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Ohio Enacts Advance Ohio Higher Education Act Reforming State Universities and College Governance
Original title: Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act
Last action · June 27, 2025: EffectiveSponsors: Jerry Cirino and 47 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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What This Bill Does
Ohio enacts the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, reducing trustee terms from nine to six years for appointments on or after July 1, 2025, requiring public universities to post course syllabi and speaker fees over $500 online, and mandating a new American civic literacy course for bachelor's degree students starting in the 2029-2030 academic year.
Why it matters
State university students face new graduation requirements including a mandatory civic literacy course and syllabus transparency, while faculty and staff encounter updated performance evaluation metrics, procedures, and prohibitions on diversity, equity, and inclusion training programs.
Background
- The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature responsible for enacting statutory laws governing public higher education institutions across Ohio. context
- State institutions of higher education in Ohio include public universities such as The Ohio State University, Ohio University, Miami University, and others covered under Title XXXIII of the Ohio Revised Code. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Undergraduate students
Undergraduate students must complete a three-credit-hour American civic literacy course to graduate with a bachelor's degree starting in the 2029-2030 academic year and gain online access to course syllabi.
Directly affected
State institution faculty and staff
Faculty members are subject to new annual performance evaluations, post-tenure review procedures, workload policy requirements, and prohibitions on political litmus tests and DEI criteria in hiring.
Directly affected
Members of boards of trustees
Trustees appointed on or after July 1, 2025, serve six-year terms instead of nine years, and board members must participate in continuing education programs developed by the chancellor.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the new six-year trustee terms take effect?
The six-year terms apply to trustees appointed on or after July 1, 2025.
What is required for students to graduate with a bachelor's degree under the new law?
Beginning in the spring semester of the 2029-2030 academic year, students must complete a course of at least three credit hours in American civic literacy, including reading foundational texts such as the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and selected Federalist Papers.
Are diversity, equity, and inclusion offices banned entirely?
The Act requires state institutions to adopt policies prohibiting the continuation or establishment of DEI offices, departments, or training courses, unless an exception is granted by the chancellor to comply with state/federal laws, licensure, or accreditation.
What information must be published regarding guest speakers?
State institutions must prominently post on their websites a complete list of all speaker fees, honoraria, and other emoluments in excess of five hundred dollars for institution-sponsored events.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Coverage by outlet perspective2 articles
Unrated 2
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets
Commentary: New Ohio Senate bill would legislate higher ed viewpoints, further power of SB 1
Bill would give more independence to Ohio's civic centers one year after Senate Bill 1 took effect
Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
12 actions- Jun 27, 2025EnrolledEffective
- Mar 28, 2025EnrolledSigned By The Governor
- Mar 26, 2025SenateFloorConcurred in House amendments
- Mar 26, 2025EnrolledSent To The Governor
- Mar 19, 2025HouseCommitteeReported - Substitute (Workforce and Higher Education)
- Mar 19, 2025HouseFloorPassed
Show 6 earlier actions
- Feb 26, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Workforce and Higher Education
- Feb 18, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced
- Feb 12, 2025SenateCommitteeReported - Substitute (Higher Education)
- Feb 12, 2025SenateFloorPassed
- Jan 29, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Higher Education
- Jan 22, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced
Version history & redline
6 versions on fileComparing As Passed by the House → As Enrolled
removed addedOfficial text
removed: sb1_04_PH
As Passed by the House
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session Sub. S. B. No. 1
2025-2026
Senator Cirino
Cosponsors: Senators Brenner,
Chavez, Cutrona, Johnson, Koehler, Lang, Manchester, O'Brien,
Reineke, Roegner, Romanchuk, Schaffer, Wilkin, Huffman, Timken
Representatives Young, Williams,
Barhorst, Bird, Click, Craig, Creech, Dean, Demetriou, Dovilla,
Fischer, Fowler Arthur, Gross, Hall, T., Hiner, John, Jones, King,
Lear, Lorenz, Mathews, A., Mathews, T., McClain, Miller, M., Newman,
Plummer, Ritter, Robb Blasdel, Stewart, Thomas, D., Willis, Workman
To
amend sections 3335.02, 3335.09, 3337.01, 3339.01, 3341.02, 3343.02,
3344.01, 3345.45, 3350.10, 3352.01, 3356.01, 3359.01, 3361.01,
3362.01, 3364.01, 4117.14, and 4117.15; to enact new section 3333.045
and sections 3345.029, 3345.0216, 3345.0217, 3345.0218, 3345.0219,
3345.382, 3345.451, 3345.452, 3345.453, 3345.454, 3345.455, 3345.456,
3345.591, 3345.80, and 3345.88; and to repeal section 3333.045 of the
Revised Code to
enact the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act regarding the operation
of state institutions of higher education.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1. That
sections 3335.02, 3335.09, 3337.01, 3339.01, 3341.02, 3343.02,
3344.01, 3345.45, 3350.10, 3352.01, 3356.01, 3359.01, 3361.01,
3362.01, 3364.01, 4117.14, and 4117.15 be amended and new section
3333.045 and sections 3345.029, 3345.0216, 3345.0217, 3345.0218,
3345.0219, 3345.382, 3345.451, 3345.452, 3345.453, 3345.454,
3345.455, 3345.456, 3345.591, 3345.80, and 3345.88
of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3333.045. As
used in this section, "state institution of higher education"
has the same meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.
The
chancellor of higher education, in consultation with state
institutions of higher education and members of their boards of
trustees, shall develop and annually deliver educational programs for
members of a board of trustees of each 123,303 more removed characters - read the previous versionadded: sb1_05_EN
(136th General Assembly)
(Substitute
Senate Bill Number 1)
AN
ACT
To amend sections 3335.02,
3335.09, 3337.01, 3339.01, 3341.02, 3343.02, 3344.01, 3345.45,
3350.10, 3352.01, 3356.01, 3359.01, 3361.01, 3362.01, 3364.01,
4117.14, and 4117.15; to enact new section 3333.045 and sections
3345.029, 3345.0216, 3345.0217, 3345.0218, 3345.0219, 3345.382,
3345.451, 3345.452, 3345.453, 3345.454, 3345.455, 3345.456, 3345.591,
3345.80, and 3345.88; and to repeal section 3333.045 of the Revised
Code to enact the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act regarding the
operation of state institutions of higher education.
Be
it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
Section
1. That
sections 3335.02, 3335.09, 3337.01, 3339.01, 3341.02, 3343.02,
3344.01, 3345.45, 3350.10, 3352.01, 3356.01, 3359.01, 3361.01,
3362.01, 3364.01, 4117.14, and 4117.15 be amended and new section
3333.045 and sections 3345.029, 3345.0216, 3345.0217, 3345.0218,
3345.0219, 3345.382, 3345.451, 3345.452, 3345.453, 3345.454,
3345.455, 3345.456, 3345.591, 3345.80, and 3345.88
of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3333.045. As
used in this section, "state institution of higher education"
has the same meaning as in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.
The
chancellor of higher education, in consultation with state
institutions of higher education and members of their boards of
trustees, shall develop and annually deliver educational programs for
members of a board of trustees of each state institution. The
chancellor may deliver the programs virtually and may offer the
programs periodically throughout each year. New members of a board of
trustees shall participate in the programs at least once in their
first two years in office. Current members of a board of trustees
shall participate in continuing trustee training at levels to be
determined by the chancellor.
The
educational programs shall be designed to address the role, duties,
and responsibilities of a member of a 123,359 more added characters - read this version
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
Passed
Total
31
- Yes
- 20
- No
- 11
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (17)
Mark RomanchukParty not recordedyes
Shane WilkinParty not recordedyes
Theresa GavaroneParty not recordedyes
Casey WeinsteinParty not recordedno
Beth ListonParty not recordedno
Tim SchafferParty not recordedyes
Terry JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Susan ManchesterParty not recordedyes
Al CutronaParty not recordedyes
Steve WilsonParty not recordedyes
Al LandisParty not recordedyes
Kyle KoehlerParty not recordedyes
Paula Hicks-HudsonParty not recordedno
Rob McColleyParty not recordedyes
Kent SmithParty not recordedno
Bill ReinekeParty not recordedyes
Michele ReynoldsParty not recordedyes
Show 3 earlier roll calls
Passed
Total
13
- Yes
- 9
- No
- 4
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (91)
Beth LearParty not recordedyes
James M. HoopsParty not recordedyes
Gary ClickParty not recordedyes
Munira AbdullahiParty not recordedyes
Steve DemetriouParty not recordedyes
Melanie MillerParty not recordedyes
Veronica SimsParty not recordedyes
Michael D. DovillaParty not recordedyes
Eric SynenbergParty not recordedyes
Phil PlummerParty not recordedyes
Scott OelslagerParty not recordedyes
Kevin RitterParty not recordedyes
Jodi SalvoParty not recordedyes
Karen BrownleeParty not recordedyes
Heidi WorkmanParty not recordedyes
Chris GlassburnParty not recordedyes
Cecil ThomasParty not recordedyes
Monica Robb BlasdelParty not recordedyes
Diane MullinsParty not recordedyes
Josh WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Dani IsaacsohnParty not recordedyes
Johnathan NewmanParty not recordedyes
Sedrick DensonParty not recordedyes
Angela N. KingParty not recordedyes
67 more members
Sarah Fowler ArthurParty not recordedyes
Jim ThomasParty not recordedyes
Brian LorenzParty not recordedyes
Juanita BrentParty not recordedyes
Tex FischerParty not recordedyes
Rachel BakerParty not recordedyes
Sean BrennanParty not recordedyes
Tracy RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Crystal LettParty not recordedyes
Cindy AbramsParty not recordedyes
Joseph A. Miller, IIIParty not recordedyes
Brian StewartParty not recordedyes
Matthew KishmanParty not recordedyes
Erika WhiteParty not recordedyes
Kellie DeeterParty not recordedyes
Beryl PiccolantonioParty not recordedyes
Elgin RogersParty not recordedyes
Mike OdiosoParty not recordedyes
Thaddeus J. ClaggettParty not recordedyes
Matt HuffmanParty not recordedyes
Jean SchmidtParty not recordedyes
Don JonesParty not recordedyes
Phillip M. Robinson, Jr.Party not recordedyes
Jennifer GrossParty not recordedyes
Tim BarhorstParty not recordedyes
Meredith R. Lawson-RoweParty not recordedyes
Riordan McClainParty not recordedyes
Daniel P. TroyParty not recordedyes
Mark HinerParty not recordedyes
Gayle ManningParty not recordedyes
Thomas HallParty not recordedyes
Desireè TimsParty not recordedyes
Levi DeanParty not recordedyes
Latyna HumphreyParty not recordedyes
Tom YoungParty not recordedyes
Jason StephensParty not recordedyes
Bride Rose SweeneyParty not recordedyes
Kevin MillerParty not recordedyes
Bernard WillisParty not recordedyes
Derrick HallParty not recordedyes
David ThomasParty not recordedyes
Andrea WhiteParty not recordedyes
Adam MathewsParty not recordedyes
Adam BirdParty not recordedyes
Mark SigristParty not recordedyes
Jack DanielsParty not recordedyes
Bob PetersonParty not recordedyes
Meredith CraigParty not recordedyes
Michele GrimParty not recordedyes
Michelle TeskaParty not recordedyes
%20(1)_edited.jpg){kind=small}
Sharon A. RayParty not recordedyes
Tristan RaderParty not recordedyes
Haraz GhanbariParty not recordedyes
Ty MathewsParty not recordedyes
Terrence UpchurchParty not recordedyes
Darnell BrewerParty not recordedyes
Anita SomaniParty not recordedyes
Ron FergusonParty not recordedyes
Christine CockleyParty not recordedyes
Brian LamptonParty not recordedyes
Adam HolmesParty not recordedyes
D.J. SwearingenParty not recordedyes
Roy KlopfensteinParty not recordedyes
Nick SantucciParty not recordedyes
Rodney CreechParty not recordedyes
Marilyn JohnParty not recordedyes
Bill RoemerParty not recordedyes
Passed
Total
7
- Yes
- 5
- No
- 2
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (30)
Nickie AntonioParty not recordedyes
Paula Hicks-HudsonParty not recordedyes
Stephen A. HuffmanParty not recordedyes
George LangParty not recordedyes
Tim SchafferParty not recordedyes
William P. DeMoraParty not recordedyes
Beth ListonParty not recordedyes
Sandra O'BrienParty not recordedyes
Thomas PattonParty not recordedyes
Jane TimkenParty not recordedyes
Al LandisParty not recordedyes
Bill ReinekeParty not recordedyes
Catherine IngramParty not recordedyes
Jerry CirinoParty not recordedyes
Kyle KoehlerParty not recordedyes
Brian ChavezParty not recordedyes
Hearcel CraigParty not recordedyes
Al CutronaParty not recordedyes
Susan ManchesterParty not recordedyes
Theresa GavaroneParty not recordedyes
Kent SmithParty not recordedyes
Andrew BrennerParty not recordedyes
Rob McColleyParty not recordedyes
Steve WilsonParty not recordedyes
Passed
Total
32
- Yes
- 21
- No
- 11
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (16)
Theresa GavaroneParty not recordedyes
Bill ReinekeParty not recordedyes
Al LandisParty not recordedyes
Kyle KoehlerParty not recordedyes
Shane WilkinParty not recordedyes
Rob McColleyParty not recordedyes
Tim SchafferParty not recordedyes
Paula Hicks-HudsonParty not recordedno
Susan ManchesterParty not recordedyes
Steve WilsonParty not recordedyes
Al CutronaParty not recordedyes
Mark RomanchukParty not recordedyes
Beth ListonParty not recordedno
Casey WeinsteinParty not recordedno
Terry JohnsonParty not recordedyes
Kent SmithParty not recordedno
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 43 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift99% confidence
Comprehensive State University Overhaul
The Act simultaneously reforms multiple distinct areas of university operations, including governance terms, online public disclosures, faculty tenure and evaluation rules, and mandatory undergraduate coursework.
Connected Entities
locationPeople's Republic of China“Government and entities restricted from providing gifts or donations to state in”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance90How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy85Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz75Current news / social attention level
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