Wayne County,

It's an honor to serve you in the 77th House District. I am committed to working on conservative policy that delivers tax relief to Ohioans, spurs economic growth in our communities, and protects our second amendment rights.

This month has been an exciting one and I have several updates to share with you.

Sincerely,

State Representative Meredith Craig

Ohio House Passes Legislation Clarifying Ohio's Public Nuisance Law

I’m proud to share that House Bill 126, legislation I jointly sponsored with Rep. Adam Mathews, has passed the Ohio House. This is a meaningful step forward in our efforts to preserve the integrity of Ohio’s legal system and protect businesses from being targeted through misapplied legal theories.

At its core, HB 126 is a common-sense, pro-business bill that codifies a recent Ohio Supreme Court decision in Trumbull County v. Purdue Pharma. In that case, the Court made it clear: when legal claims involve the sale, manufacture, or distribution of a product, they must be brought under the Ohio Product Liability Act, not under public nuisance law.

Why does this matter? Because public nuisance law was never meant to handle product-related claims. It was designed to address issues like land use and harm to shared public spaces, not to serve as a catch-all tool for politically motivated lawsuits.

Unfortunately, we’ve seen a growing trend, both nationally and here in Ohio, where public nuisance claims are being stretched far beyond their original intent. Local governments are being encouraged to go after entire industries including gun manufacturers, energy producers, even car companies based not on product defects, but on political or ideological grounds.

HB 126 restores the appropriate legal boundaries. It ensures that if someone is harmed by a defective product, they can still seek justice, but they must do so under the Ohio Product Liability Act, where the rules are clear and due process is respected.

This bill is about legal clarity, fairness, and preserving the balance between the courts and the legislature. Regulation of lawful products should happen in the Statehouse, not through creative litigation.

HB 126 is now under consideration in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 277 Addresses Healthcare Workforce Shortages

I introduced House Bill 277 alongside my joint sponsor, Representative Kellie Deeter, which addresses one of the most urgent challenges facing our state: the health care workforce shortage.

HB 277 is about clarity, flexibility, and opportunity. It responds directly to the growing pressures on our health care system, pressures that existed long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but have only deepened since. From staffing shortages to burnout and an aging workforce, we are seeing increasing strain in hospitals, nursing homes, and care centers across Ohio.

This bill recognizes the way health care staffing is evolving. In particular, it acknowledges the growing role of innovative platforms that connect qualified health care professionals—especially nurses, with short-term shift opportunities at facilities in need. These platforms help fill critical gaps in coverage, improve patient access, and allow health care workers to choose when, where, and how they work.

HB 277 creates a clear legal framework for these platforms by defining that, under specific conditions, health care workers who use them are to be considered independent contractors, not employees, under Ohio law. This model reflects the flexible and voluntary nature of these arrangements. Key conditions include:

No obligation for a minimum number of shifts;

Full freedom to accept or reject assignments;

No restrictions on working with other platforms or facilities;

No noncompete clauses or penalties for declining work;

Responsibility for handling one’s own federal, state, and local taxes.

Importantly, this legislation does not eliminate the option of traditional employment. Instead, it provides more choice for health care workers, empowering them to participate in the workforce in ways that fit their lives, whether that’s full-time employment, per diem shifts, or flexible work through multiple platforms.

I am excited to work with my joint sponsor, Representative Kellie Deeter, on this bill. As a nurse anesthetist herself, Rep. Deeter brings invaluable frontline experience and deep insight into the realities of today’s health care workforce. Her voice and perspective have been instrumental in shaping this legislation.

HB 277 offers legal clarity and consistency for workers, platforms, and facilities alike. It supports innovation, strengthens our care infrastructure, and helps retain skilled professionals who might otherwise leave the field due to inflexible work conditions. This is a practical, timely response to a workforce crisis, and one that empowers health care professionals across Ohio

I had the honor of providing sponsor testimony on House Bill 132, known as Philip Wigal’s Law, alongside my joint sponsor, Representative Melanie Miller. We appeared before the House Judiciary Committee to advocate for stronger protections for our first responders and to honor the life and service of a fallen hero.

HB 132 is named in memory of Lt. Philip Wigal, a dedicated firefighter with the Town and Country Fire District who was tragically killed in the line of duty on April 11, 2022. Lt. Wigal was responding to a crash on I-71 near West Salem when he was struck by a semi-truck whose driver failed to slow down or move over, violating Ohio’s Move Over Law. Lt. Wigal left behind a loving wife, two daughters, and a grieving community.

His death was entirely preventable. But under current Ohio law, the penalty for violating the Move Over Law is limited to a $300 fine regardless of whether it's a repeat offense, or whether the violation results in injury or death. That must change.

HB 132 introduces a tiered penalty structure that better reflects the seriousness of each violation:

• First violation: Fine up to $300 (current law)
• Second or subsequent violation within one year: Fine up to $1,000
• Violation resulting in injury: Fine up to $5,000 and possible license suspension
• Violation resulting in death: Fine up to $10,000, license suspension, and a charge of vehicular homicide

This approach mirrors reforms enacted in Oklahoma and recognizes what so many families and first responders already know: failing to move over isn’t a harmless mistake. It’s a dangerous act of negligence with potentially fatal consequences.

HB 132 is more than a policy proposal. It’s a promise: that we will not allow preventable tragedies like Lt. Wigal’s to go unanswered. It’s a message of accountability, deterrence, and respect for those who risk their lives every day on Ohio’s roadways.

HB 132 will receive proponent testimony in House Judiciary Committee on June 11, 2025.