Legislative Update

By Senator Charleta B. Tavares (Ret.)

The 134rd Ohio General Assembly commenced in January 2021. As noted in last month’s Columbus/Dayton African American the new Session brought in new leadership in the Ohio House and Senate, as well as the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC). The first year of the new 2-year General Assembly (GA) will focus on passing a twoyear State Operating, Transportation, and Workers Compensation budgets. We will focus on these major budgets along with sponsored and passed legislation that are of particular interest to our African American communities.

The Legislative Update is focused on educating and empowering our African American people specifically and communities of color generally with information in order to advocate for the policies, funding and programs that will improve economic/employment, business, health, education, housing, justice and environment for our residents.

The Sessions of the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate can be viewed live or recorded after each Chamber’s Session date on the Ohio Channel www.ohiochannel. org.

Ohio House Session Schedule – February 2021

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 10, 2021 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 17, 2021 1:00 PM Thursday, February 18, 2021 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 24, 2021 1:00 PM Thursday, February 25, 2021 1:00 PM

Ohio Senate Session Schedule – February 2021

Wednesday, February 3, 2021 1:30PM Wednesday, February 10, 2021 1:30PM Wednesday, February 17, 2021 1:30PM Wednesday, February 24, 2021 1:30PM

New African American Members

The 134th General Assembly elected two new African American members in the Ohio House of Representatives, Representatives Willis Blackshear, Jr. (D-Dayton) and Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus).

Rep. Willis Blackshear, Jr.

A Dayton-area native, Rep. Blackshear serves his hometown representing the 39th House District. The district includes most of Dayton and Jefferson Township. He formerly served as an outreach specialist at the Montgomery County Auditor’s Office and earned his BA in Political Science from Wright State University in Dayton.

Representative Blackshear is prioritizing ways to reinvest in area neighborhoods and communities, bring tax dollars back to the district and put more money back in the pockets of Ohio taxpayers. As a Democrat he plans to work across the aisle with Republicans to invest in public education, expand access to early learning opportunities and ensure a quality education for every Ohio student regardless of where they live.

Rep. Blackshear is also committed to listening to the vast majority of Ohioans who want more—not less—gun safety measures, and supports passing commonsense gun safety legislation to keep children and communities safe.

Rep. Dontavius L. Jarrells

Rep. Jarrells represents the 25th District which includes portions of Columbus (northeast), Clinton and Mifflin Townships. He is a native of Cleveland, Ohio where he graduated from East Technical High School and earned a degree from Hiram College in Northeast Ohio.

Rep. Jarrells’ legislative priorities include legislation to raise wages, invest in job training and make it easier for Ohioans, especially those in minority and immigrant communities, to start, grow and sustain a business, expand early childhood education, improve literacy initiatives, support STEM programs for Ohio students, and promote opportunities in the skilled trades. In addition he supports the Ohio Fairness Act, community policing initiatives and measures to improve the care and supports for individuals with mental illness, substance use disorders, and those experiencing homelessness.

As a longtime advocate for building better communities, he plans to work with other legislators on commonsense legislation to make Ohio a better place to live, work, go to school, start a business or raise a family.

These two new members join the other sixteen members of OLBC. The eighteen members of OLBC will be highlighted with their legislative agendas and sponsored legislation in future additions of the CAANJ.

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Founded in 1967 by former Representative C.J. McLin, Jr., is the oldest legislative Black Caucus in the United States. President – Representative Thomas West (D-Canton)* 1st Vice Pres. – Representative Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland)* Second Vice Pres. – Representative Catherine Ingram (D-Cinc.) Treasurer – Representative Erica Crawley (D-Cols.) Sergeant-at-Arms – Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Cols.) Secretary – Representative Sedrick Denson (D-Cinc.) Parliamentarian – Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron)

If you are interested in testifying on any of the bills introduced in either the House or Senate, please contact the chair of the committee who can be found at www.ohiosenate.gov or www.ohr.gov.

Additional Contacts UPDATE: The Ohio General Assembly sessions and the House and Senate Committees are televised live on WOSU/ WPBO and replays can be viewed at www. ohiochannel.org (specific House and Senate sessions and committee hearings can be searched in the video archives).

If you would like to receive updated information on the Ohio General Assembly and policy initiatives introduced, call or email your state Representative or Senator. The committee schedules, full membership rosters and contact information for the Ohio House and Senate can be found at www.ohiohouse. gov and www.ohiosenate.gov respectively.

Former Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, D-Columbus, is the 1st Democrat and African American woman to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate from Franklin County. She is also the first African American woman to serve in leadership in the history of Ohio and the 1st Democrat woman to serve in leadership in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate (House Minority Whip and Senate Assistant Minority Leader).