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Ohio Legislature takes up 4 bills
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
The Ohio House and Senate took up these matters Wednesday at the Statehouse.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
The Republican leader of the Ohio House announced plans to move forward with legislation to legalize medical marijuana in the state.
The proposal would create a new panel, housed within the state health department, to develop rules allowing the use of the drug under a doctor’s direction, with regulations on where marijuana could be grown and processed, consideration of how it could be consumed and tracking of the drug throughout the process.
The House is eyeing passage of the legislation before the end of the month, with hopes the Senate will follow suit in May. Under that time line, eligible Ohioans would be able to obtain medical marijuana in about two years.
FETAL REMAINS
A lawmaker panel has given its OK to two bills that would require burial or incineration of aborted fetuses, setting up both for potential votes in the Ohio House.
The chamber’s Health and Aging Committee moved House Bills 417 and 419 on split votes, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing, after hearing brief testimony from opponents.
Both bills were introduced in December after a report from Attorney General Mike DeWine alleging that fetal remains from Planned Parenthood locations in the state ended up in an out-of-state landfill.
Planned Parenthood denied the allegations, saying vendors who handle tissue disposal did so in accordance to state law.
SEX ORIENTATION
Licensed counselors would be barred from offering sexual orientation conversion therapy to children in the state, under legislation being considered in the Ohio Senate.
SB 74 had its first hearing before the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee. The bill isn’t expected to move in the Republican-controlled Legislature.
The legislation would prohibit doctors, psychologists, social workers and others from providing services to minors aimed at changing their sexual orientation.
RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION
The House passed legislation that would ensure equal access to school facilities for secular and religious student groups.
HB 425 also would block schools from restricting students’ religious expression in homework and other assignments.
The legislation passed on a vote of 77-22 and heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.