Controversy has sparked over an education bill at the Statehouse

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bill that passed the Ohio Senate earlier this year and has been deemed a top priority for Senate Republicans is currently going through the legislative process.

Senate Bill 83 has been at the center of several negotiations at the Statehouse. House speaker Jason Stephens commented on the future of the legislation, and he said it will not have enough votes. 

What You Need To Know

• Senate Bill 83 had opponent testimony at the Statehouse this week 
• The Statehouse has limited sessions left before the end of the year, and the bill’s sponsor State Sen. Jerry Cirino wants to get it passed in the Ohio House

• Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens says the bill will not have enough votes on the floor

The bill has been a top priority for Senate Republicans, who are hoping to get the legislation passed ahead of 2024. It would ban mandatory diversity, equity and inclusion training at Ohio’s public colleges. The proposal also seeks to ensure bias-free classrooms by requiring what is called “intellectual diversity” on certain topics outlined by the legislature. 

“I think there are, you know, a lot of concerns with that bill from both sides of the aisle,” said State Rep. Jason Stephens, (R) Speaker of the House. “Frankly, I understand what’s being attempted, but sometimes that language can go either direction.” 

Senate Bill 83 passed the Senate in May, and the bill’s sponsor has made several revisions to work with the legislature. Some of those reworked revisions he said he eliminated the striking provision, and the ban on Chinese entities having partnerships and financial relationships with Ohio’s public universities. 

“I’m done making accommodations and changes,” State Sen. Jerry Cirino, (R) Kirtland. “We’ve listened to input from lots of parties. When the bill was in the Senate, and I had massive hearings, one that lasted over seven and a half hours.” 

Jill Galvan, an Associate Professor at Ohio State University, said the bill limits employee rights, and worries it could turn away future educators from Ohio. 

“Faculty are very much going to be dissuaded from coming here,” Galvan said. “There are measures in place to require them to basically post their syllabus, what they teach, and if they know that they’re not going to have control over their own programs.” 

Stephens, being in the role as Speaker of the House, will decide whether this legislation reaches the House floor for a vote prior to 2024.