[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6193463,"mediaKeyId","3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547","parentId",3867062,"title","Senate approves Bureau of Workers' Compensation budget with premium cuts and expanded safety grants","audioSeconds",436,"startMs",1389000,"endMs",1825000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547&start=1389&end=1825","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547/thumbnail_1389000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6193463/Ohio/Senate-approves-Bureau-of-Workers-Compensation-budget-with-premium-cuts-and-expanded-safety-grants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193463-6d89af52f77db908389db4491928c6c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931240&Signature=hvphED0hLsc0vCdbnTogsuL2-g2GBIjXq0UIIO3rVfZZNtVrtCx-uC9W18eWZy~Gm6BixZPE9~9NByBvnH-l8qo5b4T6FTE7N5DXQFWYXqWuNIWFxGkqP1qyAqIqTNQ5pupe0UgK0pvkLG6-ET5wl6nzr1Mlpg6DJUDKWWVsZQrtwBdC70Y0cvtOO2ONRe0MbPJ9Ir8aHcOoDiQnz7ASANjeSkh0s1mCZX4agzmfjTeZUFZxP2ou-E2Lg1nf07SuDAYWFDYe7TtQ0gWE-LjLPLop~0nKJh3uONjILJOmgh9Wcvv-G9DFJh-aGXr9Zze8xYQYVB9IXY10XxX5QKUTIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ohio Legislature","date","2025-06-18T00:00:00Z","article","COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate on June 17 unanimously approved amended House Bill 81, the biennial budget for the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), sending the measure forward with a 32-0 recorded vote.

Senator Wilson, speaking for the measure, said the budget is funded entirely by employer premiums and represents a 2% decrease over the biennium compared with the current fiscal year. She noted that the BWC board earlier approved a 7% rate cut and this year approved another 6% cut, which the sponsor estimated would yield more than $60 million in savings to Ohio employers and place Ohio among the states with the lowest premiums.

The bill also changes the statutory treatment of certain catastrophic-injury claims. Current practice requires that some prosthetic-device claims be closed after five years; the budget’s language allows the Bureau to cover claims after five years if issues arise with the device or if the injured worker’s body changes so the device no longer fits.

The Senate adopted three committee amendments the floor summary described: an allocation of an additional $7 million per fiscal year for the BWC safety grant program, a technical amendment to correct a transfer oversight so both state agencies and employers can apply equitably for safety grants, and removal of language that would have renamed the ombuds office to \"chief customer advocate\" (the committee restored the existing ombuds office title after stakeholders expressed concern that the new name implied advocacy for one side in claims).

Senator Craig spoke in support of the bill, calling the investments critical to worker safety and the economic vitality of the state. Senator Wilson thanked BWC Administrator McLeod and staff who worked on the measure.

After the roll call the presiding officer announced, \"With 32 yeas and 0 nays, the bill is passed and entitled.\" The Senate agreed to the bill’s title on the floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ohio Senate - 6-18-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Ohio Senate unanimously passed amended House Bill 81 on June 17, the biennial Bureau of Workers’ Compensation budget. The bill includes employer premium rate cuts, a change to coverage for prosthetic device claims after five years, and an expansion of the safety grant program.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, Ohio","taxId",17405,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193467,"Senate approves bill creating election integrity unit in Secretary of State’s office",595,1845000,2440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547&start=1845&end=2440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547/thumbnail_1845000.jpg","/articles/6193467/Ohio/Senate-approves-bill-creating-election-integrity-unit-in-Secretary-of-States-office","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193467-6472b6bcee16e9c7adad9b298335ddd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931240&Signature=loLXiTbGVrIMtjyBSTxBPWyObisU3Ko7zm6yf3a4sSiwrKJwfFDc7VC6pQbln8MKztzPUuzHiXNNFhOA70En~QGAKlLa26c-FvShy4o1sQbOIZ0RfUv7LloN69mtb8WWwFFSGfJzlKhfLEXqZrBerJwPzVqmOXcjDu0yakiafSKPS1ijHgOmcB6oY4Rrz-UVPLMsYTwlEZ7K1olNupkGbr8S4SjubJ3SDTvwgQQlBA~8AloiaUC4Q0hTETy9sB3OU1OxEeUXOR78-Ov~FG77ebhhKFvDk7V8nZUz1yb8Z7dS1VZHqzn6pfhZeVx1LWxoP6S8EgaSxHYHahU8Rtz0kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate on June 17 passed Amended Senate Bill 4 to establish an election integrity unit within the office of the secretary of state, a measure supporters said will strengthen the state’s ability to investigate allegations of election fraud and voter suppression. The bill passed the Senate by a 24-8 margin.

Senator Gavarone, who sponsored the bill, told colleagues the election integrity unit would codify the election-related work the Secretary of State’s office already conducts and would be required to investigate allegations, accept public complaints, refer cases to local prosecutors or to the attorney general if local prosecutors decline, and publish a report to the General Assembly on complaints and referrals.

\"One case of voter fraud is too many,\" Gavarone said on the floor, arguing the unit would help prevent and prosecute conduct that threatens elections. She said the unit’s work has already identified instances of multi‑jurisdiction voting and noncitizen registrations.

Opposition speakers said the measure encroaches on local control and duplicates or interferes with the work of county prosecutors and boards of elections. Senator DeMora described the bill as a \"dangerous partisan bill\" that shifts authority from local boards of elections and county prosecutors; Senator Blackshear called it \"unnecessary\" and warned the unit could be used for politically motivated investigations without clearer criteria and protections for thorough prosecutions.

In committee hearings, prosecutors and opponents testified against the bill, raising concerns about deadlines for investigations, publication of county-level allegations and the potential for misleading public data if cases are incomplete or lack evidence. Supporters countered that the secretary of state is the chief elections officer for the state and has accountability to voters.

The Senate recorded 24 yeas and 8 nays; after the roll call the chair announced the bill had passed and that the Senate agreed to the title.","The Ohio Senate passed Amended Senate Bill 4 on June 17 to codify an 'election integrity unit' inside the Secretary of State’s office to investigate election-related complaints; the bill passed 24-8 after floor debate about local control and prosecutorial jurisdiction.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6193472,"Senate passes bill allowing arrests of people unlawfully present anywhere in Ohio",2673,3280000,5953000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547&start=3280&end=5953","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3867062-0e1b8c5e94b7ab8df052cf319fe8a547/thumbnail_3280000.jpg","/articles/6193472/Ohio/Senate-passes-bill-allowing-arrests-of-people-unlawfully-present-anywhere-in-Ohio","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6193472-894cfacc8e63f67013e26e46384331e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770931240&Signature=YhTvwEYz8Ov-Msri~jT38R4HrMTcRt8wz1z2dQtzCTeAZei-AFjRw1LNJvYzCdyQVmXXAbtqMYZbySzJzLTPYDD1Q6Hw9HOEXOCA-3uCxIH3IdaaVLmqdk2SrVxtHkOc1Te3FRHHaa~TPXWku7N3oC-QEAyMC5wfVH0yrm0Z-~C7~uwZP1nqb5dctiuLZ4XIOlxRCAtuzW-Bz6MtHiY6galtf8bsCQflNw9vWvfbmUf7kwNXVtIWXRhXLrQ9USXwTY9KKECe9dhsAwgbbPT2l7Rh7T1mwDRH4TE4ukX9gIXmwwlgDlcNdsQrh48fUi3c5~WEXgrq~SiZLCLwie8v8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate on June 17 passed Senate Bill 172, a measure that specifies people unlawfully present in the United States \"are not privileged from arrest\" anywhere in the state, by a vote of 23 yeas to 8 nays.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Rogner, said the measure reaffirms that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that Ohio should not be a refuge for people who entered the country illegally. \"If you are in this country legally, you have no reason to be afraid, and we welcome you here,\" Rogner said on the floor, while urging colleagues to support the bill.

Supporters said the bill prevents local policies or court rules from blocking federal and local efforts to detain or remove people suspected of being unlawfully present. The measure states that no person suspected of unlawful presence is privileged from arrest, detention or being held in custody by federal, state, or local law enforcement \"with or without a warrant,\" and it supersedes any conflicting local rule, ordinance, resolution or policy. It also bars public offices and officials from interfering with arrests and shields people acting in good faith from civil or criminal penalties.

Opponents raised constitutional and practical concerns. Senator Weinstein said the bill authorizes detention on suspicion alone and risks profiling, overreach and the wrongful detention of people who are not accused of criminal conduct. \"It allows state and local law enforcement to detain individuals based not on a warrant or a conviction, but on suspicion alone,\" Weinstein said. Senator DeMora called the bill \"racist, ineffective, and promot[ing] a culture of fear,\" saying it would chill immigrants’ willingness to use courts and public services.

Several senators noted local court policies were a prompting factor for the legislation. Sponsors and supporters pointed to recent local rules in Franklin County intended to limit civil immigration arrests at courthouses; opponents responded that the bill would undermine access to justice by making people afraid to appear in court as witnesses, victims or defendants.

Senator Liston moved to refer Senate Bill 172 to the judiciary committee for additional hearings so judges, local officials and legal experts could examine constitutional and operational impacts. The motion to re-refer failed, 8 yeas to 24 nays. The Senate then voted on the bill itself; after the roll call the chair announced, \"With 23 yays and 8 nays, the bill is passed and entitled.\" The Senate also agreed to the bill’s title.

Discussion on the floor included multiple accounts from senators who described local incidents they say illustrate the issue or the potential consequences of the bill, including concerns about arrests at courthouses, the handling of detainees and cross‑jurisdictional transfers. Senators urging a no vote urged colleagues to consider due process, separation of powers and the operational effects on county jails and local law enforcement.

Senate Bill 172 now carries the Senate’s approval; the Senate agreed to the title following the vote.","The Ohio Senate on June 17 passed Senate Bill 172, which specifies that people unlawfully present in the United States are not privileged from arrest anywhere in Ohio, a measure that drew extended debate about due process, local control and impacts on courts and immigrant communities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate approves Bureau of Workers' Compensation budget with premium cuts and expanded safety grants

Senate approves bill creating election integrity unit in Secretary of State’s office

Senate passes bill allowing arrests of people unlawfully present anywhere in Ohio