The amendment would have needed more than 413,000 signatures from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties by July 1 to get on this year’s ballot. Conserve Ohio collected more than 70,000 signatures as of June 18.
“It is impossible today to make the case that the death penalty is a deterrent,” DeWine said. Ohio’s last execution was in July 2018 due to a shortage of drugs.
The bill requires the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to have a curriculum list for the “success sequence” for grades 6-12 and this would be a graduation requirement.
Ohioans will vote in November on a constitutional amendment requiring photo ID to vote after state Republican lawmakers passed the ballot resolution Wednesday.
“LifeWise has received zero reports of misconduct involving LifeWise students in connection with these matters or during LifeWise activities more broadly,” LifeWise said in a statement.
“This bill is frustratingly vague about what does and doesn’t qualify as prohibited diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives,” Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper said.
“The current voucher system is doing two things — providing tuition coupons for wealthy Ohio families to be able to send their children to private schools, and it’s underfunding Ohio’s public school districts,” said Rep. Kent Smith.
Ohio law already requires citizens to provide photo identification before voting thanks to a bill the lawmakers passed in 2022 and took effect in 2023.