The 119th Ohio General Assembly was the biennial meeting of the Ohio state legislature that convened from January 5 2021 through December 31 2022. It comprised the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives, each elected in the 2020 general election.
Composition
- Ohio Senate (33 members): 25 Republicans, 8 Democrats.
- Ohio House of Representatives (99 members): 64 Republicans, 35 Democrats.
Leadership
- Senate President: Larry Obhof (Republican).
- President Pro Tempore: Kenny Yuko (Democrat) until his resignation in 2022; succeeded by a Republican appointee.
- Speaker of the House: Robert Cupp (Republican).
- Speaker Pro Tempore: Bill Seitz (Republican).
Session Structure
The General Assembly held two regular sessions, one for each calendar year:
- 2021 Regular Session: Began January 5 2021, adjourned May 20 2021.
- 2022 Regular Session: Began January 5 2022, adjourned May 19 2022.
Special sessions were convened at the request of the governor to address emergencies, notably the COVID‑19 pandemic and natural disaster response.
Key Legislative Actions
Among the legislation enacted during the 119th General Assembly were:
- Public Health Measures: Laws providing emergency powers and funding to Ohio’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, including provisions for vaccine distribution and telehealth services.
- Abortion Restrictions: Enactment of Senate Bill 23, which implemented a “heartbeat” definition of fetal viability and imposed additional regulations on abortion providers.
- Election Reform: Passage of legislation modifying ballot access rules, adjusting early voting periods, and tightening regulations on voter registration processes.
- Education Funding: Adjustments to the state’s school funding formula and the creation of a permanent “learning loss” grant program to address pandemic‑related educational impacts.
- Criminal Justice: Bills addressing opioid sentencing reforms, expanding eligibility for certain drug courts, and revising procedures for the use of body‑worn cameras by law enforcement.
Committee Structure
Both chambers operated with standing committees covering areas such as finance, health, education, judiciary, and transportation. Committee chairmanships were held predominantly by members of the Republican majority.
Conclusion
The 119th Ohio General Assembly completed its constitutional two‑year term in December 2022, after which the 120th General Assembly was seated following the 2022 elections. Its legislative output reflected the political composition of the time, with a Republican majority guiding the agenda across both chambers.
