Wayne County,
The month started off at a sprint, with the House moving through a packed agenda before heading into summer recess. My colleagues and I were able to move forward on several key initiatives, and we’re eager to continue that work even while we’re on break. Many of these efforts continue behind the scenes, and we’re committed to building on that momentum when we return to Columbus in the fall.
I’m looking forward to a busy and productive summer here at home, staying connected and continuing to be a resource for members of the community. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns, or would like to schedule a meeting. My office can be reached at Rep77@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 466-1474.
Sincerely,
State Representative Meredith Craig
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House Bill 843: Requiring Voter Approval of Speed Cameras
This month, I introduced and provided sponsor testimony on House Bill 843, legislation that gives taxpayers and voters the final say on whether speed cameras should operate in their communities. The bill does not prohibit municipalities from using automated traffic enforcement or take away home-rule control. Instead, it ensures that before a speed camera program is implemented, local governments must first receive approval from the voters they serve.
This builds on previous attempts by the legislature to ban speed cameras. In the transportation budget last year, the legislature banned the use of speed cameras in counties and townships because the state’s constitutional authority of home-rule does not apply to them. Senator Tom Patton first introduced this concept and has been working on this issue for years. His companion bill is Senate Bill 340.
You can stay up to date by tracking the bill’s progress here.
House Bill 860: Making Zebra Swallowtail the State Butterfly
 Did you know zebra swallowtail butterflies rely on Ohio's native fruit, the pawpaw, to reproduce and survive? I didn't! Not until Ruth and Joshua Steiner sent a handwritten letter to my office and visited the Statehouse to educate members.
To support their advocacy efforts, along with the West View Pawpaw Farm and Dalton Garden Club, Representative Matthew Kishman and I introduced House Bill 860 to make the zebra swallowtail the state butterfly!
Track the bill’s progress here.
House Bill 709: Parity of Telehealth Mental Health
 I was pleased to give sponsor testimony on House Bill 709, alongside my joint sponsor, Representative Karen Brownlee, before the House Insurance Committee.
House Bill 709 ensures true parity for behavioral health telehealth services. It does not create a new insurance mandate or expand benefits - it simply ensures that if a behavioral health service is covered by a plan sponsor in person, it must also be covered when delivered through telehealth.
For many Ohioans, especially those in rural communities facing provider shortages and transportation challenges, telehealth is a critical lifeline to behavioral health care. House Bill 709 helps remove barriers and ensures patients can access the care they need, regardless of how it is delivered.
Track the bill’s progress here.
House Bill 105 Goes to the Governor
This month, my very first bill passed and is on its way to the governor. House Bill 105 brings long-overdue transparency to third-party litigation funding and ensures that no foreign entity can invest in or influence our courts. House Bill 105 creates a clear transparency framework for consumers and requires third-party funders to register with the Ohio Attorney General, which ensures outside financial interests cannot secretly influence Ohio’s legal system.
Most importantly, House Bill 105 includes a first-in-the-nation ban on all foreign governments, foreign corporations, and foreign investors participating in third-party litigation funding. With House Bill 105, Ohio is set to have the nation's strongest ban on foreign influence in our courts! A major win for transparency, fairness, and protecting our legal system.
Capital Budget Funding Awarded
 Exciting news! Governor DeWine has signed the State’s Capital Budget bill, a two-year capital improvements budget for state and community projects throughout the state totaling nearly $4 billion. Through this bill, my colleagues and I prioritized investing in Ohio’s future by expanding access to education and healthcare through new facilities or upgrades to existing ones, improving parks and roadways to better connect communities, and strengthening local facilities across the state by providing necessary funding for enhancements.
I am proud to have helped secure investments totaling $1.3 million for the following community partners in Wayne County:
- The Village of Apple Creek: Apple Creek Watershed Flood Control
- The Chippewa Rogues Hollow Historical Society: Seiberling House Museum
- The Village of Creston: Creston Park Accessibility Improvements
- Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club: Facility Improvements
- Wayne College: Wagstaff Way Trail Improvements
- Paint Township: Walking Path
- City of Rittman: Rittman Morton Salt Park
- Smithville Community Historical Society: Church of God Restoration
- Wayne County Fairgrounds: Various Property Improvements
- Wayne Center for the Arts: Building Stability
- Wayne County Commissioners and Sheriff: Memorial Plaza Improvements
- Wooster OneEighty: Roof Project
Cracking Down on Medicaid Fraud, Waste, and Abuse… and the passage of House Bill 716
The Ohio House and Ohio Senate recently approved a comprehensive package of reforms to strengthen oversight of Ohio's Medicaid program and better protect taxpayer dollars.
As a member of the House Medicaid Committee, I worked with my colleagues to advance legislation that targets fraud, waste, and abuse while protecting services for Ohioans who rely on Medicaid. The reforms increase provider accountability through stronger enrollment requirements, enhanced oversight of high-risk providers, improved fraud detection tools, greater transparency, and tougher penalties for those who steal from the program.
These commonsense reforms help ensure Medicaid resources are available for the individuals who truly need them while safeguarding taxpayer dollars through stronger accountability.
And to top it off, State Representative Kellie Deeter and I were able to add our bill, House Bill 716, into this, creating an all-payers claims database in Ohio. We will join 33 other states and will now be able to study and identify trends in healthcare services and costs.
You can learn more here.
Honoring the Wooster Christian School Boys Basketball Team
 Earlier in June, I had the honor of recognizing the Wooster Christian School Boys Basketball Team, the newly crowned National Christian School Athletic Association (NCSAA) Division 5C National Champions. The Eagles delivered a remarkable 23–7 season fueled by grit, teamwork, and unwavering determination. Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment. Go Eagles!
Liberty Tree Dedication
 I was honored to join the Wooster-Wayne Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) as the featured speaker for their Liberty Tree Dedication.
As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, the Liberty Tree serves as a reminder of the courage and sacrifice that helped found our nation and the freedoms we enjoy today.
 Thank you to the DAR for hosting this special event and for keeping our history alive for future generations.
Recognizing Sgt. Mike Mascolo on His Retirement
I had the privilege of stopping by the Rittman Police Department to recognize Sgt. Mike Mascolo on his retirement after more than 31 years of service to the City of Rittman.
Mike’s dedication to the community and professionalism throughout his career have earned him the title of Officer of the Year 10 times!
Thank you, Mike, for your service and commitment to Rittman. Congratulations on your retirement, and best wishes as you begin this next chapter.
Partnership for a Drug-Free Community Meeting
 This month, I attended the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community meeting hosted at OneEighty in conjunction with the Wayne/Holmes Mental Health and Recovery Board. I shared updates on areas I’m focused on, including Medicaid reform and access to behavioral health services. Thank you to OneEighty, Inc. and the Partnership for a Drug-Free Community for the opportunity to hear about the incredible work you are doing for our community.
NCOIL Fly-In to Washington, D.C.
 I had the opportunity to join the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) and eight other state legislators from across the country to lobby Congress on insurance policy!
Some of the key areas we focused on were:
- Preserving the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which allows for state-based insurance regulation;
- Transparency of the 340B program;
- Amending ERISA to preserve the ability of the states to regulate state healthcare; and
- Encouraging long-term authorization of programs such as the national flood insurance program (NFIP) and the terrorism risk insurance act (TRIA).
And most importantly to me – encouraging Congress to codify individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements (ICHRAs)! Currently, ICHRAs are only laid out in rule, which becomes subject to change from one administration to the next. To provide certainty to employers, Congress should codify ICHRAs into federal law.
Some of the highlights included meeting with Congressman Troy Downing (former Montana Insurance Commissioner), Congressman Max Miller, and Director Peter Nelson of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO).
Celebrating 40 years of Habitat for Humanity
 Congratulations to Habitat for Humanity of Wayne County on celebrating 40 years of serving our community! For four decades, Habitat has helped families achieve the dream of homeownership while strengthening neighborhoods throughout Wayne County. Thank you to the dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and partners who have made this incredible milestone possible.
Happy Independence Day!
 Wishing you and your family a safe, happy, and memorable Fourth of July! This year is extra special as we celebrate America's 250th birthday - a once-in-a-generation opportunity to honor our history, celebrate our communities, and reflect on the blessings of liberty.
Happy Independence Day, and God bless America!
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