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Rotunda Rumblings The map giveth... While the exact effect of Ohio’s new congressional redistricting plan won’t be known until next year’s midterms, the redrawn map gives a clear leg up to some Ohio politicians (from both parties), while putting others at a disadvantage. Jeremy Pelzer has more on the winners and losers in the aftermath of last week’s unanimous Ohio Redistricting Commission vote. Friendly fire: The first political casualty of Ohio’s new congressional map drawn to favor Republicans is a Republican who thought he had better odds of winning a Democratic-held seat under the old map, Sabrina Eaton writes.Republican Kevin Coughlin announced Sunday that he’s dropping out of the race for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, citing unfavorable changes made to the district by the Ohio Redistricting Commission that shifted it from a tossup to a Democratic-leaning seat. Read more Ohio politics stories Ohio moves to dismiss lawsuit over $600M Browns stadium funding “This is appeasement:” Dems blasted for caving to GOP blackmail on Ohio’s gerrymandering “First president ever” to let Americans go hungry: Trump keeps cash that could feed Ohioans Partial payments: The Trump administration says it will partially fund the SNAP program after two federal judges ordered it to keep food aid running during the shutdown. Federal officials say states must now update their systems to handle reduced payments — a process that could take weeks or even months. Anna Staver reports that no November benefits have been loaded yet in Ohio, and Gov. Mike DeWine has stepped in with $25 million in emergency aid to support food banks and low-income families. License or lockup: Ohio lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it a jailable offense to refuse to identify yourself during a traffic stop. The proposal, backed by former police officer Rep. Cindy Abrams, follows court rulings that silence alone doesn’t count as obstruction of official business. Staver reports that law enforcement says the measure would close a legal gray area as more drivers, influenced by “social media lawyers,” decline to show ID when pulled over. Energy credits: Ohio lawmakers are considering a way for people who don’t own their homes to get the benefits of solar power. As Staver reports, the idea is to let more people, including renters and those without suitable rooftops, buy into local energy projects and earn credits on their electric bills. Hard stop for Head Start: Two Head Start programs in Highland and Scioto counties are temporarily closed during the fifth week of the federal government shutdown. The programs serve 600 children and have 150 staff members. Other Head Start providers with funding cycles on Nov. 1 have scraped money together to keep going, but will likely run out in a couple weeks, Laura Hancock reports. A Thanksgiving miracle: State Sen. Steve Huffman, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, and sponsor of Senate Bill 56, said that he expects lawmakers to come up with a final legislative solution to recreational marijuana and intoxicating hemp regulations before the Thanksgiving holiday, Mary Frances McGowan reports. SB 56 was passed by the Senate earlier this year and made it through the House last month after lawmakers added intoxicating hemp regulations to the bill following Gov. Mike DeWine’s call to ban the products. The Senate then voted to reject concurrence, sending the legislation to a conference committee. Huffman said he expects assignments for the committee to be announced this week. Seats to spare: Passenger numbers at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport decreased 2% in September compared to a year ago, reflecting a national trend of softening air travel demand as passengers worry about flight delays and cancellations due to the government shutdown, Susan Glaser reports. But Cleveland airport officials project seat capacity to grow in the last three months of the year, compared to 2024. What We’re Watching 1. The Ohio Senate has session at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. The House has session at 2 p.m. that same day. 2. On Tuesday in the Senate Education Committee, a possible vote is scheduled for Senate Bill 19, which would require schools to provide evidence-based intervention services in math and English for free for low-performing students, as well as develop math improvement plans. The Senate Housing Committee may vote on SB 250, which would allow charities to receive a nonrefundable but transferrable tax credit for developing owner-occupied housing on land it owns. 3. On Tuesday in the Ohio House Insurance committee is a possible vote scheduled House Bill 21, which would exempt “health care sharing ministries,” organizations that collect dues from members and redistribute money to members who have incurred health costs, are not subject to state health insurance laws. 4. On Wednesday in the Senate General Government Committee, a possible vote is scheduled for SB 293, which moves up the final deadline to accept mail-in ballots. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hear SB 174, which makes some changes to child custody agreement laws in an attempt put children in the center of court parenting decisions. In the Senate Armed Services, Veterans and Public Safety Committee is a possible vote on SB 273, which would allow gun owners to store their firearms with federally licensed dealers or law enforcement. 5. On Wednesday in the House Commerce and Labor Committee, a vote is scheduled for SB 50, which would allow 14- and 15-year olds to work later into the night during the school year. The House Health Committee could vote on HB 377, which could remove some regulations governing laser hair removal professionals. The House Agriculture Committee may vote on HB 134, which would allow the production and sale of homemade goods under a “microenterprise home kitchen operation” registration. On the Move President Donald Trump delivered endorsements of all Ohio’s GOP members of the U.S. House of Representatives on Truth Social. Vice President JD Vance dressed as one of his viral memes for Halloween. Sherrod Brown, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, has been endorsed by the United Auto Workers. Jared Weiser, state director of NFIB’s Ohio chapter, was recently appointed by Gov. Mike DeWine to serve on the Ohio Public Benefits Advisory Board. Birthdays Megan Richwine, director of government affairs for the Ohio Association of Health Plans Richard M. Bishop, Ohio’s 34th governor (1812-1893) Straight from the Source “They’ve hurt democracy by passing these maps. I think we would have been better served if they’d stood their ground and let us try to do some sort of a referendum if it went through the legislature. Let the Republicans be accountable for their bad acts, and not cave in.” -Janine Mignon Ostrander, former Ohio Consumers Council director, expressing anger at state Democratic legislative leaders Sen. Nickie Antonio of Lakewood and Rep. Dani Isaacsohn of Cincinnati, to Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles on "The Ohio Statehouse Scoop” podcast. The Democrats supported Friday Congressional maps that are favorable to Republicans and will likely reduce the number of Democrats representing Ohioans in Washington.
