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Dear Neighbors and Friends,
Happy 2026! I hope each of you experienced a wonderful and joyous holiday season surrounded by your families and friends. I want to share with you that just before Thanksgiving, I fell off a ladder resulting in a concussion, broken scapula in my back, and injury to my tailbone. Following brief time in the hospital and rest over the holidays, I have recovered exceptionally well with some lag in the healing of my concussion. Fortunately, this injury happened when I could rest over the holidays. And I am now ready to fully resume my normal work routine!
As we enter this New Year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the important work of the 136th General Assembly in the second half of 2025. Throughout the fall and early winter, my top priority has been reforming property taxes, including many hours serving on the Ways and Means Committee. The Ohio House of Representatives passed 5 bills addressing property tax relief and reform which I explain below. These new laws are a big step toward important reform and yet I am still working to gain more relief...especially for seniors and the disabled.
The House is now working to prioritize and ensure important legislation is addressed in committee with the hope of getting policy into law by the end of this year. Later in this newsletter, I have highlighted a few bills that may be of interest and value to the residents of my district.
Since the previous newsletter, I continue to dedicate myself to my leadership responsibility as Chairwoman of the Veterans and Military Development Committee which includes advocacy for issues impacting veterans and the military economy throughout Ohio. I scheduled and attended tours at installations to help educate my entire committee on the issues that matter most to those who serve. I always enjoy my in-district visits to listen to individuals and celebrate accomplishments. I was particularly excited to attend the dedication of four projects that were completed this year due to state funding via the capital budget bill. Congratulations to those who collaborated with me and did the demanding work resulting in projects like the newly paved trail at the Richwood Fairgrounds, the new Women's History Resource Center at the Marion Women's Club & Home and much more!
As we begin 2026, I am sad to acknowledge that I'm beginning my final year as your State Representative due to term limits. Let me assure you that I am as committed as ever to keeping Ohio moving forward and ensuring quality of life for our residents. My goal is to remain connected to those I represent so that I can serve you to the best of my ability. Please don't hesitate to reach out to my office should you have a question or concern. Wishing all a healthy, productive, and prosperous new year!
Sincerely,
Property Tax Update
 As you may be aware, the members of the General Assembly have spent this year working diligently to address the compelling need for property tax relief and reform. In late November, I voted in support of the passage of House Bills 124, 129, 309, 186, and 335 – five policy initiatives that aim to curb property tax spikes and provide direct relief to Ohioans. These bills have been enacted and their projected savings total more than $3 billion for homeowners across the state. Residents will begin to see this relief in the 2nd half of 2026(July) tax bills.
- House Bill 124 improves accuracy, transparency, and fairness in property tax assessment by refining the data and review processes, ensuring properties are taxed at fair market value.
- House Bill 129 requires emergency and substitute tax levies, incremental growth levies, conversion levies, and the property tax portion of combined levies to be included in the calculation for school funding, protecting taxpayers from large, unvoted tax spikes. This measure also closes loopholes and ultimately lifts 237 districts off the 20-mill floor over the next four years.
- House Bill 309 slashes unnecessary collections by expanding the County Budget Commission’s authority to modify levies and trim unnecessarily high millage rates, shielding Ohioans from overly excessive tax bills.
- House Bill 186 establishes a new Inflation Cap Credit, which prevents school district property taxes from increasing above the rate of inflation. This legislation also modifies tax rollbacks for residential property, with the effect that the total rollbacks for owner-occupied homes will increase from 12.5% to 15.38%, over a 4-year period. The result will be a reduction in property taxes for all owner-occupied properties beginning in 2026.
- House Bill 335 caps any increases on inside millage collections to the rate of inflation. The bill requires county budget commissions to adjust the rate of each inside millage levy so that it does not increase by more than the sum of the three previous years of inflation.
My Introduced Legislation
 House Resolution 243: Urge Selection of Rickenbacker as KC-46 Pegasus Operating Base
- H.R. 243 requests that Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base becomes the main operating base for the KC-46 Pegasus refueling aircraft. With the appropriate infrastructure and experienced personnel, Rickenbacker is fully equipped to support this important mission. This resolution has been sent to the Secretary of the Air Force for his consideration in the next selection process.
House Bill 462: Regards Student Use of a Nasal Epinephrine Delivery Device
- H.B. 462 permits students to possess and use a nasal epinephrine device in schools, in addition to an epinephrine autoinjector as already permitted under current law. This legislation empowers parents, students and their healthcare providers to choose the technology that works best for them in the case of an emergent allergic reaction at school. H.B. 462 has been passed out of the House and is currently in the Senate Education Committee.
House Bill 464: Exempt Military-Certified Child Care Providers from Licensure
- H.B. 464 provides an exemption to licensure for family child care providers that have been certified by the U.S. armed forces. This bill reduces duplicative licensure requirements at the state level that hinders flexibility for those that serve. H.B. 464 is currently in the House Children and Human Services Committee and will have its first hearing when the House reconvenes in February.
Important Legislation to Watch
House Bill 88: Regards Drug Trafficking, Human Trafficking, and Fentanyl
- H.B. 88 increases drug-trafficking penalties, expands the definition of human trafficking, and provides law enforcement and prosecutors additional tools to combat drug-related crimes. This legislation also designates the month of August as “Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month” and requires schools to educate students on the dangers of fentanyl. This bill has passed through the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
House Bill 102: Restrict Sex Offenders Residing Near Victim
- H.B. 102 prohibits a registered sex offender from knowingly residing within 2,000 feet of their victim’s residence. Additionally, this legislation also prohibits them from loitering within 1,000 feet of the victim’s residence, school, or place of regular activity. This bill has passed through the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
House Bill 485: Enact the Baby Olivia Act
- H.B. 485 requires each public school to provide human growth and development instruction in its curriculum for grades 5-12, which must include a high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia” video or substantially similar video. As a proud supporter of Pro-Life movement, I feel it is important that our students have a more complete, science-based understanding of early human development. This bill has passed through the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
House Bill 303: Establish Community Energy Program and Pilot Program
- H.B. 303 establishes a Community Energy Pilot Program that allows residential consumers and small businesses the opportunity to voluntarily participate in community-based energy projects. This legislation aims to address concerns regarding the availability, access, and cost of energy in Ohio. This bill has passed through the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
House Bill 486: Enact the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act
- H.B. 486 allows Ohio’s educators, when teaching American history, to include instruction on the positive influence of religion—particularly Christianity—on the development of our nation’s ideals, its civic institutions, and its culture. It is important that our students understand the impact of spirituality on the founding of our nation. This bill has passed through the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
Senate Bill 56: Adult-Use Cannabis and Intoxicating Hemp
- S.B 56, which was signed into law on December 19th, updates & clarifies Ohio’s marijuana laws and implements needed safeguards regarding intoxicating hemp products. This legislation preserves provisions of Issue 2 passed by voters in 2023 and allocates 36% of revenue from the marijuana excise tax to be distributed to local communities with dispensaries.
House Bill 162: Enact the My Child-My Chart Act
- H.B. 162 requires health care providers to ensure a minor’s parent or guardian has access to the electronic health records of the minor to the fullest extent permitted under the HIPAA Privacy Rule and state law. Parents need to have access to information regarding medical decisions that are made with parental authorization. This bill has passed through the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
House Bill 23: Escaped Convict Alert Program
- H.B. 23, signed into law on December 1st, creates the Escaped Convict Alert Program to help identify and locate an individual who has escaped from a jail, workhouse, or correctional institution while incarcerated or awaiting adjudication of a felony offense. Having both the Marion Correctional Institution and the Ohio Reformatory for Women in my district, I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that protects members of our communities.
House Bill 455: Regards the Operation of Public Schools and the DEW
- H.B. 455 modernizes Ohio’s education code by revising outdated educator requirements, reducing unnecessary regulations, and eliminating obsolete programs and unfunded mandates. This legislation ensures that teachers will have more time and resources to deliver high-quality instruction to their students. H.B 455 was passed by the House and is currently awaiting hearings in the Senate.
Senate Bill 138: Modify Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Laws
- S.B. 138, signed into law on July 1st, ensures that the vast resources that Ohio puts toward addressing mental health and addiction are being spent efficiently and effectively. This legislation provides meaningful updates to ADAMH boards’ roles and responsibilities, including reporting abuse/neglect of individuals in facilities, informing individuals of local options for continuum of care, and encouraging collaboration with other local services and providers.
Veterans and Military Development Committee Updates
The Veterans and Military Development Committee has continued touring different military installations and facilities around the state. In August, members had the pleasure of touring Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base located just south of Columbus. This base houses members of the Ohio Air National Guard, whose mission includes responding to domestic emergencies and providing combat service support for the military. Here, we learned about the exceptional work of the 121st Air Refueling Wing and their amazing contributions to the state as well the overall mission of the United States Air Force.
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In October, we took a tour of the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence in Springfield, Ohio. This one-of-a-kind facility exhibits our path forward for innovation in aviation and demonstrates the vital role Ohio plays in manufacturing and military defense.
I am looking forward to continuing these tours in the New Year!
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In August, I had the pleasure of attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for Deane Brown Bishop Elementary School in Dublin. Congratulations to the community and Go Bears!
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Over the summer, Marion competed and won the national competition for Strongest Town in the United States. I truly enjoyed the celebration and supporting the amazing community of Marion.
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In the previous General Assembly, Richwood Independent Fairgrounds was awarded almost $50,000 in capital budget funding to create a new walking trail. I was delighted to attend the ribbon cutting for this amazing project.
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The Taiwan Deputy Minister of Agriculture and leaders of the Taiwanese agriculture industry visited the Statehouse in September. During the visit, leaders in Ohio and Taiwan’s agriculture industries signed Letters of Intent, outlining Taiwan’s intention to purchase corn and soybean products grown here in Ohio.
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In November, Dr. McCall and Laura Woughter with Marion Technical College met with me to share updates on student enrollment and career pathways. I always love hearing about the amazing work they do to support their students.
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Every month, I host office hours in the district to meet with constituents and discuss any questions or concerns they may have. Should you be interested in setting up an appointment, please don't hesitate to contact my office! In this photo, I'm standing with representatives from the Marion-Crawford ADAMH Board!
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As I continue my work in the state legislature, please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you need assistance with a state issue or would like to share your thoughts with me. I also encourage you to follow my social media for updates on what’s happening in Columbus and our community.
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