How a Bill Becomes a Law in Ohio

  • 1. Idea

    Every bill starts with someone—just like you—identifying a problem in their community, and proposing a solution.

  • 2. Drafting

    State lawmakers take ideas to Ohio’s Legislative Service Commission (LSC) to draft the bill.

  • 3. Chamber of Origin

    The bill can be introduced in either legislative chamber: The House of Representatives or The Senate.

  • 4. Committee Hearings

    The Speaker of the House or the Senate President assigns the bill to a committee. Typically, the bill receives at least three hearings: sponsor, proponent, and opponent. The bill can be amended in committee and must receive more than 50% of the votes to pass.

  • 5. Full Chamber Vote

    The full chamber of origin votes on the bill. The bill must receive 50 votes in the House or 17 votes in the Senate to pass. The bill can be amended here as well.

  • 6. Opposite Chamber

    Once passed, the bill moves to the opposite chamber, and must go through the process again!

  • 7. Committee Hearings

    Again, the bill typically receives three hearings, can be amended and must receive more than 50% of the votes to pass.

  • 8. Full Chamber Vote

    The full chamber must vote on the bill. The bill can be amended or redrafted as a substitute bill before this vote. If the bill is amended in the opposite chamber, it must go back to the chamber of origin for approval. If the original chamber does not approve of the changes, the bill can go to “conference committee,” where the two chambers attempt to work out the differences and send the bill back for a final vote in both chambers.

  • 9. Governor

    The governor may sign, veto, or do nothing with the bill. If he does nothing with the bill within 10 days, it will become law without his signature.

  • 10. Law

    The bill becomes law after 90 days unless it includes an emergency clause.

The 136th General Assembly

99 Ohio House Representatives: 65 Republicans, 34 Democrats

33 Ohio Senators: 24 Republicans, 9 Democrats

Your Ohio Senate Leadership

  • Senate President

    Rob McColley
    District 1 | R

    The Senate President is the presiding officer of the Ohio Senate, elected by all members of the Senate to conduct session, which includes recognizing members in debate, preserving order and decorum, calling for votes and signing all acts.

  • Bill Reineke

    President Pro Tempore

    Bill Reineke
    District 26 | R

    The President Pro Tempore is elected by all members of the Senate. The role of this leadership position is to serve as the temporary president in the absence of the Senate President.

  • Majority Floor Leader

    Theresa Gavarone
    District 2 | R

    The Majority Floor Leader is elected by all members of the Senate and is responsible for the development and implementation of the agenda for the majority party, which is currently the Republicans.

  • Majority Whip

    George F. Lang
    District 4 | R

    The Majority Whip is elected by all members of the Senate and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor for the majority party.

  • Minority Leader

    Nickie J. Antonio
    District 23 | D

    The Minority Leader is elected by all members of the Senate to lead the party in the minority, which is currently the Democrats. She is responsible for the development and implementation of the minority party.

  • Assistant Minority Leader

    Hearcel F. Craig
    District 15 | D

    The Assistant Minority Leader is elected by all members of the Senate and assists the minority leader in development and implementation of the agenda for the minority party.

  • Minority Whip

    Kent Smith
    District 21 | D

    The Minority Whip is elected by all members of the Senate and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor for the minority party.

  • Assistant Minority Whip

    Beth Liston
    District 16 | D

    The Assistant Minority Whip is elected by all members of the Senate and is responsible for assisting the minority whip in monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor for the minority party.

Your Ohio House of Representatives Leadership

  • Speaker of the House

    Matt Huffman
    District 78 | R

    The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, elected by all members of the House when it convenes for a regular legislative session. The Speaker appoints the members and chairpersons of all committees, directs the legislative procedures, oversees administration of the body and presides over daily House sessions.

  • Speaker Pro Tempore

    Gayle Manning
    District 52 | R

    Speaker Pro Tempore means “Speaker 'for a time.’” A representative elected by all members of the House to serve as the temporary Speaker in the absence of the Speaker of the House.

  • Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore

    Phil Plummer
    District 39 | R

  • Majority Floor Leader

    Marilyn John
    District 76 | R

    The Majority Floor Leader is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for the development and implementation of the agenda for the party in the majority.

  • Assistant Majority Floor Leader

    Adam C. Bird
    District 63 | R

    The Assistant Majority Floor Leader is elected by all members of the House and assists the Majority Floor Leader in developing and implementing the agenda for the party in the majority.

  • Majority Whip

    Riordan T. McClain
    District 87 | R

    All members of the House elect the Majority Whip and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor. The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the 'whipper-in' at a fox hunt.

  • Majority Whip

    Steve Demetriou
    District 35 | R

    The Majority Whip is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor. The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the 'whipper-in' at a fox hunt.

  • Majority Whip

    Nick Santucci
    District 64 | R

    The Majority Whip is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor. The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the 'whipper-in' at a fox hunt.

  • Majority Whip

    Josh Williams
    District 44 | R

    The Majority Whip is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor. The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the 'whipper-in' at a fox hunt.

  • Minority Leader

    C. Allison Russo
    District 7 | D

    The Minority Leader is elected by all members of the House to lead the party in the minority and is responsible for the development and implementation of the caucus agenda.

  • Assistant Minority Leader

    Dontavius L. Jarrells
    District 1 | D

    The Assistant Minority Leader is elected by all members of the House and assists the Minority Leader in development and implementation of the agenda for the party in the minority.

  • Minority Whip

    Dani Isaacsohn
    District 24 | D

    The Minority Whip is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor. The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the 'whipper-in' at a fox hunt.

  • Assistant Minority Whip

    Michele Grim
    District 43 | D

    The Assistant Minority Whip is elected by all members of the House and is responsible for monitoring legislation and securing votes for legislation on the floor. The term Whip originated in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is derived from the whipper-in' at a fox hunt.

Our Approach

  • Value People

    Every person has inherent value. Therefore, we believe the way we talk, write, and think about other people should reflect their intrinsic worth and value, regardless of philosophical, religious, or ideological disagreements.

  • Be Positive

    We live in the greatest nation on earth. While we will fight vigorously for the things we hold dear, we will conduct ourselves in a way that reflects the gratitude we hold for the unmerited favor we enjoy as Americans.

  • Be Professional

    Excellence is crucial to effectiveness. We believe our conduct, our speech, and any work product should be professional. We are committed to ensuring that everything we do meets the highest standards of professionalism.

  • Be Thoughtful

    Personal, emotional issues should be dealt with in a considerate and thoughtful way. We do not believe anyone is obligated to agree with us. Therefore, as we endeavor to persuade others of the rightness