Antonio Denounces Censorship Bill

Today, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) condemned the Ohio Senate’s passage of House Bill 8, which threatens LGBTQ+ student safety and imposes excessive demands on public educators.

“School policies should focus on education, not discrimination. This bill could burden our educators, while failing to prioritize what’s best for our children,” said Antonio. “We should focus on ensuring all children receive a quality education, and not bring the culture war to schools through harmful bills like this.”

Critics argue that House Bill 8 strains the relationships between teachers and parents and compromises student safety by discouraging open communication between students and educators. The bill imposes complicated reporting requirements and complaint processes onto schools.

The bill was also amended in committee to include provisions from Senate Bill 293, which requires all Ohio school districts to allow students to leave during the day for religious instruction. Both provisions will further burden our teachers and schools who need more resources, not mandates, from the state as they work to help our students succeed academically.

House Bill 8 now awaits a concurrence vote in the House.