The Ohio House on Oct. 1 approved a package of bills and resolutions, including naming a portion of State Route 241 in Summit County for Captain Joshua Michael McClemmons, designating a January date as a NASA Day of Remembrance, advancing a statutory fix to nursing background checks requested by the FBI with an emergency clause, and agreeing to senate amendments to a school naloxone and release‑time bill.
House actions of note (votes recorded on the floor):
- House Bill 259: To designate a portion of State Route 241 in Summit County as the Captain Joshua Michael McClemmons Memorial Highway. The House passed the bill with 93 affirmative votes and 0 negative votes. Representative T. Daniels, the bill sponsor, described McClemmons’s military service and urged a unanimous vote; Representative Bill Romer also spoke in support.
- House Bill 293: To designate January as NASA Day of Remembrance. The House passed the bill with 93 affirmative votes and 1 negative vote. Representative Ty Matthews and Representative Rader both spoke in favor, citing Ohioans who served in space programs and the John Glenn Research Center.
- House Bill 440: Revise law governing the Board of Nursing and criminal records check results; includes an emergency clause. The House first voted to retain the emergency clause, 93-0, and then passed the bill as an emergency measure, 93-0. Representative Dieter described the measure as a technical clarification requested by the FBI to ensure continued access to the FBI fingerprint database for nursing background checks; Representative Simani emphasized the goal of avoiding interruptions to the vetting process.
- Senate amendments to Substitute House Bill 57 (concurrence): The House agreed to the senate amendments to substitute House Bill 57, which addresses school policies on naloxone (overdose reversal) storage and administration and adds provisions on release time for religious instruction. The concurrence vote was 76 affirmative, 18 negative. Supporters, including Representative Williams and Representative Jerrells, said the central purpose is to ensure naloxone is available and staff are trained; Representative Piccolantonio explained that she voted no on concurrence because the added release‑time language was unrelated to the underlying naloxone policy and removed a previously set cap.
- House Concurrent Resolution 20: Honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy. The concurrent resolution was adopted 94-0. Representatives Davila and Santucci highlighted Ohio’s historical and contemporary ties to the Navy and thanked service members and families.
- House Resolution 255: In memory of Mary Rose O'Karr. The resolution was adopted following a rising vote and moment of silence; the chamber recited her accomplishments and expressed condolences.
Other floor actions included routine travel‑allowance resolutions and committee referral motions. Where roll calls were taken, the clerk’s tallies above match the recorded counts on the floor.
Several sponsors framed these measures as recognitions or technical fixes; the most policy‑oriented debate was on the senate amendments to Substitute House Bill 57 (naloxone and release time), which drew both supportive testimony about student safety and recorded opposition tied to the added release‑time language.