Lifetime Ratings by Policy Category

This appropriations bill contains 84 pages of various grants, tax incentives, credits and abatements for select industries and property owners. For example, the bill provides $65 million in grants to minor league sports teams and certain cultural facilities, exempts certain watercraft that are stored and repaired in the state from sales tax, provides $25,000 tax credits for employers to train commercial vehicle operators, and various tax abatements to property owners through enterprise zones and Tax-Increment-Financing (TIFs). Oppose is the Moms For America Position as not only do the policies within this measure provide competitive advantages to select companies and industries, but shift tax burdens to other individuals and businesses not favored by government. Instead of expanding government central planning, lawmakers should work to reduce tax rates for all companies and remove regulatory barriers so the free market can spur investment in the most needed initiatives and regions of the state.

This bill is designed to provide broad tax relief by allowing owners of businesses designated as pass-through entities (PTE)s to pay Ohio tax at the entity level versus the investor level. As a result, most small business owners are now able to deduct the full amount State and Local Taxes (SALT) they pay from their federal tax liability. The bill is in response to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed at the federal level which limits state and local tax deductions to a maximum of $10,000 per taxpayer. Support is the Moms For America Position as the controversial SALT cap within the TCJA increased tax burdens on a number of small business owners. This broadly applied pro-growth tax measure helps ensure a greater amount of resources are kept in the private sector.

This bill contains over a dozen provisions that overhaul the state's election law. Most notably, the bill requires voters to present an ID when they cast their ballot in person, such as drivers' licenses, state IDs, and passports. The bill also requires completed mail-in ballots to arrive within four days of an election (previously ten), permits only one ballot drop box per county, prohibits curbside voting except in cases of disability, and requires voters wishing to vote by mail to request a ballot at least seven days prior to an election instead of three. Support is the Moms For America Position as requiring voters to present an ID and maintaining safeguards to prevent voter fraud are critical aspects of ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

This bill creates a "regulatory sandbox" to authorize companies to test certain financial products and services in Ohio on a temporary basis without having to obtain special authorization or undergo additional licensure. Support is the Moms For America Position as this measure helps spur innovation and expand consumer choice and competition in the marketplace. This measure is especially needed in Ohio where the state's regulatory code is plagued by over 274,000 restrictions, which is among the highest in the nation.

This bill contains a major provision which prevents all local governments (previously just municipal corporations and townships) from imposing rent controls or rent stabilization. "Rent controls" are price controls, which require landlords to rent their properties at below-market rates, while "Rent stabilization" restricts the ability of a landlord to raise a rent above a certain amount set by the government. Support is the Moms For America Position as rent controls and stabilization are price controls, which distort the free market, lead to shortages, and reduced consumer choice and quality. In the case of housing, fewer homeowners are incentivized to rent out their properties, and those that do rarely invest in upgrades or improve quality since they are unable to charge higher rents.

This bill makes a couple revisions to the state's labor laws concerning overtime. First, the bill exempts employee travel to and from a worksite or activity from overtime pay requirements. Second, the bill clarifies that an employee is not a plaintiff in a lawsuit alleging an overtime violation unless the employee first gives written consent to become a plaintiff and the consent is filed in court. Support is the Moms For America Position as employees and employers should be free to negotiate their own employment agreements and terms of compensation without undue interference by government. Government overreach and wage regulations drive up costs and ultimately reduce employment opportunities.

his bill requires state licensing authorities to recognize the occupational licenses held by individuals from other states, with certain exceptions. The bill also requires recognition of certification or work experience in cases where an individual is coming from a state that does not require a license for their occupation. The bill still requires individuals to pass an exam or undergo a background check if such actions are required for licensure by Ohio licensing authorities. Support is the Moms For America Position as the private sector, via certifications, rating systems, and the free market, is much better equipped to provide consumer protection while also ensuring competition and low consumer costs. Most government licensing entities are overly restrictive and are largely advocated by special interests seeking to restrict competition in the marketplace.

The Callender amendment #4399 to a bill pertaining to animal cruelty authorizes Cuyahoga County to hold a ballot referendum to levy an additional tax on nicotine vapor products. The tax would be based on the product's wholesale price at a rate of up to 9%. The new revenue would be used to support the county's arts and cultural district. Oppose is the Moms For America Position as tobacco usage is an individual liberty which should not be punished by "sin taxes" including the state's $1.60 per pack cigarette tax. Furthermore, it is not the role of government to promote arts and culture.

This bill authorizes local school boards to select certain school staff to arm and creates the Ohio School Safety and Crisis Center within the Department of Public Safety. The Center is tasked with maintaining a list of individuals the school board has approved to carry a firearm and providing instructions and firearm training to the individuals. Support is the Moms For America Position as ensuring public safety and protecting children is one of the most important functions of government. "Gun free zones" do not protect children, rather they place students and staff in defenseless positions against criminals who do not abide by the law. This measure helps prevent tragedies by ensuring carefully vetted and trained staff are able to protect themselves and their school community.

This motion tables (defeats) the Miranda amendment #3535 to a bill that preempts regulations on knives by localities. The Miranda amendment bans "large capacity magazines" that store more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, the amendment requires all private firearm sales undergo background checks conducted through federal firearm licensees (FFLs). Support is the Moms For America Position as James Madison and our nation\'s other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure also places a new cost and burden on purchasing a firearm, which countless studies have found does nothing to deter criminals from continuing to engage in unlawful behavior.

This bill authorizes qualifying adults 21 years and older to carry a concealed firearm without having to obtain a special permit from the state - a measure commonly referred to as "constitutional carry". To carry, an individual must be a legal resident, not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor within the past three to five years, not be mentally ill, and otherwise not forbidden under state or federal law. Support is the Moms For America Position as James Madison and our nation\'s other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure helps reduce unnecessary barriers for lawful individuals wishing to exercise their Second Amendment rights, barriers which do nothing to deter criminals from engaging in unlawful behavior.

This motion tables (defeats) the Galonski amendment #2704 to the firearm constitutional carry bill. The amendment allows for the issuance of "extreme risk protection orders," or a "red flag" program, whereby individuals may seek to have a firearm immediately taken away from another person through an "ex-parte" (one-sided) petition to a court if the individual alleges the firearms owner is a danger to themselves or others. Oppose is the Moms For America Position as the one-sided petition violates due process under the law (an individual can\'t provide their defense) and this program lacks provisions that prevent nefarious individuals from abusing the system to harass or harm law-abiding individuals, thus unduly infringing their Second Amendment protections and leaving them defenseless.

This bill authorizes the operation of remote dispensing pharmacies within the state. The bill requires each remote pharmacy to be staffed by at least two pharmacy interns or technicians and be operated by both a supervising pharmacy and pharmacist through the use of a telepharmacy system. Support is the Moms For America Position as this bill serves as a step in the right direction in expanding access to pharmaceutical drugs and reducing pharmacy costs. However, the bill would be much stronger if it removed certain anti-competitive provisions, such as limits on prescription refills and a requirement that the facility is at least ten miles from an outpatient pharmacy.

This bill amplifies criminal penalties against offenders who cause damage to property or injury to another during a riot. Under current law, the offense is a first degree misdemeanor. The bill retains that as the general penalty but increases the penalty to a fourth-degree felony when the offender causes injury or property damage. Support is the Moms For America Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. This measure is especially necessary considering a number of localities and prosecutors have failed to hold criminals accountable for their actions, resulting in increasing crime rates.

This bill requires public school entities sponsoring competitive sports, as well as institutions of higher education within the national collegiate athletics association (NCAA), to designate athletic teams as either male, female, or co-ed. The bill defines "sex" as the biological distinction between male and female based on reproductive biology and genetic make-up and requires all participants of either a male or female team to be of the same sex. Support is the Moms For America Position as this measure protects the competitiveness of women's sports by ensuring females are not forced to compete against biological men. This requirement represents one of many restrictions (including height, weight, and age requirements) to ensure fair competition between public schools and institutions competing across the state and country.

This resolution amends the state's Constitution to change how bail determinations are made, which will be presented before voters in the 2022 election. Under existing law, the state supreme court has governed the practice based on constitutional language requiring "sufficient sureties". This resolution requires courts to consider factors such as public safety, the seriousness of the offense, a person\'s criminal record, and a person\'s likelihood of returning to court when setting the amount of bail. Support is the Moms For America Position as upholding law and order and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. This resolution contains a key provision requiring the court to "consider public safety" when setting bail, a component that some individuals not committed to public safety have opposed.

This bill contains provisions that provide greater ability for citizens and lawmakers to challenge executive branch regulations and actions. First, the bill allows challenges to government agencies\' orders to take place in the county where the business or individual resides. Currently, all challenges must be heard in Columbus. Second, the bill gives the General Assembly the ability to hire its own lawyers to defend state laws, rather than rely on the attorney general. Support is the Moms For America Position as this bill helps provide citizens and lawmakers greater ability to challenge executive branch regulations and actions. Checks on government power are critical to maintaining a small and limited government.