Hearcel F. Craig News

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) condemned the Ohio Senate's concurrence of Senate Bill 1, also known as the "Higher Education Destruction Act."

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 95, which would designate a portion of I-71 in Columbus as "Chief of Police James G. Jackson Memorial Highway." 

Today, state Senators Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and Kent Smith (D-Euclid) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 85, which would create the Ohio NAACP license plate.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) commended the Ohio Senate's passage of Senate Bill 2, which makes significant changes to Ohio's energy policies to protect consumers, increase power generation, and improve the state's electric grid.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) commended the Ohio Senate's passage of House Bill 54, the state's two-year transportation budget. The budget invests $11.5 billion over the biennium into Ohio's roads, bridges, airports, and railways, with nearly $200 million being invested in public transportation.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) issued the following statement in response to Governor Mike DeWine's State of the State address.

Today, state Senators Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) celebrated the Ohio Senate's passage of Senate Bill 39, their bill to require the creation of a poster highlighting benefits and resources available to veterans that would be available to employers free of charge.

Today, Senate Assistant Minority Leader Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) announced that the Juneteenth flag has officially been added to the list of flags that are allowed to be flown at the Ohio Statehouse. 

Today, state Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) issued the following statement after the Ohio Senate voted to pass the highly controversial Senate Bill 1:  

Today, state Senators Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) introduced legislation that would prevent individuals convicted of first-degree misdemeanors for domestic violence from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons in Ohio.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) paid tribute to Ben Espy, former Ohio Senate Minority Leader and Columbus City Council member, who passed away on January 4, 2025. 

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) took the oath of office to continue serving in the Ohio Senate during the 136th General Assembly as Assistant Democratic Leader. 

Today, state Senators Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) announced their support for some of the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform. The report recommended several legislative solutions, including raising the homestead exemption and considering the authorization of a property tax circuit breaker as proposed in Senate Bill 271, jointly sponsored by Senator Craig.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) celebrated the Ohio Legislature's passage of House Joint Resolution 8, a constitutional amendment that would ask voters to reauthorize the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) at the Ohio Public Works Commission. H.J.R. 8 is identical to Senate Joint Resolution 4, which passed out of the Senate in November and was sponsored by Senator Craig and state Senator Brian Chavez (R-Marietta). 

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and state Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin) applauded the Ohio Senate's passage of Senate Bill 207, which would designate September 19 as "Stillbirth Prevention Day" in Ohio.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) and state Senator Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) celebrated the Ohio Senate's passage of Senate Joint Resolution 4, which urges voters to renew the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) at the Ohio Public Works Commission. 

This week, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus voted on and announced caucus leadership for the 136th General Assembly, beginning in January 2025.

Today, members of the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus responded to the results of the November 5 general election on Issue 1.

State Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC), fellow OLBC members Sen. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), Sen. Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus), Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Ohio Organizing Collaborative's Deidra Reese held a press conference Tuesday to dispel the false claims and disinformation being spread concerning Issue 1's impact on Black voters.

Today, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) joined community and faith leaders, healthcare professionals, and local residents to celebrate the grand opening of a new dental clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Outpatient Care East.

This week, state Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) commended the Ohio Senate's passage of the state's capital budget (House Bill 2), which includes $62.9 million for 33 projects within Ohio's 15th Senate District and over $100.5 million for Franklin County as a whole.

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Assistant Democratic Leader Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 69, their legislation to designate Ohio Doula Awareness Week.

Today, Senate Assistant Minority Leader Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus) hosted a Juneteenth Celebration at the Ohio Statehouse to commemorate June as the beginning of the Month of Freedom.

Leaders of the Ohio Democratic Caucus, the Franklin County House and Senate delegation and the Jewish Caucus released the following statement concerning the overnight protests and arrests on the campus of the Ohio State University. 

Today, state Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) joined fellow members of the Senate Select Committee on Housing for a press conference to discuss their newly issued report detailing proposals to improve the availability and affordability of housing in Ohio.