The League of Women Voters lobbies on an issue or advocates for a cause only after a rigorous process of study, discussion and reaching consensus. Studies are done by League members and can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. After approval by the chapter or state board, the study results in a written Position. Only then can the League advocate or lobby on this issue. (For more about the process, see below)
Currently we are focusing on the following:
Making Democracy Work Agenda
Fair Districts / Citizens Not Politicians
Click here to to sign up for emails to keep up to date on Redistricting news and actions we can take.
Training to collect signatures on the Citizens Not Politicians petition is here.
Rank Choice Voting (RCV)
LWV is firmly opposed to:
SB 137: Prohibit Ranked Choice Voting [Gavarone, Demora]
• This bill not only prohibits Ranked Choice Voting but would fine any community using this method.
• Third hearing on March 22 with no vote.
• Fewer than 15 people submitted proponent testimony. Gavarone proudly announced on X (Twitter) that supporters came from outside Ohio.
• About 45 people submitted testimony opposing this bill, with many who are activists, e.g. LWVO, Ohio Mayors Alliance, and Rank the Vote. Send a message here: https://lwvohio.salsalabs.org/sb137protectohiodemocracy Call Senator Demora: 614-466-4583. Ask Senator Demora to withdraw his name from SB 137. This bill is government overreach and limits access to more inclusive democratic systems.
Education
LWV is firmly opposed to these bills now in the Ohio House:
SB 168: Education Regulation Reform, which includes:
• Employ more non-licensed individuals as classroom teachers without properly preparing them
• Eliminate standards that trigger the closing of poorly performing charter schools.
• Eliminate a requirement that districts pay more for teachers required to teach classes outside the normal school day.
• Eliminate Ohio law that requires school districts to give preference on the basis of seniority when making reductions in nonteaching staff.
• Eliminate the requirement that an applicant for a senior professional educator license or lead professional educator hold at least a master’s degree.
• Eliminate several important Ohio Revised Code (ORC) sections, including:
• Requirements related to supporting school districts with programs for children of migrant agricultural laborers.
• A requirement that the Department encourage, seek out, and publicize innovative/exemplary school-parent and school-business partnerships.
• An exemplary parental involvement grant program
• A grant program for teachers who hold certificates or licenses issued by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.
• A requirement that the Department study and share with school districts promising practices in Ohio and throughout the country for teachers with certain professional licensure.
Read OEA’s full opponent testimony here
STATUS AND ACTION YOU CAN TAKE:
- Passed the Senate along party lines. Had a hearing in House Primary & Secondary Ed Committee (Tuesday, Feb 13th, at 3:00pm).
- This bill contains significant problems that must be fixed before it moves forward.
- Article: Ohio Senate passes sweeping bill deregulating aspects of K-12 education
- Alert Education Committee members about the problems with SB 168:
- Alert Committee Ranking Member Phil Robinson (D) about the problems with SB 168: 614-644-6041 or rep19 [at] ohiohouse.gov
- Tell Committee Chair Bird (R) to fix/remove SB 168’s problems before moving it forward: 614-644-6034 or rep63 [at] ohiohouse.gov, Twitter/X handle: AdamCBird
- Tell the bill sponsor (Senator Michele Reynolds) to fix/remove the bill’s problems: 614-466-8064 or Reynolds [at] ohiosenate.gov, Twitter/X handle: SenReynolds03
HB 339: Education Savings Accounts for non-chartered schools
- For an explanation on Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) see Brookings: “ESAs are vouchers-plus” and “ESAs were a helpful rebranding” for voucher supporters
STATUS AND ACTION YOU CAN TAKE:
• Tell Committee Chair Bird (R) to STOP moving HB 339 forward. No more hearings for this bill, which sends our tax dollars to poorly regulated private and religious schools! 614-644-6034 or email: rep63 [at] ohiohouse.gov
• Alert Committee Ranking Member Phil Robinson (D) about this bill — tell him to say NO to HB 339! 614-644-6041, or rep19 [at] ohiohouse.gov
Interested in State Government?
- Ohio Legislative Website: The Ohio Legislature, 135 th General Assembly
- See schedules
- Obtain links and information for members
- See committee members and committee hearing agendas
- Track bills; read bill and its analysis; sponsors and co-sponsors
- See all General Assembly rules and procedures (under publications)
- Learn about your representatives
- And much more
- Training on how to use this website.
- The Ohio Capital Journal is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to connecting Ohioans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Journal combines Ohio state government coverage with incisive investigative journalism, reporting on the consequences of policy, political insight and principled commentary.
- The Ohio Channel: Watch sessions and committees live and see archived meetings.
OTHER SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES
- Abolish the Death Penalty
- Stop Intimate Partner Violence
- Keep Ohioans Safe from Gun Viiolence
- Repeal HB6 which provides money for nuclear plants, subsidized coal fired coal plants and reduces subsidies for renewal energy
Other Issues
Other issues we advocate for in Ohio and the US LWV issues are listed here.
To view legislation that is currently under consideration in Ohio see: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/
LWV Ohio will use Positions to decide whether to support or oppose proposed legislation.
In the past the League of Women Voters of Hudson has developed Positions on Education, Planning and Zoning, Recreation and Parks, and the Library, as well as regional positions on Land Use, Government, Social Policy, and Mass Transit.
Process for Selecting Positions
The step-by-step process we use to take a position at the local, state, or national level includes the following:
• Program Planning: During the program planning process, each League member can influence the selection of issues on which the League will focus its time, talent, and resources. This consideration of issues “from the bottom up” is part of what makes the League a true grassroots organization.
• Study: A study committee undertakes thorough, factual research and continually discusses the pros and cons of every facet of the issue.
• Concurrence: Before presenting results to the general membership, the study committee determines whether other local chapters or state Leagues have reached consensus on the topic. If so, and if the position of the other local chapters or state Leagues meets the findings of the study committee, then the local chapter or state League discusses the results, reaches concurrence,and issues a concurrence statement.
• Consensus: If no other local chapter or state League has established a position on the topic, the study committee circulates questions among its local or state membership. Further discussion, pro and con, takes place as members (not part of the study committee) learn the scope of the study. After the members reach consensus, the local chapter or state League forms a position and issues a consensus statement.
After approval by the chapter or state board, the concurrence statement or consensus statement becomes a Position. Only then can the local chapter or state League take action – in the form of advocacy or lobbying – on the issue. If members have not studied or have not reached consensus or concurrence on an issue, the League has no position and therefore cannot take action.
