Position: Support

  • The Data Center Accountability & Citizen Protection Act

    The Data Center Accountability & Citizen Protection Act (HB 983) puts Ohio communities back in charge of the data centers moving into their neighborhoods. It gives residents a direct ballot vote, holds these facilities to real air- and water-safety standards, and ends the secret deals and tax giveaways that leave local families paying the price.

    What HB 983 does

    1. Gives citizens the vote. Requires a citizen ballot vote before any data center or associated power facility expecting 1 megawatt of electrical load can be approved to be built — for every city, village, or township located within 5 miles of the perimeter of the proposed facility.
    2. Sets real safety standards. Requires the Ohio EPA to set air-emissions and wastewater safety standards for all non-regulated metals, glycols, and organics — including PFAS (“forever chemicals”) — that are used in data centers and their power-generating facilities.
    3. Closed-loop cooling & energy independence. Requires all new, voter-approved data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems and to build their own power facility to stay energy-independent, off the grid.
    4. Treat the water they use. Requires all new, voter-approved data centers to build attached water-treatment facilities with the capacity to treat the entire volume of discharge wastewater they produce, prior to discharge.
    5. Existing centers must catch up — water. Requires all existing data centers to build attached water-treatment facilities able to clean whatever amount of discharge wastewater they produce, within 18 months of the act taking effect.
    6. Existing centers must catch up — air. Requires all existing data centers and associated power facilities to comply with the newly established air-emissions standards within 18 months of the act taking effect.
    7. Real penalties, paid locally. Establishes daily penalties — paid to the affected city, village, or township — for any data center that violates emissions and wastewater-discharge requirements, and sets a 30-day limit to come into compliance or the facility is subject to removal of its license to operate.
    8. No tax giveaways. Prohibits all property-tax abatements.
    9. Ends the secret deals. Prohibits future and currently allowed NDAs for development and supply agreements related to a data center or associated power-generating facility, and protects local officials from being penalized for disclosing information about any such agreement.
    10. Closes the revolving door. Prohibits any person who participated in drafting or revising Ohio Power Siting Board rules or Public Utilities Commission rules from representing a data center applicant for 3 years.
    11. Transparency on the EPA’s website. Requires EPA discharge water and emissions requirements and test results from data centers to be posted on the EPA’s website.

    Why it matters

    Data centers are among the largest new consumers of Ohio’s power and water, and they are being sited faster than communities can weigh in. HB 983 restores the balance: no massive facility gets built next to your town without your vote, no chemical goes into your air or water without a standard, and no deal gets cut behind a non-disclosure agreement that keeps residents in the dark. It is accountability first — and citizens first.

    How you can help

    Add your name to get alerts the moment HB 983 moves, a hearing is scheduled, or your action is needed. When Ohioans show up in numbers, lawmakers listen.

    Support HB 983Help us pass the Data Center Accountability & Citizen Protection ActYour donation funds the organizing and grassroots “political” pressure it takes to move HB 983 through the statehouse and into law.Donate to implement this legislation →

  • Support Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead US Health and Human Services

    Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom supports the nomination for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead US Health and Human Services.

    Congratulations to Robert F. Kennedy Jr on his confirmation to Health and Human Services Secretary! We look forward to seeing him take up the fight for our children’s health at the federal level as the states continue their medical freedom work on the home front!

  • Medical Right to Refuse — Ohio Constitutional Amendment

    For more information, visit: www.MedicalRight2Refuse.com

  • The Never Alone Act

    HB 236 was SIGNED into LAW on 12-19-24 and will be effective 90 days from signing.

    After two long years of fighting to maintain the integrity of HB 236, we were able to see the “Never Alone Act” officially signed into law on Wednesday, December 12, 2024.

    Families across the state, can finally rest assured that during a pandemic they are guaranteed access to an advocate of their choice in the room at ALL times and with “every reasonable effort” during non-emergencies.

    Families and patients will receive notice of their visitation rights when they enter the hospital.

    Advocates who are unable to mask due to a medical or mental health condition WILL be allowed to be with their loved one with a note from a wide range of health providers.

    Advocates who are immediate family/ POA/ guardian etc.. can file for injunctive relief if at any time they are denied access to their loved one and if the facility is found in violation of the law, they will be reimbursed for their court fees.

    THANK YOU to our bill Sponsors Representatives Melanie Miller and Beth Lear. THANK YOU to the patients, families and health providers who came to give in person testimony, like Derek Caulkins, Julie Smith, Mary Malek, PhD Psychologist, and to the many advocates who submitted written testimony throughout this process.

    Together, we have successfully insured that no Ohioan will ever have to suffer with illness or die alone, because every patient deserves an advocate in the room.

    What Does HB 236 Do?

    HB 236 (The Never Alone Act – sponsors: M. Miller and Lear) is a bill that ensures every patient in a hospital, nursing home, or VA hospital has access to an on-site advocate, during a pandemic or public health orders and that during non-emergency times, “every reasonable effort” will be made to have an advocate present in the room. HB 236 has a provision to allow for injunctive relief so you can get in to see your loved one quickly if the facility is violating your advocate rights. If the facility is found to have violated your right to be present then they are responsible for your legal costs.

    Read the language and status for HB 236 here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/hb236

  • Legislative oversight of executive orders

    Bill to establish legislative oversight of certain orders and rules issued by the executive branch, including by establishing the Ohio Health Oversight and Advisory Committee.

    While SB22 passed into law, HB90 was better language and OhioAMF would like to see HB90 passed into law in a way that it amended SB22 to improve the code.

    Read more about the bill.

  • The Dave and Angie Patient and Health Provider Protection Act

    2 provisions signed into law, 1 provision vetoed, all other provisions DIED 12-31-24

    HB73: “The Dave and Angie Patient and Health Provider Protection Act”

    The following provisions of HB 73 that were wrapped into the HB 315 “Christmas bill” have been SIGNED into LAW:

    DeWine has line-item VETOED the “medical free speech” provision which said the following:

    Despite this gross action by our Governor against 1st amendment protections for health providers, we will NOT stop FIGHTING to pass medical free speech and all of the other drug prescribing and filling protections that were in HB 73. We hope more Ohioans will join us in this fight by participating in upcoming calls to action and donating towards putting IN DISTRICT pressure on legislators like Senator Steve Huffman and Representative Matt Huffman so their voter base knows how they are working against them! It’s time to take government back for the PEOPLE.

    HB 73 was essentially gutted by Senators Steve and Matt Huffman. An antithetical version of HB 73 was quickly passed out of committee and, just a few hours later, voted on the Senate floor with an 18 to 13 vote. This bait-and-switch version of HB 73 removed all provisions for expanding drug access in outpatient settings. Instead, it restricted access to hospital settings only during a public emergency and introduced a profoundly damaging provision granting pharmacists the legal right to refuse to fill a prescription—despite patient consent—based on a personal “scientific objection.” The Huffman version also limited healthcare providers’ free speech to discussions solely about off-label drugs.

    You can watch OAMF President Stephanie Stock provide an update on this version of the bill after the committee meeting here:

    The Senate-passed version was sent back to the House that evening, where the representatives refused to concur by a vote of 88 to 3 due to the bill being so severely altered. You can watch the floor speech of our champion bill sponsor here:

    HB 73 was supposed to go into a conference committee where Representative Gross, Chairman Steve Huffman, and other appointed committee members would negotiate an agreement on which parts of the bill could be reconsidered for a vote.

    Representative Gross requested that the portions of the bill unrelated to the filling of prescriptions be adhered to precisely as written prior to the Senate’s destruction of the bill’s original intent. However, Chairman Huffman and Senate President Matt Huffman would only agree to the following provisions: the free speech provision, the provision affirming that the World Health Organization has no jurisdiction, and the provision stating that hospitals must not deny food and nutrition. They were adamant in refusing to include protections for physician licensure related to off-label treatments.

    Instead of calling for a conference committee, Senate leadership inserted the only three provisions they would agree to into HB 315, a “Christmas tree” catch-all bill. Because this bill contained financial provisions, it allowed the governor to exercise a line-item veto on specific sections.

    Senate President Huffman delayed sending the bill to the Governor’s desk, preventing House and Senate members from reconvening for a veto override. Governor DeWine DID veto the “free medical speech” section of the bill.

    Because Matt Huffman did not promptly deliver HB 315 to the Governor’s desk, as Speaker Stephens did, there was no hope for a veto override.

  • Conscientious Right to Refuse

    Passed out of health provider services committee, session ended before it was brought to a floor for vote, DIED 12-31-24

    HB 319: “Conscientious, Right to Refuse”

    HB 319 Conscientious Right to Refuse Act has PASSED out of House Health Provider Services Committee! THANK YOU to Chairman DJ Swearingen for calling this important vote for the PEOPLE!

    HB 319 (Conscientious, Right to Refuse.- Sponsors: Gross & Wiggam) is a bill that guarantees the right of any Ohioan, 18 and older to decline any vaccine, pharmaceutical, drug, or biologic, that they have a conscientious or religious objection to without suffering discrimination, retribution, financial penalty, loss of employment, or loss of access to public services. It has a provision to allow for litigation and recoup of legal costs, if discrimination occurs. (Note: this bill does not include children because daycares and K-12 schools already have conscientious, religious and medical exemptions available. See our K-12 exemption section for details.)

    Find HB 319 bill language and status here: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/hb319

    Please thank the Representatives who voted YES on this vital legislation!!

    Rep. Swearingen

    Rep. Gross

    Rep. Barhorst

    Rep. Puzzulli

    Rep. M. Miller

    Rep. T. Young

    Rep. Callender

    Thank you to our champion bill Sponsors Rep. Gross & Rep. Wiggam!

    Because the House of Representatives and the Senate have convened for the remainder of the 135th assembly HB 319 will need to be re-introduced at the beginning of the year and we will continue the fight to move it forward again. Please check back in January to find out the new bill number and continue your advocacy.

  • Taxpayer Protection Against the Frivolous Vaccine Lottery Act

    Bill to prohibit the state from conducting a lottery dependent on an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status, to name the act the “Taxpayer Protection Against the Frivolous Vaccine Lottery Act,” to make an appropriation, and to declare an emergency.

    Read more about the bill.

  • Prohibit public schools from requiring masks

    Bill to prohibit public schools from requiring students to wear a mask or other facial covering on school premises or a school bus and to declare an emergency.

    Read more about the bill.

  • Un-Mask Ohio

    HB617: “Un-Mask Ohio”

    HB 617 (Un-Mask Ohio – sponsor: Wiggam) prevents masks from being mandated in any school, college, or any government building or public transit, and in any place of public accommodation or where public services are rendered in the private sector.

    Find HB 617 language and status here:

    https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/135/hb617

    CURRENT CALL to ACTION for HB617 here:

    Contact House Public Health Services Committee Chair Adam Matthews and ask him to “Please re-schedule the proponent testimony that you cancelled in June for the first scheduled committee date on the return of the House this fall. This legislation is very important to me and my family.”

    Chairman Matthews

    📫 rep56@ohiohouse.gov

    ☎️ (614) 644-6027

Straight Up · PodcastWatch Medical Freedom Podcast episodes herewith Stephanie StockTell House membersAnyone but Matt Huffman for SpeakerThree steps, five minutes