A Letter from CCO Executive Director:
Recap of the 135th General Assembly and Upcoming CCO Advocacy Efforts
Dear Faithful Citizens of Ohio,
Happy New Year and New Legislative Session! As we often do at the turn of the year, I would like to share a brief reflection on the Catholic Conference of Ohio's advocacy efforts for the 135th General Assembly (2023-2024) and provide a preview of our advocacy efforts for the 136th General Assembly, which officially began last week.
135th General Assembly Advocacy Outcomes
This past legislative session was monumental. We celebrated a remarkable win for families with the expansion of EdChoice scholarships, yet continue to grieve the immense loss in the dignity of human life with the enshrinement of abortion in the Ohio Constitution. With the hiring of three new staff members and more public policy involvement of Ohio Catholics across the state, the voice of the Church has positively shaped legislative outcomes in the Statehouse.
In addition to the noteworthy win of the passing of HB 33, the budget bill, which helped address the needs of vulnerable mothers and enabled ALL Ohio families to choose the educational option that best fits their children, the CCO successfully advocated for the following legislative wins in 2023 and 2024:
Passed Bills:
- HB 5, Modernize Adoption Process – effective 3/19/25
- HB 7, Strong Foundations Act – effective 4/8/25
- HB 33, Budget Bill – effective 7/4/23
- HB 34, Excuse Breastfeeding Mothers from Jury Duty – effective 7/23/24
- HB 50, Certificate of Qualification for Housing – effective 9/20/24
- HB 68, SAFE Act – effective 4/24/24
- HB 106, Paystub Protection Act – effective 4/8/25
- HB 602, Home Education Groups (passed under SB 208) – effective 4/8/25
- SB 198, Provide Inmates ID Cards and Documentation (passed within HB 315) – effective 4/2/25
- SB 242, Expand Charitable Use Tax Exemption (passed under sub SB 98) – effective 10/24/24
Prevented Bills:
A Look Ahead
As we celebrate the beginning of Jubilee 2025, we seek to be Pilgrims of Hope in the public square, bringing a message of expectation of good things to come for the glory of God. An immediate focus of the Catholic Conference of Ohio is advocacy for the FY2026-27 State Budget to continue supporting families in choosing the best educational option for their children and securing assistance to allow low-income and vulnerable Ohioans to flourish. Legislators debate components of the State Budget during the first six months of odd-numbered years before the Governor must sign it into law on July 1. The operating budget contains much of the policy passed during Ohio's two-year legislative cycle.
Additionally, the CCO remains united with all the dioceses in Ohio in evangelizing on God's gift of life in every circumstance and stage of development. The Church's consistent teaching on the prohibition of laws that allow the taking of life in the womb or via an unnatural death (the death penalty or assisted suicide) remains an outlier in our culture. We must help others to see the truth and hope contained in these teachings to bring about greater respect for the infinite dignity of every life made in the image and likeness of God. Please join us in this evangelizing effort during the Jubilee year.
Stay tuned to our newsletters and action alerts to join us in putting our Catholic faith into action. We look forward to hosting in-person events this spring and ask you to consider sharing this newsletter with a friend or fellow parishioner. Also, please keep our team and the Ohio legislature in your prayers as we work towards building a culture of life and civilization of love.
Sincerely in Christ,
