Increased Public Access to Senate
Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) announced expanded broadcast coverage of the Senate’s committee proceedings, giving Ohioans more access to the legislative work happening in the Statehouse and making government more transparent.
The Senate already live broadcasts regular sessions and the Finance committee during the important biennial state budget proceedings, but now up to three additional committees will be broadcast and archived by The Ohio Channel.
COLUMBUS– Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) on Jan. 31 announced the Senate’s committee structure and leadership for the 132nd General Assembly. The Senate President laid the framework for 13 standing committees and four subcommittees of the Finance Committee.
“Our standing committees serve as the engine of the Senate’s legislative process,” said President Obhof. “Every piece of legislation begins with these working groups, where senators study each bill draft, debate the issues and deliberate on input from the public. This is where the Senate’s most diligent policy work happens and where Ohioans have the opportunity to provide direct input to their representatives.”
The committees and leadership are listed below.
Agriculture
Cliff Hite (R-Findlay), Chair
Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), Vice Chair
Sean O’Brien (D-Bazetta), Ranking Member
Energy & Natural Resources
Troy Balderson (R-Zanesville), Chair
Kris Jordan (R-Ostrander), Vice Chair
Sean O’Brien (D-Bazetta), Ranking Member
Finance
Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), Chair
Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) Vice Chair
Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood), Ranking Member
Finance Subcommittee on
General Government & Agency Review
Kris Jordan (R-Ostrander), Chair
Sean O’Brien (D-Bazetta), Ranking Member
Finance Subcommittee on Primary & Secondary Education
Cliff Hite (R-Findlay), Chair
Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), Ranking Member
Government Oversight & Reform
Bill Coley (R-Liberty Township), Chair
Joe Uecker (R-Miami Township), Vice Chair
Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights), Ranking Member
Insurance & Financial Institutions
Jay Hottinger (R-Newark), Chair
Bob Hackett (R-London), Vice Chair
Edna Brown (D-Toledo), Ranking Member
Public Utilities
Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City), Chair
Frank LaRose (R-Hudson), Vice Chair
Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), Ranking Member
Ways & Means
John Eklund (R-Munson Township), Chair
Lou Terhar (R-Green Township), Vice Chair
Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), Ranking Member
Judiciary
Kevin Bacon (R-Minerva Park), Chair
Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), Vice Chair
Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati), Ranking Member
Education
Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering), Chair
Matt Huffman (R-Lima), Vice Chair
Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), Ranking Member
Finance Subcommittee on Health & Medicaid
Bob Hackett (R-London), Chair
Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus), Ranking Member
Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education
Randy Gardner (R-Bowling Green), Chair
Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), Ranking Member
Health, Human Services & Medicaid
Dave Burke (R-Marysville), Chair
Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City), Vice Chair
Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus), Ranking Member
Rules & Reference
Larry Obhof (R-Medina), Chair
Bob Peterson (R-Washington Court House), Vice Chair
Joe Schiavoni (D-Boardman), Ranking Member
Transportation, Commerce & Workforce
Frank LaRose (R-Hudson), Chair
Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), Vice Chair
Charleta Tavares (D-Columbus), Ranking Member
Local Government, Public Safety & Veterans Affairs
Joe Uecker (R-Miami Township), Chair
Steve Wilson (R-Maineville), Vice Chair
Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati), Ranking Member
Jordan to Lead Senate Finance Sub Committee on
General Government Oversight and Agency Review
COLUMBUS—Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina) appointed Senator Kris Jordan (R-Ostrander) as Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on General Government and Agency Review for the 132nd Ohio General Assembly
“I look forward to working alongside my colleagues as we continue our efforts to improve efficiency in government,” said Jordan. “It’s an honor to be appointed as chairman of this committee as we build on our efforts to eliminate bureaucracy and ensure the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars.”
The Senate Finance Sub Committee on General Government and Agency Review is charged with evaluating the usefulness, performance and effectiveness of various state government entities as the full Senate Finance Committee establishes funding priorities for the state’s biennial operating budget.
During the 131st Ohio General Assembly, Senator Jordan joined former Ohio Senate President Keith Faber in sponsoring legislation to establish a process by which all state agencies must be re-authorized every four years.
Later vetoed by Governor Kasich, the bill would have required that each cabinet-level department must make the case for its existence before the legislature by proving that they are operating as intended, acting within established boundaries, seeking efficiencies wherever possible and creating opportunities for Ohioans.
Senator Jordan’s appointment to the Finance Sub Committee on General Government and Agency Review follows the governor’s charge written in his veto message for Senate Bill 329, emphasizing the state budgeting process as the most effective platform for reviewing the effectiveness of state agencies.
