On February 17, 2022, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 51 into law. House Bill 51 includes an uncodified provision authorizing public meetings to be held by teleconference, video conference or other similar electronic...more
In the second half of 2021, the 134th Ohio General Assembly focused on the state legislative and congressional redistricting process and finishing work on a wide variety of legislation dealing with topics such as sports...more
1/6/2022
/ Ballot Measures ,
Cannabis Products ,
Census ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Criminal Justice Reform ,
Digital Communications ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Energy Sector ,
General Assembly ,
Governor DeWine ,
Insurance Industry ,
Judicial Election ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Personal Data ,
Primary Elections ,
Redistricting ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
State Legislatures ,
State Privacy Laws ,
Telehealth ,
Utilities Sector ,
Vaccinations
Federal vaccine mandate for private employers -
United States President Joe Biden announced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement applicable to private sector employers who employ 100 or more employees on September 9, 2021. The...more
9/15/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Local Health Departments (LHDs) ,
Local Ordinance ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Private Sector ,
Temporary Regulations ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
On May 12, 2021, Governor Mike DeWine addressed Ohioans regarding Ohio’s COVID-19 health orders, stating that with the vaccine as a weapon to combat COVID-19, he is confident that it is time to rescind Ohio’s COVID-19 health...more
On November 17, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the administration is issuing a statewide curfew that takes effect on Thursday, November 19, 2020. Under the curfew, individuals are to be at home from 10 p.m....more
On September 2, 2020, the Ohio General Assembly enacted House Bill 606, a measure that provides widespread qualified immunity to Ohio’s healthcare providers and others...more
On July 23, 2020, Governor DeWine addressed the arrest of Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, the movement to repeal H.B. 6 (the legislation regarding Ohio’s two nuclear power plants at the heart of the allegations against...more
On July 22, 2020, Governor DeWine announced a statewide facial covering requirement and a new travel advisory for states with a high rate of infection of COVID-19. ...more
Instead of his traditional press conference, Governor DeWine addressed Ohioans on Wednesday evening, July 15, 2020. He made an emotional appeal to all citizens, imploring them to engage in safe and smart behaviors, such as...more
On July 6, 2020, Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a directive regarding 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for county boards of elections. This directive also provides guidance on...more
At Governor DeWine’s July 9, 2020, press conference, he updated the state’s most recent COVID-19 reporting numbers and county alert levels, offered additional guidance for higher education, announced the latest data from the...more
7/13/2020
/ Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
Homeless Issues ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Safety Standards ,
State and Local Government ,
Students ,
Universities
At his July 7, 2020, press conference, Governor DeWine announced that the administration is taking additional steps to curb the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases. Utilizing the public health advisory alert system announced the...more
The Bricker & Eckler government relations team has compiled a comprehensive review of Governor DeWine’s latest announcements, including the surprise resignation of Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, General...more
6/16/2020
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Best Practices ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Event Cancellation ,
First Amendment ,
General Assembly ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Religious Institutions ,
Restaurant Industry ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Statute of Limitations ,
Virus Testing
On May 20, 2020, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton issued a revised Director’s Order that rescinded or amended parts of the “Stay Safe Ohio Order” that has been in effect since April 30. Dr. Acton also signed...more
On May 14, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine announced that childcare providers may reopen on May 31. Childcare providers will have increased cleaning and sanitizing requirements, and class sizes will be reduced. Playground and...more
RestartOhio, the state’s reopening plan during the COVID-19 pandemic, is in full swing, and Governor DeWine announced reopening dates for restaurants, bars, hair salons, nail salons and barber shops. In addition, the Ohio...more
On April 30, 2020, Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton signed and extended Ohio’s stay-at-home order until May 29, 2020, called the “Stay Safe Ohio Order.” The order keeps the stay at home order in effect but...more
5/5/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Construction Project ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Retail Market ,
Shelter-In-Place ,
Social Distancing ,
State and Local Government ,
Unnecessary Medical Procedures
On April 27, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine outlined his administration’s plan for a phased reopening of Ohio’s economy. The plan provided protocols that apply to all businesses and industry-specific operating requirements....more
On April 16, 2020, Governor DeWine began outlining his expectations for how Ohio may begin to allow nonessential businesses to resume operating when the current stay at home order expires on May 1. ...more
On April 2, 2020, Governor DeWine announced that Ohio’s Stay At Home Order is extended until May 1, 2020. The new order takes effect at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 6, 2020. The order is largely the same as the previous order,...more
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Senate amended Substitute House Bill 197 with several provisions including emergency clauses to help Ohio navigate this crisis. The Ohio House approved these amendments, and the...more
In Judy Brockman, Jill Reardon v. Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, the plaintiffs alleged that due to the risk of exposure, they would not be able to enter the polls and vote on the primary election date of March 17, 2020....more
As of March 16, 2020, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio reached 50 with 14 hospitalizations. The DeWine Administration provides daily updates and has also created a portal for all COVID-19 related updates,...more
3/19/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Event Cancellation ,
Government Entities ,
Nursing Homes ,
Primary Elections ,
Restaurant Industry ,
School Closures ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
Unemployment Benefits