Ohio General Assembly Update: May 2022

The Ohio General Assembly is wrapping up its work for this legislative session as members will soon turn their attention to the November 2022 election. Lawmakers are focusing on passing a capital budget bill to fund infrastructure and community projects, debating a series of controversial legislative measures concerning social issues; and addressing a host of bills that would impact the community behavioral health system, including the establishment of the 988 crisis phone line (HB 468); authorization of the counseling compact (SB 204); amending the composition of the ADAMHS board and other changes (HB 523); and appropriating federal ARPA-HCBS resources to support behavioral health workforce initiatives and supports. Here is a list of the various bills that Ohio Council staff are monitoring or advocating on:

General Legislation:

Bill: Bill Sponsor and Description: Status:
HB439 INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT FOR MENTALLY ILL PERSONS (GALONSKI T, HILLYER) To make changes to the law regarding pink slip process. 5/24/2022 - REPORTED OUT, House Civil Justice, (Fifth Hearing)
HB452 CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROFESSIONALS (MANNING G) Regarding the Chemical Dependency Professional's Board and its regulation of chemical dependency professionals. 3/30/2022 - House State and Local Government, (Second Hearing)
HB454 SAFE ACT (CLICK G, GRENDELL D) To prohibit certain procedures to alter a minor child's sex and to designate this act as the Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act. 5/26/2022 - House Families, Aging and Human Services
HB468 9-8-8 CRISIS TELEPHONE LINE (PAVLIGA G) To establish a 9-8-8 crisis line. 5/25/2022 – Expected to Pass House.
HB523 ADAMH BOARDS (SWEARINGEN D) Regarding the composition and authority of ADAMHS Boards; remove the 120-day notice; and to grant additional authority to such boards. 5/19/2022 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, House Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports, (Second Hearing)
HB632 RECOVERY HOUSING (BALDRIDGE B) Regarding recovery housing. 5/17/2022 - House Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports
HB657 TOBACCO USE TREATMENT PLANS (INGRAM C) To require community addiction providers and OBOTs to conduct tobacco use assessments and develop treatment plans. 5/17/2022 - House Behavioral Health and Recovery Supports
HB674 INCREASE PENALTY - PROVIDING ALCOHOL TO MINORS (RAY S) To increase the penalty for providing alcohol to a minor if it causes the death of another. 5/18/2022 - Referred to Committee House Criminal Justice
SB204 COUNSELING COMPACT (ROEGNER K) To enter into the Counseling Compact. 5/25/2022 – Expected to Pass the House
SB261 LAW CHANGES-MEDICAL MARIJUANA (HUFFMAN S) To expand Ohio’s medical marijuana program. 4/27/2022 - House Government Oversight, (Fourth Hearing)
SB296 NALOXONE, NARCOTIC TESTING ACCESS (MANNING N, HUFFMAN S) To revise the laws governing access to naloxone and certain narcotic testing products. 4/6/2022 - Senate Health, (Fourth Hearing)
SB340 CREATE WORKFORCE VOUCHER PROGRAM (SCHURING K, MANNING N) To establish the Workforce Voucher Program and authorize tax credits for graduates of the Voucher Program, and to make an appropriation. 5/18/2022 - Senate Workforce and Higher Education
SB343  FY23-24 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS (DOLAN M) To enact capital appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2024.  5/24/2022 - Senate Finance, (First Hearing)