Ohio Politics Explained: What happened in first week of lame duck session – The Columbus Dispatch

Ohio’s state lawmakers are back to legislating in Columbus, and hundreds of people flooded the capitol in opposition to a bill to restrict the kinds of care transgender children can receive.
The House approved new rules for using cell phones will driving, and Senate Republicans unveiled a plan to restructure how the Ohio Department of Education works.
We break down what it all means In this week’s episode of Ohio Politics Explained. A podcast created by the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau to catch you up on the state’s political news in 15 minutes or less.
This week, host Anna Staver was joined by reporter Laura Bischoff.
1) Lawmakers want to take power from Ohio State Board of Education
Senate Republicans want to move a lot of the responsibilities for shaping Ohio’s K-12 education system into the governor’s office and out of the hands of the State Board of Education.
Senate Bill 178 would create the Department of Education and Workforce, and its director would be a new cabinet position in the governor’s office.
This new agency would “have a dual focus on primary and secondary education as well as preparing students for the workforce,” said bill sponsor Sen. Bill Reinke, R-Tiffin, during Tuesday’s hearing.
Republicans say this is a long time coming after years of dysfunctional behavior by the state board and ODE. Democrats, however, say the timing makes them think it has to do with three board seats that flipped their way in the midterm elections.
2) Transitioning under 18
House Republicans re-started hearings on a bill that would limit the kinds of gender-affirming medical interventions transgender children could receive.
The newly amended House Bill 454 creates a series of criteria these children would have to meet before a doctor could prescribe puberty blockers or hormones. Surgeries of any kind would be off limits until they turned 18.
Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery, said these changes have brought his bill to “a middle ground” and a fair compromise that protects children who might later regret transitioning while still allowing access to hormone therapies.
Opponents strongly disagreed, saying the hoops in the new HB 454 are almost impossible to jump through and these decisions should be made by families and doctors.
3) Distracted driving
Ohio law doesn’t allow police to pull adults over for using cell phones while driving, but that could change if  House Bill 283 becomes law.
The bill, which is a priority for Gov. Mike DeWine, would make using a phone while driving a primary offense. Exceptions would be made for emergency situations.
HB 283 passed the House 77-11 Wednesday and now heads to the Senate.
4) Up in smoke
Recreational marijuana didn’t make it onto the 2022 ballot, but the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol says it will be back as soon as 2023.
Twenty-one states have legalized the use of recreational cannabis for adults. Ohio’s proposed measure would legalize the purchase and possession of 2.5 ounces of cannabis and 15 grams of concentrates. Folks older than 21 could also grow up to six plants individually, but no more than 12 in a household with multiple adults.
Listen to “Ohio Politics Explained” on Spotify, Apple, Google Podcasts and TuneIn Radio. The episode is also available by clicking the link in this article.
The USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau serves The Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.

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