 I am greatly honored to represent Ohio's 80th House District, covering Miami and southern Darke counties. If you are ever in Columbus, please feel free to call and schedule a visit at The People's Office of District 80.
Sub. House Bill 58 - Bill to Address Unregulated Recovery Housing in Ohio
I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 58 - legislation to address Ohio’s unregulated recovery housing industry, closing loopholes and strengthening accountability within the industry.
Key provisions of House Bill 58 are as follows:
- Requires state certification of recovery housing facilities based on statewide standards of practice established by the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health;
- Allows local officials to impose penalties on facilities that fail to comply with statewide standards, shutting down bad actors;
- Criminalizes compensation for patient referrals or the use of services within the system, refocusing attention on recovery rather than profit; and
- Creates the Ohio Recovery Housing Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding recovery housing in Ohio.
House Bill 58 now awaits further consideration by the Ohio Senate.
House Bill 587 - Kratom Consumer Protection Act
I am a co-sponsor of House Bill 587 - the Kratom Consumer Protection Act - legislation designed to protect Ohioans from dangerous synthetic kratom products.
Kratom is a natural botanical from the coffee family that millions of Americans safely consume for pain relief, energy, and overall wellness. Scientific literature characterizes naturally occurring pure kratom as a safe herbal supplement, while recognizing the danger of synthetic kratom and kratom with high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH.
This bill will charge the Ohio Department of Agriculture with licensing kratom distributors and retailers in the Buckeye State and prohibit the sale of kratom products that are made of synthetic alkaloids or contain high levels of 7-OH. The introduction of this legislation follows the Food and Drug Administration’s actions this summer to begin its process to classify 7-OH as a controlled substance.
 *Pictured above, Representatives Odioso and Lorenz providing sponsor testimony for H.B. 587
House Bill 587 awaits further consideration in the House Agriculture Committee.
House Concurrent Resolution 9 - Leland Muhlenberg Resolution
Representative Gary Click and I are joint-sponsors of H.C.R 9 - the Leland Muhlenberg Resolution - legislation urging President Trump and Congress to repeal the Johnson Amendment.
If you ask the average American about the Johnson Amendment, you’re likely to receive a puzzled look or even a shrug. Despite its significant impact, this last-minute, unvetted amendment remains obscure to most. Many assume the phrase "separation of church and state" appears in the Constitution—an assumption that is false. Conversely, some deny that the nation was founded on principles of separating church and state, which is also inaccurate.
While the phrase "separation of church and state" is widely recognized, few understand its origins or implications. The Johnson Amendment, enacted in 1954, is a key contributor to this confusion.
H.C.R. 9 awaits further consideration in the House General Government Committee.
The School On The Rock Homeschool Visit
 I was pleased to have the School On The Rock homeschool co-op visit to learn more about state government and the importance of being involved in their community. It was a delight to host them and tell the inspiring stories behind the District 80 artifact collection on display in my office - it’s like a mini-museum of Miami and Darke County local heroes!
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