Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio House of Representatives
General Information
Party control:	Republican
Session start:	January 5, 2026
Session end:	December 31, 2026
Term length:	2 years
Term limits:	4 terms (8 years)
Redistricting:	Commission
Salary:	$72,343/year
Members
Total:	99
Democrats:	34
Republicans:	65
Other:	0
Vacancies:	0
Leadership
Speaker:	Matt Huffman (R)
Maj. Leader:	Marilyn John (R)
Min. Leader:	Dani Isaacsohn (D)
Elections
Last election:	November 5, 2024
Next election:	November 3, 2026

The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Ohio General Assembly. Alongside the Ohio State Senate, it forms the legislative branch of the Ohio state government and works alongside the governor of Ohio to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Ohio House of Representatives include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Ohio House of Representatives meets at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

All 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives are up for election in 2026.

All 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives were up for election in 2024. The chamber's Republican supermajority decreased from 67-32 to 65-34.

Ohio has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.

This page contains the following information on the Ohio House of Representatives.

• Which party controls the chamber
• The chamber's current membership
• Partisan control of the chamber over time
• Elections in the chamber and how vacancies are filled
• A district map
• How redistricting works in the state
• Legislation currently under consideration
• Legislative session dates
• Legislative procedures, such as veto overrides and the state budget process
• A list of committees

Party control[edit]

Current partisan control[edit]

The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Ohio House of Representatives as of January 2026:

Members[edit]

Leadership[edit]

See also: Minority and coalition control of state legislative chambers, 1994-Present

The speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body and is elected by all members. Duties of the speaker include appointing the members and chairpersons of all committees, directing the legislative procedures, and presiding over daily House sessions. In the absence of the speaker, the speaker pro tempore assumes the duties of the office.^[1]

Leadership and members[edit]

• Speaker of the House: Matt Huffman (R)
• Majority leader: Marilyn John (R)
• Minority leader: Dani Isaacsohn (D)

Salaries[edit]

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2025[2]
Salary	Per diem
$72,343/year	No per diem is paid during session.

Swearing in dates[edit]

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Ohio legislators assume office the first day of January after a general election.^[3]

Membership qualifications[edit]

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 2, Section 3 of the Ohio Constitution states: "Senators and representatives shall have resided in their respective districts one year next preceding their election, unless they shall have been absent on the public business of the United States, or of this State."^[4]

Article 15, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution states: "No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in this state unless possessed of the qualifications of an elector."^[5]

Article 2, Section 5 of the Ohio Constitution states: "No person hereafter convicted of an embezzlement of the public funds, shall hold any office in this state; nor shall any person, holding public money for disbursement, or otherwise, have a seat in the general assembly, until he shall have accounted for, and paid such money into the treasury."^[6]

Historical party control[edit]

Republicans won control of the Ohio House of Representatives in 2010. In 2024, they won a 65-34 majority.

The table below shows the partisan history of the Ohio House following every general election from 1992 to 2024. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

Ohio House of Representatives election results: 1992-2024

Year	'92	'94	'96	'98	'00	'02	'04	'06	'08	'10	'12	'14	'16	'18	'20	'22	'24
Democrats	53	43	39	40	39	37	40	46	53	40	39	34	33	38	35	32	34
Republicans	46	56	60	59	60	62	59	53	46	59	60	65	66	61	64	67	65

Trifecta history[edit]

A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Ohio was under the following types of trifecta control:

• Democratic trifecta: None
• Republican trifecta: 1995-2006, 2011-2023
• Divided government: 1992-1994, 2007-2010

Ohio Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas  •  Twenty-seven years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25
Governor	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

Elections[edit]

Elections by year[edit]

Ohio state representatives serve two-year terms, with all seats up for election every two years. Ohio holds elections for its legislature in even years.

2026[edit]

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2026

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives will take place in 2026. The general election is on November 3, 2026. The primary is May 5, 2026. The filing deadline is February 4, 2026.

2024[edit]

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2024

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2024. The general election was on November 5, 2024. The primary was March 19, 2024. The filing deadline was December 20, 2023.

Heading into the 2024 elections, Republicans held a 67-32 majority. After the election, the Republican majority was 65-34.

Ohio House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2024	After November 6, 2024
	Democratic Party	32	34
	Republican Party	67	65
Total		99	99

2022[edit]

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2022

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was held on August 2, 2022. The filing deadline was February 2, 2022.

A primary was originally scheduled for May 3, 2022, but was rescheduled after the State Supreme Court rejected the state legislative maps approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission. On May 28, 2022, Secretary of State Frank LaRose called for the primary to be held on August 2.^[7][8]

In the 2022 elections, the Republican majority in the Ohio state House increased from 64-35 to 67-32.

Ohio House of Representatives
Party		As of November 8, 2022	After November 9, 2022
	Democratic Party	35	32
	Republican Party	64	67
Total		99	99

2020[edit]

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2020

Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for April 28, 2020. The filing deadline was December 18, 2019.

In the 2020 elections, the Republican majority in the Ohio House of Representatives increased from 61-38 to 64-35.

Ohio House of Representatives
Party		As of November 3, 2020	After November 4, 2020
	Democratic Party	38	35
	Republican Party	61	64
Total		99	99

2018[edit]

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2018

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2018. The primary election took place on May 8, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The filing deadline for partisan candidates was February 7, 2018. The filing deadline for independent candidates was May 7, 2018.

In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Ohio House of Representatives was reduced from 66-32 to 61-38.

Ohio House of Representatives
Party		As of November 6, 2018	After November 7, 2018
	Democratic Party	32	38
	Republican Party	66	61
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		99	99

2016[edit]

See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on March 15, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was December 16, 2015. All 99 seats in the Ohio House of Representatives were up for election in 2016.

Heading into the election, Republicans held a 64-34 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained two seats in the election, giving them a 66-33 majority.

Ohio House of Representatives
Party		As of November 7, 2016	After November 8, 2016
	Democratic Party	34	33
	Republican Party	64	66
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		99	99

Click [show] to see election information dating back to 2000

2014[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2014 Elections for the Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 5, 2014. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 60-38 majority with one vacancy. Republicans gained five seats in the election, giving them a 65-34 majority. Ohio House of Representatives Party As of November 3, 2014 After November 4, 2014      Democratic Party 38 34      Republican Party 60 65      Vacancy 1 0 Total 99 99 2012[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2012 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on March 6, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was December 7, 2011. All 99 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Republicans held a 59-40 majority. Republicans gained one seat in the election, giving them a 60-39 majority. Ohio House of Representatives Party As of November 5, 2012 After the 2012 Election      Democratic Party 40 39      Republican Party 59 60 Total 99 99 During the 2012 election, the total value of contributions to the 249 House candidates was $31,544,152. The top 10 contributors were:[9] 2012 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Organizational Cmte $5,738,613 Ohio Democratic Party $2,640,787 Ohio Republican Party $1,778,328 House Democratic Caucus Fund of Ohio $1,001,376 Ohio Education Association $433,411 Ohio State Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters $287,117 Ragan, Ginni D $274,967 AFSCME $263,156 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $229,082 Firstenergy Corp $227,000 The following table details the 10 districts with the smallest margin of victory in the November 6 general election. 2012 Margin of Victory, Ohio House of Representatives District Winner Margin of Victory Total Votes Top Opponent District 98 Al Landis 0% 46,770 Joshua O'Farrell District 7 Mike Dovilla 0.2% 55,344 Matt Patten District 5 Nick Barborak 1.1% 44,665 Craig Newbold District 24 Stephanie Kunze 3.9% 62,916 Maureen Reedy District 21 Mike Duffey 4% 62,332 Donna O'Connor District 36 Anthony DeVitis 5% 54,650 Paul Colavecchio District 92 Gary Scherer 5.1% 43,780 Robert P. Armstrong District 95 Andrew Thompson 5.7% 53,571 Charles J. Daniels District 99 John Patterson 6% 47,625 Casey Kozlowski District 3 Tim W. Brown 7.4% 59,999 Kelly Wicks 2010[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2010 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 4, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was February 18, 2010. All 99 seats were up for election. Heading into the election, Democrats held a 53-46 majority. Democrats lost 13 seats in the election, giving Republicans a 59-40 majority. Ohio House of Representatives Party As of November 1, 2010 After the 2010 Election      Democratic Party 53 40      Republican Party 46 59 Total 99 99 During the 2010 election, the total value of contributions to the 301 House candidates was $35,860,365. The top 10 contributors were:[10] 2010 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Organizational Cmte $3,806,118 House Democratic Caucus Fund of Ohio $3,620,544 Ohio Democratic Party $3,100,762 Ohio Republican Party $1,352,685 Ohio Democratic Caucus $934,572 Ohio Association of Public School Employees $726,311 SEIU Healthcare District 1199 $626,725 Ohio Education Association $548,050 Ohio State Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters $529,085 Electrical Workers $377,996 2008[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2008 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on March 4, 2008, and a general election on November 4, 2008. All 99 seats were up for election. During the 2008 election, the total contributions to House candidates amounted to $34,769,515. The top 10 contributors were:[11] 2008 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Caucus $4,683,243 Ohio Democratic Party $3,281,255 Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Caucus $2,971,150 Ohio Republican Party $2,018,019 Ohio Education Association $411,185 Seiu District 1199 WV / KY / Oh $338,300 Oapse / Afscme Local 4 $325,095 Ohio Association of Realtors $278,850 Brennan, David L $245,000 Firstenergy Corp $212,325 2006[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2006 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 2, 2006, and a general election on November 7, 2006. All 99 seats were up for election. During the 2006 election, the total value of contributions to the 268 House candidates was $25,357,717. The top 10 contributors were:[12] 2006 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Organizational Cmte $4,168,811 Ohio Republican Party $1,920,865 House Democratic Caucus Fund Of Ohio $1,047,119 Ohio Democratic Party $725,615 Ohio Association of Realtors $404,150 Ohio Education Association $298,275 Brennan, David L $224,000 Budish, Armond David $192,200 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $149,002 Firstenergy Corp $148,000 2004[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2004 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on March 2, 2004, and a general election on November 2, 2004. All 99 seats were up for election. During the 2004 election, the total value of contributions to the 236 House candidates was $17,650,366. The top 10 contributors were:[13] 2004 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Campaign Cmte $1,695,241 Ohio Republican Party $1,509,304 House Democratic Caucus Fund Of Ohio $511,767 Ohio Democratic Party $405,078 Ohio Association of Realtors $247,102 Ohio Education Association $236,475 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $196,679 Firstenergy Corp $140,203 Ohio Society of CPAS $127,764 Ohio State Medical Association $125,428 2002[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2002 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on May 7, 2002, and a general election on November 5, 2002. All 99 seats were up for election. During the 2002 election, the total value of contributions to the 250 House candidates was $16,763,809. The top 10 contributors were:[14] 2002 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Campaign Cmte $2,653,665 Ohio Republican Party $1,498,343 Ohio Democratic Party $634,370 House Democratic Caucus Fund Of Ohio $633,395 Ohio Association of Realtors $200,450 Ohio Education Association $186,800 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $142,094 Summit County Republican Party $119,976 Ohio State Auto Workers $110,275 Ohio Farm Bureau $103,924 2000[edit] See also: Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2000 Elections for the office of Ohio House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on March 7, 2000, and a general election on November 7, 2000. All 99 seats were up for election. During the 2000 election, the total value of contributions to the 286 House candidates was $18,259,570. The top 10 contributors were:[15] 2000 Donors, Ohio House of Representatives Donor Amount Ohio House Republican Campaign Cmte $1,671,504 Ohio Republican Party $1,267,418 Ohio Democratic Party $553,046 House Democratic Caucus Fund Of Ohio $324,663 Ohio Education Association $226,528 Ohio Association of Realtors $225,575 Ohio State Auto Workers $141,810 Wholesale Beer & Wine Association of Ohio $129,738 Ohio Society of CPAS $119,977 Firstenergy Corp $104,850

Term limits[edit]

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Ohio legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Ohio Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative limited Ohio representatives to no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.^[16]

The first year that term limits were enacted was in 1992, and the first year that term limits impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2000.

Vacancies[edit]

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Ohio General Assembly, the vacancy must be filled by an election conducted by the members of the legislative house where the vacancy happened who are members of the party that last held the seat. A simple majority vote is needed in order to approve a replacement.^[17]

See sources: Ohio Const. Art. 2, Sec. 11

District map[edit]

See also: Ohio state legislative districts

The state of Ohio has 99 state House districts. Each district elects one representative.

Use the interactive map below to find your district.

Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Ohio

In Ohio, the state legislature or a commission may have the opportunity to draw congressional maps. A bipartisan state legislative commission draws state legislative maps. A six-member advisory commission is involved in both the congressional and state legislative redistricting processes.

2020[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Ohio after the 2020 census

Due to a 2022 Ohio Supreme Court ruling, the Ohio Redistricting Commission was required to draw new state legislative maps following the 2022 elections.^[18]

On September 26, 2023, the Ohio Redistricting Commission voted 6-0 (with one member absent) to adopt new state legislative maps.^[19][20] On October 5, the ACLU of Ohio filed a motion on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Ohio and other plaintiffs asking the Ohio Supreme Court to invalidate the new state legislative maps on the grounds that they violated the state constitution.^[21]

On November 27, the Ohio Supreme Court upheld the maps and dismissed the following cases: League of Women Voters of Ohio et al. v. Ohio Redistricting Commission et al., Bennett et al. v. Ohio Redistricting Commission et al., and Ohio Organizing Collaborative et al. v. Ohio Redistricting Commission et al.^[22] Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy wrote for the majority: "The bipartisan adoption of the September 2023 plan is a changed circumstance that makes it appropriate to relinquish our continuing jurisdiction over these cases.^[23]

The majority was composed of the court's four Republicans.

Justice Jennifer L. Brunner wrote a dissent on behalf of the court's other two Democrats, saying, "It is illusory to suggest that a bipartisan vote to adopt the September 2023 plan constitutes a change in circumstances that somehow diminishes our review power or renders a unanimous redistricting plan constitutionally compliant. There is nothing in Article XI, Section 6 that suggests that bipartisan agreement on a plan renders it presumptively constitutional, and we have flatly rejected that idea."^[24]

2010[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Ohio after the 2010 census

Ohio received its 2010 local census data in early March 2011. Although the state population showed net growth, Ohio's largest cities recorded population loss. Of the state's five largest cities only Columbus had population growth. Cleveland suffered the sharpest decline, losing 17.1% of its population.^[25]

The Ohio Legislative Task Force on Redistricting, Reapportionment, and Demographic Research assisted the General Assembly and Ohio Apportionment Board in drafting new maps. Four of the five members of the Board were Republicans. By a vote of 4-1 they gave final approval to a new map on September 28, 2011. The lone Democrat on the Board, Rep. Armond Budish, opposed the map, saying it quarantines Democrats in 1/3 of the legislative districts.^[26]

On January 4, 2012, Democrats filed suit against the legislative maps, saying they violated constitutional requirements for compactness and preservation of county and municipal boundaries. The Ohio Supreme Court took the case but, due to proximity to the 2012 elections, ruled the new maps would stand for the 2012 elections, with possible revisions to apply starting in 2014.^[27]

Sessions[edit]

Legislation[edit]

The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Ohio House of Representatives has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the House to the Senate and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

Dates of legislative sessions in Ohio by year[edit]

2025[edit]

See also: 2025 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2025 state legislative sessions

In 2025, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2025, and adjourn on December 31, 2025.

Click [show] for past years' session dates.

2024[edit] See also: 2024 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions In 2024, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2024, and adjourn on December 19, 2024. 2023[edit] See also: 2023 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 2, 2023, and adjourn on December 31, 2024. 2022[edit] See also: 2022 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2022 state legislative sessions In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 19, 2022, and adjourn on December 15, 2022. 2021[edit] See also: 2021 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2021 state legislative sessions In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on December 31, 2021. 2020[edit] See also: 2020 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2020 state legislative sessions In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2020, and adjourn on December 31, 2020. Effect of coronavirus pandemic[edit] See also: Changes to state legislative session dates in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020 Coronavirus pandemic Select a topic from the dropdown below to learn more. Political responses overviewState reopening plansDocumenting America's Path to RecoveryElection changesChanges to vote-by-mail and absentee voting proceduresFederal responsesState responsesState executive ordersStay-at-home ordersMultistate agreementsNon-governmental reopening plansEvictions and foreclosures policiesTravel restrictionsEnacted state legislationState legislative session changesSchool closuresState court closuresInmate releasesLocal government responsesDiagnosed or quarantined politiciansBallot measure changesArguments about government responsesThe 1918 influenza pandemicPandemic Response Accountability CommitteeUnemployment filingsLawsuitsBallotpedia's polling on the coronavirus pandemicSubmit Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Ohio State Legislature suspended legislative activity on an uncertain date. The House reconvened on May 6, 2020. The Senate reconvened on May 13, 2020.[28][29] 2019[edit] See also: 2019 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2019 state legislative sessions In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 7, 2019, through December 31, 2019. 2018[edit] See also: 2018 Ohio legislative session and Dates of 2018 state legislative sessions In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2018, through December 31, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017[edit] See also: Dates of 2017 state legislative sessions In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2017, through December 31, 2017. 2016[edit] See also: Dates of 2016 state legislative sessions In 2016, the legislature was in session from January 5 through December 31. Major issues in 2016[edit] Major issues during the 2016 legislative session included legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, anti-abortion legislation, renewable-energy mandates, congressional redistricting, and right-to-work bills.[30] 2015[edit] See also: Dates of 2015 state legislative sessions In 2015, the legislature was in session from January 5 through December 16.[31] Major issues in 2015[edit] Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid eligibility, and increase accountability for charter schools.[32] 2014[edit] See also: Dates of 2014 state legislative sessions In 2014, the legislature was in session from January 7 through December 31. Major issues in 2014[edit] Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included raising taxes on gas and oil drilling, reforming Ohio’s municipal income tax system, changing the state's election and concealed-weapons laws, and reforming Medicaid and other health-care issues. Both chambers also looked to reduce the state's energy efficiency and renewable energy mandates.[33] 2013[edit] See also: Dates of 2013 state legislative sessions In 2013, the legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31. Major issues in 2013[edit] Keith Faber (R) took over as president of the Senate and the main focus of the legislature was adopting a new biennial state budget. Additionally, lawmakers addressed casino regulation, state collective-bargaining laws, Medicare expansion, and prison overcrowding.[34] 2012[edit] See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions In 2012, the legislature was in session from January 3 to December 31. 2011[edit] See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions In 2011, the legislature was in session from January 3 through December 31.[35] 2010[edit] See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions In 2010, the legislature was in session from January 4 through December 31.[36]

About legislative sessions in Ohio[edit]

The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.^[37] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

Article II of the Ohio Constitution establishes when the Ohio General Assembly, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to meet. Section 8 of Article II states that the regular session is to convene on the first Monday in January of each year, or the following day if that Monday is a legal holiday.

Section 8 also contains rules for convening special sessions of the General Assembly. It empowers the Governor of Ohio or the presiding officers of the General Assembly to convene a special session. For the presiding officers to convene the session, they must act jointly.

Legislative roles and procedures[edit]

Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, procedures for filling membership vacancies, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

Veto overrides[edit]

See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Ohio are listed below.

How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Three-fifths of members in both chambers.

Three-fifths of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 60 of the 99 members in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 of the 33 members in the Ohio State Senate. Ohio is one of seven states that requires a three-fifths vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto.

Are there other special rules?

If the governor vetoes an emergency measure, two-thirds of the members in both chambers are required to override the veto, which is 66 of the 99 state representatives and 22 of the 33 state senators.[38]

Authority: Article II, Section 16 of the Ohio Constitution.

"If the governor approves an act, he shall sign it, it becomes law and he shall file it with the secretary of state. If he does not approve it, he shall return it with his objections in writing, to the house in which it originated, which shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and may then reconsider the vote on its passage. If three-fifths of the members elected to the house of origin vote to repass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections of the governor, to the other house, which may also reconsider the vote on its passage. If three fifths of the members elected to the second house vote to repass it, it becomes law notwithstanding the objections of the governor, and the presiding officer of the second house shall file it with the secretary of state."

Role in state budget[edit]

See also: Ohio state budget and finances

Ohio on

Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:

Budgets • Civil liberties • Education • Elections • Energy • Environment • Healthcare • Pensions

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:^[39]

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July of the year preceding the start of the new biennium.
2. State agencies submit their requests to the governor between September and October.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February (the deadline is extended to March 15 for a newly elected governor).
4. The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins July 1 of odd-numbered years.

Ohio is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.^[39][40]

The governor is legally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the state legislature is legally required to pass a balanced budget.^[39]

Committees[edit]

See also: List of committees in Ohio state government

Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

• Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
• Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
• Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Ohio House of Representatives has 27 standing committees:

Constitutional amendments[edit]

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods in which the Ohio Constitution can be amended:

See also: Section 1a, Article II and Article XVI of the Ohio Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Ohio

The Ohio Constitution provides three mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a citizen-initiated process, a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Ohio requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Initiative[edit]

See also: Initiated constitutional amendment

According to Section 1a of Article II, citizens have the power to initiate constitutional amendments in Ohio. An initiated constitutional amendment is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends a state's constitution. Eighteen (18) states allow citizens to initiate constitutional amendments.

In Ohio, the number of signatures required for an initiated constitutional amendment is equal to 10% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.

Ohio also requires initiative sponsors to submit 1,000 signatures with the initial petition application. Ohio has a signature distribution requirement, which requires that signatures be gathered from at least 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. Petitioners must gather signatures equal to a minimum of half the total required percentage of the gubernatorial vote in each of the 44 counties. Petitions are allowed to circulate for an indefinite period of time. Signatures are due 125 days prior to the general election that proponents want the initiative on.

Legislature[edit]

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

According to Article XVI, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention[edit]

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

According to Section 3 of Article XVI of the Ohio Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 20 years starting in 1932. Ohio is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.

The table below shows the last and next automatic constitutional convention question election years:

State	Interval	Last question on the ballot	Next question on the ballot
Ohio	20 years	2012	2032

See also[edit]

Elections	Ohio State Government	State Legislatures	State Politics
Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2026 Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2024 Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2022 Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2020 Ohio House of Representatives elections, 2018	Ohio General Assembly Ohio State Senate Governor of Ohio Ohio Supreme Court	State legislative elections, 2026 State legislative elections, 2025 State legislative elections, 2024 State legislative elections, 2023 State legislative elections, 2022 State legislative elections, 2021 State legislative elections, 2020 State legislative elections, 2019	State government trifectas State government triplexes State executives State courts Ballot measures The State Legislative Decade

External links[edit]

• Ohio House of Representatives

Footnotes[edit]

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