Ohio's Senate Bill 1: A Threat to Higher Education, Free Speech, and Workers' Rights

Higher education is—once again—under attack in Ohio in the form of Senate Bill 1. A reincarnation of the previous General Assembly’s Senate Bill 83, widely known as the “Higher Education Destruction Act,” this bill represents an attempt by overreaching legislators to impose their will on college campuses to the detriment of our students, faculty, and the state’s educational reputation. While the previous version stalled in the House after passing the Senate 21-10, Ohio Republicans are now doubling down in their efforts to stifle true critical thinking and dismantle our education institutions.

This comes as no surprise. S.B. 1 is simply a part of a larger, coordinated nationwide assault on public universities and colleges. Instead of addressing the real needs of students and faculty, they are consumed by petty political battles that only serve to divide us further. 

Senate Republicans are fully aware of how unpopular this bill is with the people of Ohio. Yet, despite this, they rushed it through the Senate in the span of just a week. Over 800 concerned Ohioans submitted testimony, and my office alone received thousands of emails from residents across the state. S.B. 1’s rapid passage was a blatant attempt to silence those who oppose it.

Students are deeply concerned about the rising cost of education and how to make it more accessible to all. To claim that all students are being “brainwashed” on campuses across the state is an outright insult to the intellect and self-determination of our future generations. I am confident that the nearly 450,000 students who attend these institutions are more than capable of forming their own thoughts, ideas, and beliefs about the world around them. At their core, universities are meant to broaden perspectives, challenge assumptions, and prepare students to navigate an increasingly complex world. S.B. 1 undermines that very purpose.

S.B. 1 seeks to restrain certain discussions of topics, including history, that may make people uncomfortable. In the bill, the vague definition of 'controversial' makes it unclear which subjects are allowed, giving too much discretion for censorship of important conversations. This directly violates the First Amendment by limiting free speech and academic freedom.

S.B. 1 also poses a significant threat to workers’ rights by threatening the reversal of the state’s longstanding law that grants public employees the right to collectively bargain and strike. The statute, passed in 1983, was among the strongest worker protections in the country at that point and a testament to Ohio’s strong labor tradition.

Who are we to undo the generations of work that brought women into the classroom, welcomed people of diverse racial backgrounds, and made campuses accessible to those with different abilities? These efforts did not happen overnight—they are the result of relentless struggles, advocacy, and sacrifices by countless individuals committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable education system. To undermine these hard-won achievements is to disregard the invaluable work and perseverance that have shaped the higher education system we have today.

If enacted, S.B. 1 would ultimately allow the state legislature to withhold or reduce funding from colleges and universities if they believe the institutions have failed to comply with these mandates. This puts the state legislature in charge of what our students are learning. If the legislature is so concerned about whether students can have productive civil discourse on campus, why not educate them to do so through an equitable and inclusive lens?

To the students, faculty, staff, and concerned Ohioans—I hear you, and I appreciate your unwavering support and dedication to speaking out for what is right. We will not go back, and we will not be silenced. Ohio deserves an education system that is fair, diverse, and free from political interference. Senate Bill 1 will do the opposite.