying its advising crew by seven. The peer advisers are recent graduates, former students who transferred to a four-year university or current students who are finishing their degree. They help their classmates register for classes and stay on track to graduation. Many Laredo College students are the first in their families to go to college. Young people in the region often opt not to get a college degree because they don't know how to go through the process — and there's nobody at home to help them, said Minita Ramirez, the president of Laredo College. 'Whether it's a first-time college student out of high school or … a 70-year-old gentleman who all his life wanted to go to college, …. our hope is that we provide the support … to get that person through the process, to make them feel comfortable in an environment that is completely foreign,' Ramirez said. 'And if we can do that, our numbers grow.' Already, Laredo College has seen 1,500 students switch from part-time to full-time, Ramirez said. HB 8 has pushed college leaders like Ramirez to fix disjointed advising systems to prevent students from falling through the cracks. Research shows student advising is tied to higher grades and graduation rates. When students at North Central Texas College register online for a course that won't count toward their degree, a warning sign now pops up encouraging them to visit an adviser. Chancellor G. Brent Wallace said he wants to make sure students don't sign up for the wrong course — and save them the time and money that goes along with those decisions. North Central Texas College also hired about a dozen more staffers so advisers aren't stretched too thin and students get the academic attention they need, Wallace said. Growing workforce training Community colleges have long been a player in helping close workforce gaps, but HB 8 was the push for leaders to strengthen relationships with local employers. Sherman, for example, has been grappling with its new identity as a semiconductor manufacturing hub. In recent years, giant companies like Texas Instruments and GlobiTech have been constructing multibillion-dollar chipmaking facilities. Before those facilities could finish construction, Grayson College was already training students so they would be ready to join the industry. Jeremy McMillen, the president of the college, said the school added programs like electronic and automation certifications with input from those companies. It mimicked the kind of collaboration the state's technical colleges have with employers on curricula. 'We needed to move the needle in terms of building out of the infrastructure,' McMillen said at a Texas Tribune event last month. 'Without HB 8 in the background, it's very difficult to imagine that we've been able to do that.' Schools team up so credits transfer Students in North Texas are getting more support when they select Dallas College courses they want to count toward a bachelor's degree. To ease transfers to local universities, Dallas College teamed up with Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas at Dallas to identify which courses students will get credit for when they transfer. The HB 8 funding model means the community college gets money when students successfully transfer. Around 80% of students who enroll in community colleges intend to transfer but just 16% do, according to data from The Aspen Institute. In the fall of 2022, more than 13,000 Texas students who transferred did not receive credit for at least one of the courses they completed, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Students lose time and money when they take classes that don't end up counting toward their degrees. The setback can discourage them from completing their bachelor's degree. The Dallas-area schools launched an online portal in the fall where prospective students can see how their credits would be counted at each school and track their progress toward their bachelor's degree. For three areas of study — business, education and health sciences — the universities have already agreed on which Dallas College courses will be counted for credit toward related majors on their campuses.
