Message from 10/23/25: In the coming weeks, this page will be going under construction and information will be relocated within the webpage. 136th Ohio General Assembly
House Bills HB 42 - Requires reporting of immigration status HB 162 - "My Child-My Chart Act" HB 172 - Prohibit mental health service to minors without parental consent (same as SB 274) HB 190 - Restricts name and pronoun use in schools HB 249 - Drag show ban HB 281 - Requires hospitals to allow ICE access HB 300 - Conversion therapy ban HB 324 - Medication restrictions HB 327 - "P.R.I.D.E Act" HB 472 - Allow free access to IDs and birth certificates for homeless individuals HJR 4 - Amend the Ohio Constitution to protect marriage freedom Senate Bills SB 70 - Ohio Fairness Act SB 71 - Conversion therapy ban SB 162 – Insurance clawbacks SB 274 - Prohibit mental health service to minors without parental consent (same as HB 172) |
HB 42 - Require certain agencies to collect and report citizenship data - OPPOSE View official bill page here>>> Summary - Requires law enforcement agencies, the departments of Rehabilitation and Correction, Education and Workforce, Job and Family Services, and Medicaid to collect and annually report data to the Governor concerning citizenship and immigration status of persons with whom they come into contact.
- Permits the Attorney General and Department of Job and Family Services, as appropriate, to adopt rules to establish the format of the citizenship and immigration information collected and the report.
- Requires the Governor to submit an annual report to the General Assembly that summarizes the information in the reports provided to the Governor.
Status Check here>>> Take Action Currently, monitor the bills status and prepare to provide opponent testimony. You can track the bill by using the My Ohio Legislature tool. If testimony is scheduled, call members of the Government Oversight Committee to express opposition. |
House Bill 162 - The "My Child-My Chart Act" - OPPOSE View official bill page here>>> Summary House Bill 162, also called the My Child-My Chart Act, is a return of legislation from the last General Assembly that seeks to give parents more control over their children’s medical records. This is done by requiring providers to “ensure to the fullest extent permitted by HIPAA… and Ohio law that the minor’s parent or guardian has access” to the electronic medical records. The bill does make the distinction that records resulting from care that is permitted without parental consent should be maintained separately from records that come from treatment with parental or guardian consent. It also requires providers to inform parents annually about Ohio laws that permit minor treatment without parental consent, and that records resulting from such circumstances are not to be disclosed to the parent without the minor's consent. Despite acknowledging that records resulting from care that is permitted without parental consent should be maintained separately, the bill most concerningly requires providers to asked every minor at their annual visit if they wish to provide “general, ongoing written consent” to allow access to their records "regarding care that the minor patient may have consented to, or may consent to in the future." This is troubling due to the best practices involved in keeping minors’ therapeutic notes and records private from their guardians, as this ensures a strong therapeutic relationship. For this reason, along with numerous other concerns regarding confidentiality, abuse, neglect, and more, we strongly oppose this bill because of the widespread and significant negative repercussions it will undoubtedly cause. A potential scenarios that may arise if this law were to pass is: A minor who is 7 years old is asked my their primary care doctor if they want to provide this consent. The minor does not understand the potential future impacts of giving this ongoing consent to parents to access all records, but their parent who is in the room encourages them to say yes, so they do. Now the same minor is 17 years old. Their parent does not believe that mental health care is effective and important. So, the minor seek services for severe depression without parental consent under the 5122.04 exception and received 6 session of therapy in under the 30 day time frame. As they provided consent 10 years ago when they were 7 years old, they do not remember that they had given consent for their parents to access all their records. As a result, their parents are now made aware that they sought services, and can view those records, jeopardizing the minor client's confidentiality and safety. Another possibility is that the minor would know that they had given consent, and thus not seek the services they need because they know their parent does not support mental healthcare. Status Take Action Call or email members of the House Health Committee using the script below to ask them to VOTE NO! Sample Script Hello. My name is ____. I am a [social worker, social work student, etc.] living in [area of Ohio]. I am calling to oppose HB 162. This legislation claims to be about promoting greater parental participation and control over their child’s medical records, but it will actually erode trust between clinicians and their patients and worsen the treatment of mental health issues in Ohio. A key part of the therapeutic relationship is the client’s trust in confidentiality and privacy during sessions. It is best practice, even when working with a minor client who has incredibly supportive and consenting parents, to ask that the parents not request to see the client's notes and records. Having a safe space to discuss whatever the client is experiencing freely is critical to positive therapy sessions. If a client feels that their private information will be shared or they will be confronted by their parents, who may force them to sign an ongoing consent form, they may never seek out care. This means that minors who are dealing with mental health issues that would benefit from therapy might choose to avoid treatment, which could have irreversible consequences. |
HB 172 – Prohibit Mental Health Service to Minors Without Parental Consent – OPPOSE (same as SB 274) View official bill page here>> Summary This bill is proposing to remove Ohio Revised Code 5122.04 from law. Currently under Ohio law (ORC 5122.04), minors aged 14 and older are able to obtain a limited number of mental health sessions without their parents’ consent. These sessions must stop after either six sessions or 30 days (whichever occurs sooner). While this is not a service that is frequently utilized, it is used in unique and often critical circumstances. There are instances in which a minor and/or mental health provider wants the parents to be involved in care, but simply cannot reach the parents/parents do not respond. In other circumstances, this law is used when a minor is experiencing mental health symptoms, but their parents won’t take them to obtain services, leaving them without care at all. Other times these handfuls of sessions are used when a minor needs to simply process an event, experience, or thought to help wrap their minds around the situation prior to bringing it to their parents - either because they do not feel safe telling their parents or because they simply are not ready to share it with their parents. Common arguments in favor of this bill align with the ideology of "protecting parents rights", however, this proposed bill revokes the rights and autonomy of youth to receive services while leaving little change for parents rights. While receiving services as a minor, providers are still bound by mandated reporting requirements for abuse, neglect, and threat of harm to self or others. This law does not lessen the importance of a parent's place in their child's well-being, as youth who have the support of their parent have greater improvements in outcomes. However, it is simply not possible for parent(s) to be involved at times, highlighting the significance of ORC 5122.04 providing a safety net for youth by easy access to initial mental health services. Removing this section of the law that has been in place for 36 years will leave many vulnerable youth in Ohio without necessary mental health access. Every individual should have the right to choose if, when, and how they receive care, even if that individual is a minor. Youth are entitled to autonomy and self-determination for their mental health services.
Brief overview: - HB172 is proposing to revoke Ohio Revised Code 5122.04, Outpatient services for minors without knowledge or consent of parent or guardian.
- ORC 5122.04 has been in law since July 1st, 1989 (almost 36 years).
- ORC 5122.04 allows minors 14+ to receive mental health services for six sessions or thirty days, whichever comes soonest. No medication can be prescribed and parent(s) are not financially responsible for any payments for service.
- ORC 5122.04 does not change mandated reporting requirements nor lessen the importance of a parent's role in a child's well-being.
Status HB 172 has been introduced in the House and has been assigned to the House Health Committee. Take Action Follow this bill’s progress and submit opponent testimony when it is up for a hearing. Call or email members of the House Health Committee using the script below to ask them to VOTE NO! Sample Script: "Hello. My name is _____. I am a [social worker, social work student, etc.] living in [area of Ohio]. I’m calling to urge you to oppose HB 172, which proposes to remove Ohio Revised Code 5122.04 from law. This bill would revoke this critical safety net for vulnerable youth to receive a limited number of sessions with a mental health provider if their parent is unwilling or unable to consent. This law only permits mental health providers to not require parental consent for youth that are 14 and older and only allows for a limit of six sessions or thirty days of service, whichever occurs soonest. I know as a social worker that having parents involvement and investment in a child's well-being leads to better outcomes, however, it simply isn't always a possibility. Sometimes a child needs to process an event or experience to wrap their mind around the situation before bringing it up with their parents. They might feel unsafe or not ready to share information, and the provider can help them through it. Other times, parents could be difficult to reach to obtain consent, and this law allows youth to get the services they need when they need it. While we know that this exception isn't used often, it provides a critical safety net for our most vulnerable youth. This law doesn't serve as a way to get around or lessen the importance of parental rights, but allows youth to have the autonomy to get help when they need it. As a [social worker, social work student, etc.] I know how vital these services are to our youth. Please vote NO on HB 172. Mental healthcare is a human right, and our Ohio youth need greater access to these services, not less." |
HB 190 – The "Given Name" Act – OPPOSE View official bill page here>> Summary HB 190 seeks to limit the use of chosen name and pronouns in public schools for both students and staff. HB 190 would prohibit public school employees and contractors (including teachers, mental health providers, janitors, custodians, and volunteers) from referring to students by any name that is not listed on their original birth certificate or by any pronoun that is not aligned with their sex assigned at birth unless parents provide explicit permission for staff to do so. The bill would also prohibit school employees and contractors from informing students of the employee’s pronouns if those pronouns are inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth. If a school or employee is found to be in violation of the bill, the Department of Education will withhold 10% of the school’s state foundation aid each month until the school is in compliance with the law. Parents are also able to sue schools/staff if an employee does not receive parental consent for using an alternative name/pronoun for their student. Brief overview: - Trans/gender-diverse students must have parental permission to use another name or pronoun in school
- Trans-gender-diverse staff cannot share their pronouns with students
- Schools would not be required to honor staff’s chosen name/pronouns
- Schools and staff can be sued, and school funding will be withheld until the grievance is rectified
Status HB 190 has been referred to the House Education Committee and received a hearing for sponsor testimony on April 29, 2025. Take Action Follow this bill’s progress and submit opponent testimony when it is up for a hearing. Contact your representatives to tell them why this bill is harmful! We have a form letter and a sample script available here>> |
HB 249 - Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act - OPPOSE View official bill page here>>> Summary House Bill 249, the Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act, is Ohio's drag show ban. This bill attempts to limit drag show performances to strictly strip clubs or similar locations. This essentially makes it a crime to perform drag in places where minors could be present. The bill targets anyone who is performing while exhibiting a gender identity that is different than their biological sex at birth. HB 249 creates the offense of "unlawful adult cabaret performance" which prohibits a person from engaging in adult cabaret performance in a location other than an adult cabaret. The bill provides that the penalty for "unlawful adult cabaret performance" is a first degree misdemeanor if the performance occurs in the presence of a juvenile, a fifth degree felony is the performance involved is "obscene", or fourth degree felony if the performance involved is "obscene" and the performance occurs in the presence of a juvenile under 13 years of age. The bill defines "adult cabaret performance" as a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret where minors may be present, that is harmful to juveniles or obscene, regardless of whether the performance is for consideration. The bill defines "harmful to juveniles" as that quality of any material or performance describing or representing nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse in any form. HB 249 is an attack on First Amendment rights, freedom of speech and freedom of expression. This bill relies on vague legal standards to determine performances as "obscene" and/or "harmful to juveniles." Drag is NOT a crime, it is an art form and it is protected speech. Brief Overview: - Limits drag show performances to strip clubs or similar locations, prohibits performing drag where minors may be present
- Targets anyone performing while exhibiting a gender identity different from their assigned sex at birth
- Essentially makes drag shows a crime, specifically a first degree misdemeanor or even a fourth or fifth degree felony
Status HB 249 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on May 7, 2025. Take Action Tell members of the Ohio Judiciary Committee and other Ohio lawmakers to protect their constituents' First Amendment right to express themselves on and off the stage. Sample Script, ACLU of Ohio: "Dear Representative, I urge you to vote NO on House Bill 249 and protect freedom of expression. I request that you not support the movement of HB 249, Ohio’s proposed ban on performing in drag. Drag is protected by the First Amendment, just like so many other forms of speech and expression. Any attempts to chill or outright criminalize these rights are unacceptable.
While supporters of HB 249 may say that this legislation has nothing to do with drag and does not mention drag by name, the bill’s plain language makes abundantly clear that the goal is to prohibit drag. In fact, in the bill’s definition of “unlawful adult cabaret performance,” “entertainers who exhibit a gender identity that is different from the performer's or entertainer's gender assigned at birth” are specifically named.
Performers, whether they are at a Pride festival or acting in a Shakespeare production, have the right to express themselves in public. Please reject this misguided bill. "
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HB 281 - Regards hospitals and enforcement of federal immigration law - OPPOSE View official bill page here>>> Summary - Requires each hospital to permit ICE to enter the hospital for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law.
- Requires each hospital employee or contractor (would include social workers employed at hospitals) to facilitate an agent’s or officer’s access to the hospital in order for the agent to make arrests, conduct interviews, or collect information or evidence.
- Establishes penalties for hospitals that fail to comply with the bill’s requirements, which include the suspension of Medicaid provider agreements and the loss of grant funding awarded by state agencies.
Status Check here>>> Take Action Currently, monitor the bills status and prepare to provide opponent testimony. You can track the bill by using the My Ohio Legislature tool. If testimony is scheduled, call members of the Public Safety Committee to express opposition. |
HB 300 - Conversion Therapy Ban - SUPPORT View official bill page here>> Summary HB 300 seeks to ban conversion therapy practices by certain individuals. This bill states that "health professionals", including counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, nurses, physicians, psychologists, and chemical dependency professionals would be prohibited from practices that seek to
change a minor'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. Failure to abide by this law would result in suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of the individual's professional license. Status HB 300 has been referred to the House Health Committee, but has not yet received sponsor testimony. Take Action Contact the House Health Committee and ask them to begin hearings on this bill! |
HB 324 - "Patient Protection Act" - OPPOSE View official bill page here>> Summary Status Take Action |
HB 327 – Parents' Rights to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (P.R.I.D.E.) - SUPPORT View official bill page here>> Summary HB 327 aims to repeal or amend certain provisions of laws passed by the Ohio General Assembly last year. It seeks to protect parents' rights to do the following: provide their children with fair and effective medical and mental health care, access hygiene and menstrual care products in public and school bathrooms, ensure equal access to education, support freedom of speech and expression, and maintain confidentiality in behavioral health matters regarding their child's health. This bill would reverse many harmful measures against LGBTQIA+ individuals that have emerged in recent years. Status HB 327 has been referred to the House Children and Human Services Committee, but has not yet received sponsor testimony. Take Action Contact the House Children and Human Services Committee and ask them to begin hearings on this bill! | |
HB 472 - Waive ID and birth certificate fees for homeless individuals - SUPPORT View official bill page here>> Summary Status Take Action |
HJR 4 – Amend the Ohio Constitution to allow for marriage freedom and protect interracial marriage - SUPPORTView official bill page here>> Summary HJR 4 seeks to align the Ohio Constitution with current federal protections for marriage freedom. As it stands currently, the Ohio Constitution states that only marriage between “one man and one woman” is considered a valid marriage, and there is no mention of interracial marriage. HJR 4 is necessary due to signaling from the United States Supreme Court that it is willing to reconsider previously established precedents that created marriage protections, specifically naming the Obergefell decision as one it would consider revisiting. In order to change this language, House Joint Resolution 4 would first need to pass both the Ohio House and Senate, and then it would be up for a vote in a statewide ballot initiative requiring a simple majority of Ohioans to vote yes to approve the measure. Status HJR 4 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but has not yet received sponsor testimony. Take Action Contact the House Judiciary Committee and ask them to begin hearings on this bill! |
SB 70 - Ohio Fairness Act - SUPPORT View official bill page here>> Summary SB 70 seeks to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, by simply adding the following language into law: "For purposes of the Revised Code, any provision respecting sex discrimination includes discrimination because of a person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression." Status SB 70 has been referred to the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee, but has not yet received sponsor testimony. Take Action Contact the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee and ask them to begin hearings on this bill! |
SB 71 - Conversion Therapy Ban - SUPPORT View official bill page here>> Summary SB 70 seeks to ban conversion therapy practices by certain individuals. This bill states that "health professionals", including counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, nurses, physicians, psychologists, and chemical dependency professionals would be prohibited from practices that seek to
change a minor'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. Failure to abide by this law would result in suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of the individual's professional license. Status SB 71 has been referred to the Senate Health Committee, but has not yet received sponsor testimony. Take Action Contact the Senate Health Committee and ask them to begin hearings on this bill! |
SB 162 - Regards timing of health insurance recoupment - SUPPORT View official bill page here>> Summary Status Action
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SB 274 - Prohibit Mental Health Service to Minors Without Parental Consent – OPPOSE (same as HB 172) View official bill page here>> Summary This bill is proposing to remove Ohio Revised Code 5122.04 from law. Currently under Ohio law (ORC 5122.04), minors aged 14 and older are able to obtain a limited number of mental health sessions without their parents’ consent. These sessions must stop after either six sessions or 30 days (whichever occurs sooner). While this is not a service that is frequently utilized, it is used in unique and often critical circumstances. There are instances in which a minor and/or mental health provider wants the parents to be involved in care, but simply cannot reach the parents/parents do not respond. In other circumstances, this law is used when a minor is experiencing mental health symptoms, but their parents won’t take them to obtain services, leaving them without care at all. Other times these handfuls of sessions are used when a minor needs to simply process an event, experience, or thought to help wrap their minds around the situation prior to bringing it to their parents - either because they do not feel safe telling their parents or because they simply are not ready to share it with their parents. Common arguments in favor of this bill align with the ideology of "protecting parents rights", however, this proposed bill revokes the rights and autonomy of youth to receive services while leaving little change for parents rights. While receiving services as a minor, providers are still bound by mandated reporting requirements for abuse, neglect, and threat of harm to self or others. This law does not lessen the importance of a parent's place in their child's well-being, as youth who have the support of their parent have greater improvements in outcomes. However, it is simply not possible for parent(s) to be involved at times, highlighting the significance of ORC 5122.04 providing a safety net for youth by easy access to initial mental health services. Removing this section of the law that has been in place for 36 years will leave many vulnerable youth in Ohio without necessary mental health access. Every individual should have the right to choose if, when, and how they receive care, even if that individual is a minor. Youth are entitled to autonomy and self-determination for their mental health services.
Brief overview: - SB 274 is proposing to revoke Ohio Revised Code 5122.04, Outpatient services for minors without knowledge or consent of parent or guardian.
- ORC 5122.04 has been in law since July 1st, 1989 (almost 36 years).
- ORC 5122.04 allows minors 14+ to receive mental health services for six sessions or thirty days, whichever comes soonest. No medication can be prescribed and parent(s) are not financially responsible for any payments for service.
- ORC 5122.04 does not change mandated reporting requirements nor lessen the importance of a parent's role in a child's well-being.
Status SB 274 has been introduced in the Senate and has been assigned to the Senate Health Committee. Take Action Follow this bill’s progress and submit opponent testimony when it is up for a hearing. Call or email members of the Senate Health Committee using the script below to ask them to VOTE NO! Sample Script: "Hello. My name is _____. I am a [social worker, social work student, etc.] living in [area of Ohio]. I’m calling to urge you to oppose SB 274, which proposes to remove Ohio Revised Code 5122.04 from law. This bill would revoke this critical safety net for vulnerable youth to receive a limited number of sessions with a mental health provider if their parent is unwilling or unable to consent. This law only permits mental health providers to not require parental consent for youth that are 14 and older and only allows for a limit of six sessions or thirty days of service, whichever occurs soonest. I know as a social worker that having parents involvement and investment in a child's well-being leads to better outcomes, however, it simply isn't always a possibility. Sometimes a child needs to process an event or experience to wrap their mind around the situation before bringing it up with their parents. They might feel unsafe or not ready to share information, and the provider can help them through it. Other times, parents could be difficult to reach to obtain consent, and this law allows youth to get the services they need when they need it. While we know that this exception isn't used often, it provides a critical safety net for our most vulnerable youth. This law doesn't serve as a way to get around or lessen the importance of parental rights, but allows youth to have the autonomy to get help when they need it. As a [social worker, social work student, etc.] I know how vital these services are to our youth. Please vote NO on SB 274. Mental healthcare is a human right, and our Ohio youth need greater access to these services, not less." |
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