Honoring Fallen Police Officers and Protecting Children Take Focus This Week in the Ohio Senate

Honoring fallen police officers. Protecting our students at school. And letting kids be kids.

This week's voting session for the Ohio Senate began with a request from Senator Chavez (R-Marietta) for a moment of silence in recognition of the passing of former State Senator James E. Carnes (R-St. Clairsville) who represented the 20th Senate District from 1995 to 2004. Senator Carnes passed away on April 25, 2026.

Today, May 15th, is Peace Officers Memorial Day which is observed in conjunction with National Police Week. On Wednesday this week, the Ohio Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 202, otherwise known as the Chief DiSario Act. Kirkersville Police Chief Steven DiSario was tragically killed in the line of duty in May 2017 when confronting an armed suspect at a local nursing home facility. Following his passing, Chief DiSario's parents flew the thin blue line flag at their home. However, the local homeowner's association told the grieving family that the flag was not allowed to be displayed as it was consdiered a "political statement." Senate Bill 202, sponsored by Senator Tim Schaffer, supports the First Amendment rights of every Ohioan by prohibiting any HOA from restricting the display of the thin blue line flag. The bill received unanimous support from members of the Ohio Senate.

Honoring the passing of another local hero is Senator Cutrona's Senate Bill 365 which designates a portion of State Route 11 in Mahoning County as the "Trooper Nicholas P. Cayton Memorial Highway. Trooper Cayton was tragically killed on October 16, 2025 when a semi-truck struck his cruiser on State Route 11 while he was providing assistance to a disabled commercial vechicle. A graduate of Carrollton High School, Trooper Cayton served in the Ohio Army National Guard before transitioning to a 13 year career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The Senate also focused it's attention this week on legislation protecting and empowering the children of Ohio. The Senate unanimously passed Senator Gavarone's Senate Bill 277. The legislation clarifies that parents who allow their children to engage in independent activites (such as walking to school or the pool, playing outdoors, visiting a local store, etc.) cannot be charged with abuse or neglect as long as the parent's decision does not amount to gross negilgence. As Senator Gavarone noted on the floor of the Senate, the bill "restores common sense and trust in how we view parenting." 

Additionally, violence at school and schools being used as a target for threats further the Senate's efforts of increasing school safety and security. Senators Tom Patton and Michele Reynolds introduced legislation to strengthen school safety measures in Ohio. Senate Bill 290 requires public and private schools to install an exterior master key lock box in the extent of an emergency to ensure law enforcement have access to the building. This follows recommendations from the U.S. Department of Justice School Safety Working Group, with similar legislation having passed or currently being considered in nine other states. After seeing unanimous support in the Senate, the bill now heads to the Ohio House for further consideration.

The following additional pieces of legislation were passed out of the Ohio Senate this week:

• Senate Resolution 271 (Senators Weinstein/Lang) to support the United States of Kindness Initiative by inviting Americans to perform 250 acts of kindness to honor our nation's 250th birthday
• House Bill 31 requires the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to maintain electronic recordings of all parole board hearings.

• House Bill 377 modernizes laser hair removal regulations by clarifying and streamlining existing law.

• Senate Bill 181 (Senator Wilkin) creates regulations for the underground mining of limestone and dolomite minerals that will be overseen by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
• Senate Bill 218 (Roegner) exempts child care providers from state licensure if they are certified by a branch of the U.S. armed forces due to their already strict regulatory framework.
• Senate Bill 307 (Timken) allows local governments to use revenue from Tax Increment Financing agreements in the construction of police and fire stations.

Baseball is back at the Ohio Statehouse.

Watch our coverage of Ohio's Vintage Baseball Team—The Village Muffins, as they took lawmakers deep on the Statehouse lawn.

To view additional photos from this week's Senate Session and to learn more about all that is taking place in the Ohio Senate, click here.