News & Blog

04.16.23

Take Action: April 19 SB 83 Opponent Hearing

SB 83 Opponent Hearing
Senate Workforce & Higher Education Committee
Wednesday, April 19 at 4:00 pm
South Hearing Room (2nd Floor), Ohio Statehouse

This coming Wednesday, opponents to Senate Bill 83 will have an opportunity to submit testimony. Technically, the hearing is for all testimony, including proponents, opponents, and interested parties.

What can you do to help?

1) Submit testimony: If you are submitting testimony–whether written-only or you plan to testify in-person–you must email the testimony and your completed witness slip to the chair’s office at jake.dowling@ohiosenate.gov no later than Tuesday, April 18 at 4:00pm (testimony must be received 24 hours in advance of the hearing).

Witness Slip
Testimony Template

2) Show up early for Senate session: Senate session will take place at 1:30 pm. We will have stickers with the image in this article to hand out, and we are hoping to have SB 83 opponents pack the Senate session to be visible to all Senators.

3) Pack the hearing and overflow rooms: Help us pack the hearing room and fill up overflow rooms to show how strongly this bill is opposed. Plan to arrive before 4:00 pm to get situated prior to the start of the hearing.

4) Call Senate offices on Wednesday: Call Senate President Matt Huffman and the Republican members of the committee with a simple message: “Hello, I am a professor at [your institution] and I am calling to let [Senator] know that I oppose Senate Bill 83, and I ask that they stop this bill from advancing.”

President Matt Huffman: 614-466-7584
Chair Jerry Cirino:614-644-7718
Vice Chair Michael Rulli: 614-466-8285
Senator Bill Reineke: 614-466-8049
Senator Michele Reynolds: 614-466-8064

You will either speak to an aide or have to leave a voice message. Keep it short and courteous.

5) Attend the press conference: That morning at 11:00 am, OCAAUP will participate in a press conference in the Ladies Gallery at the Statehouse with other organizations and students to discuss our opposition to SB 83.

6) Use and share our Action Network linkClick here to access our Action Network page, which allows people to easily send messages opposing SB 83 to Ohio Senators. Share it with colleagues, friends, and family!

Parking: The best parking option is the Columbus Commons Parking Garage, and there also are many metered spots in the area that accept credit cards or allow you to use the “ParkColumbus” mobile app.

Finally, we wanted to make you aware that there is now companion legislation (a bill introduced with the same language) to SB 83 in the House: House Bill 151. So far, HB 151 has been introduced, but has received no further activity. We expect that the bill will be referred to the House Higher Education Committee, but we are not sure whether the House will decide to hold hearings on HB 151 or whether they will wait for SB 83 to pass the Senate.

Now is the time to stand up and defend higher ed! Thank you for all that you are doing to push back on SB 83!

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