April

2022 News & Updates

Message from Rep. Kristin Boggs

After last month’s State of the State address, Ohio House and Senate Democrats held a press conference to outline our plan to expand opportunity, invest in working people and families, and build an economy that works for everyone.

Democrats highlighted several ways we have delivered results for Ohioans the past three years, including the American Rescue Plan to spur Ohio’s economic recovery and support working families, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to rebuild Ohio’s infrastructure. Democrats also helped, in recent budget bills, pass the Fair School Funding Plan, a longtime priority to invest in our students, and secured $210.98 million for public transit and $250 million for broadband development in underserved areas.

Democrats have a plan to build a better, stronger Ohio for all who live here. Our path forward includes the following priorities:

Strengthening our democracy by enacting fair legislative district maps that best represent Ohioans and protecting the freedom to vote;
Continuing to stand with working people, to invest in our communities and grow good paying jobs that cut workers in on the deal and build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top;
Making healthcare affordable and accessible;
Investing in working families by enacting paid family leave and expanding access to childcare;
Implementing commonsense gun safety reforms;
Implementing criminal justice reform;
Fixing the state’s broken unemployment system;
Tackling corruption and restoring integrity to state government;
Ending the coal plant bailouts included in the corrupt HB 6 legislation and preparing Ohio for a clean energy future;
Reforming our state’s tax system so working people can get ahead.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to my office at [email protected] or 614-466-1896

Yours in service,

Kristin

Legislation Watch

Rep. Boggs and Rep. Cindy Abrams provided sponsor testimony on HB 254 in the Senate Judiciary committee.

This bill will create a pathway for counties and regions to establish domestic violence fatality review boards throughout the state that will be tailored to meet each county and region’s needs.

The sponsor testimony is available to watch on the Ohio Channel here. The testimony begins 14 minutes in.

In October 2021, HB 254 was passed out of the House with nearly unanimous support. The bill now awaits further hearings in the Senate.

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the countless ways that people with autism contribute to our families, our communities, our nation, and the world. We also recognize the systemic barriers people with autism face in their daily lives.

House Democrats are committed to eliminating the remaining barriers people face so that all Ohioans have the ability to thrive in their communities.

Democrats stand in solidarity with survivors during Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the strength and resilience of survivors and victims, and to raise awareness of the steps we can all take to help support survivors.

House Democrats have a comprehensive legislative package that would expand opportunities for survivors of sexual violence and abuse to seek the justice they deserve.

Our comprehensive plan fundamentally reforms our criminal justice system to hold predators and abusers accountable so every Ohioan can feel safe and secure, and thrive right here at home.

Eliminate the statute of limitations for sexual assault; There should be no expiration date for survivors of sexual assault to receive justice. HB 266 would completely eliminate the statute of limitations for criminal and civil sex crimes.
Extend the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse; Every survivor of childhood sexual abuse should have the right to come forward when ready to do so. HB 266 also extends the window for victims of childhood sexual abuse to sue their abusers from 12 to 37 years after they reach adulthood, and creates a three year window for survivors over 55 to take action.
Remove the cap on damages for sex crimes; Survivors of rape or assault should be able receive the full compensation they deserve from their abusers. HB 199 would remove the cap on damages awarded to victims of rape or assault.
Close the marital rape loophole; A person’s legal relationship to their abuser should not be used to justify sexual assault. HB 121 would eliminate Ohio’s spousal exemptions for sex offenses and permit spousal testimony. HB 266 also eliminates spousal exemptions from rape.