Status: In Committee

Parental C.H.O.I.C.E Act

On October 27, 2025, the Parental C.H.O.I.C.E. Act was officially introduced by our champion joint sponsors:

Representative Melanie Miller 🇺🇸
Representative Monica Robb Blasdel 🇺🇸

The Parental C.H.O.I.C.E. Act is House Bill 561 in the 136th Ohio General Assembly, and is currently in committee.

What the Parental C.H.O.I.C.E. Act Does….

1. Strengthens enforcement of existing vaccine exemptions
Requires all K–12 schools, preschools, and daycares that mandate vaccines to honor Ohio’s current medical, religious, and conscientious exemptions.

2. Prohibits schools from demanding extra paperwork or specific forms
Schools cannot question a parent’s religion or request additional personal health information.

3. Ensures transparency for parents
Schools must clearly communicate exemption rights in all vaccine-related correspondence sent to parents.

4. Removes the Hepatitis B vaccine requirement for preschools and daycares

Aligns with the new recommendation from Trump/Kennedy to delay Hep B vaccination until age 12.

5. Establishes a complaint and enforcement process
Parents who are denied an exemption or not informed of their rights can file a complaint. Schools or programs that fail to comply within 30 days may face suspension of their charter or license.

6. Prevents discrimination against healthy, unvaccinated children
Schools may not exclude healthy, uninfected students from attendance during outbreaks of chickenpox, measles, or mumps.

🇺🇸 Please take a moment to thank our champion sponsors above and our Co-Sponsors listed below! 🇺🇸
Click on the names below to email them directly:

Rep Jennifer Gross · Rep D.J. Swearingen · Rep Tim Barhorst · Rep Thad Claggett · Rep Angela King · Rep Jean Lear · Rep Brian Lorenz · Rep Michelle Teska · Rep Ron Ferguson · Rep Jeff LaRe · Rep Thomas Hall · Rep Diane Mullins · Rep Kevin Miller · Rep Josh Williams · Rep Johnathan Newman · Rep Jason Stephens · Rep Justin Pizzulli · Rep Kellie Deeter · Rep Levi Dean · Rep Gary Click · Rep Tex Fischer

House 62  Jean Schmidt (R)       Chair                Rep62@ohiohouse.gov
House 54  Kellie Deeter (R)      Vice Chair           Rep54@ohiohouse.gov
House  8  Anita Somani (D)       Ranking Member       Rep08@ohiohouse.gov
House 27  Rachel B. Baker (D)                         Rep27@ohiohouse.gov
House 85  Tim Barhorst (R)                            Rep85@ohiohouse.gov
House 28  Karen Brownlee (D)                          Rep28@ohiohouse.gov
House 77  Meredith Craig (R)                          Rep77@ohiohouse.gov
House 43  Michele Grim (D)                            Rep43@ohiohouse.gov
House 45  Jennifer Gross (R)                          Rep45@ohiohouse.gov
House 84  Angela N. King (R)                          Rep84@ohiohouse.gov
House 67  Melanie Miller (R)                          Rep67@ohiohouse.gov
House 12  Brian Stewart (R)                           Rep12@ohiohouse.gov
House 36  Andrea White (R)                            Rep36@ohiohouse.gov
House 78  Matt Huffman (R)       Speaker of the House Rep78@ohiohouse.gov

Chair Schmidt and members of the House Health Committee,

Please support school exemption transparency, the right of conscientious exemption, and the prevention of segregating healthy children based on vaccination status. Please PASS HB 561 when you return in November!

Thank you.
Respectfully,

House  10  Mark Sigrist             rep10@ohiohouse.gov
House  12  Brian Stewart            rep12@ohiohouse.gov
House  17  Mike Dovilla             rep17@ohiohouse.gov
House  29  Cindy Abrams             rep29@ohiohouse.gov
House  30  Mike Odioso              rep30@ohiohouse.gov
House  31  Bill Roemer              rep31@ohiohouse.gov
House  32  Jack Daniels             rep32@ohiohouse.gov
House  35  Steve Demetriou          rep35@ohiohouse.gov
House  36  Andrea White             rep36@ohiohouse.gov
House  37  Tom Young                rep37@ohiohouse.gov
House  39  Phil Plummer             rep39@ohiohouse.gov
House  40  Rodney Creech            rep40@ohiohouse.gov
House  41  Erika White              rep41@ohiohouse.gov
House  42  Elgin Rogers Jr.         rep42@ohiohouse.gov
House  45  Jennifer Gross           rep45@ohiohouse.gov
House  46  Thomas Hall              rep46@ohiohouse.gov
House  47  Diane Mullins            rep47@ohiohouse.gov
House  48  Scott Oelslager          rep48@ohiohouse.gov
House  49  Jim Thomas               rep49@ohiohouse.gov
House  50  Matthew Kishman          rep50@ohiohouse.gov
House  51  Jodi Salvo               rep51@ohiohouse.gov
House  52  Gayle Manning            rep52@ohiohouse.gov
House  54  Kellie Deeter            rep54@ohiohouse.gov
House  55  Michelle Teska           rep55@ohiohouse.gov
House  56  Adam Mathews             rep56@ohiohouse.gov
House  57  Jamie Callender          rep57@ohiohouse.gov
House  58  Lauren McNally           rep58@ohiohouse.gov
House  60  Brian Lorenz             rep60@ohiohouse.gov
House  61  Beth Lear                rep61@ohiohouse.gov
House  62  Jean Schmidt             rep62@ohiohouse.gov
House  63  Adam Bird                rep63@ohiohouse.gov
House  64  Nick Santucci            rep64@ohiohouse.gov
House  65  David Thomas             rep65@ohiohouse.gov
House  66  Sharon Ray               rep66@ohiohouse.gov
House  67  Melanie Miller           rep67@ohiohouse.gov
House  68  Thaddeus Claggett        rep68@ohiohouse.gov
House  69  Kevin Miller             rep69@ohiohouse.gov
House  70  Brian Lampton            rep70@ohiohouse.gov
House  71  Levi Dean                rep71@ohiohouse.gov
House  72  Heidi Workman            rep72@ohiohouse.gov
House  73  Jeff LaRe                rep73@ohiohouse.gov
House  74  Bernard Willis           rep74@ohiohouse.gov
House  75  Haraz Ghanbari           rep75@ohiohouse.gov
House  76  Marilyn John             rep76@ohiohouse.gov
House  77  Meredith Craig           rep77@ohiohouse.gov
House  78  Matt Huffman             rep78@ohiohouse.gov
House  79  Monica Robb Blasdel      rep79@ohiohouse.gov
House  80  Johnathan Newman         rep80@ohiohouse.gov
House  81  James Hoops              rep81@ohiohouse.gov
House  82  Roy Klopfenstein         rep82@ohiohouse.gov
House  83  Ty Mathews               rep83@ohiohouse.gov
House  84  Angela King              rep84@ohiohouse.gov
House  85  Tim Barhorst             rep85@ohiohouse.gov
House  86  Tracy Richardson         rep86@ohiohouse.gov
House  87  Riordan McClain          rep87@ohiohouse.gov
House  88  Gary Click               rep88@ohiohouse.gov
House  89  D. J. Swearingen         rep89@ohiohouse.gov
House  90  Justin Pizzulli          rep90@ohiohouse.gov
House  91  Bob Peterson             rep91@ohiohouse.gov
House  92  Mark Johnson             rep92@ohiohouse.gov
House  93  Jason Stephens           rep93@ohiohouse.gov
House  94  Kevin Ritter             rep94@ohiohouse.gov
House  95  Ty Moore                 rep95@ohiohouse.gov
House  96  Ron Ferguson             rep96@ohiohouse.gov
House  97  Adam Holmes              rep97@ohiohouse.gov
House  98  Mark Hiner               rep98@ohiohouse.gov
House  99  Sarah Fowler Arthur      rep99@ohiohouse.gov
Senate      Rob McColley             McColley@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Theresa Gavarone         Gavarone@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Michele Reynolds         Reynolds@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      George Lang              Lang@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Steve Huffman            shuffman@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Steve Wilson             Wilson@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Louis Blessing           Blessing@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Kyle Koehler             Koehler@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Susan Manchester         Manchester@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Terry Johnson            Johnson@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Shane Wilkin             Wilkin@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Jerry Cirino             Cirino@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Andrew Brenner           Brenner@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Tim Schaffer             Schaffer@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Mark Romanchuk           Romanchuk@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Tom Patton               Patton@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Bill DeMora              DeMora@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Bill Reineke             Reineke@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Kristina Roegner         Roegner@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Jane Timken              Timken@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Brian Chavez             Chavez@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Al Landis                Landis@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Sandra O'Brien           brien@ohiosenate.gov
Senate      Alessandro Cutrona       Cutrona@ohiosenate.gov

HB 12 HAS THE VOTES in the HOUSE, and Vivek has publicly endorsed the bill, so it should be supported by his running mate, Senate President McColley.

I am asking House and Senate members to PASS the Jeff, Dave & Angie Right 2 Try Act while you are in Columbus for the gas tax suspension.

It’s time to give voters something they have been asking for since COVID protocol policies and treatment denials took the lives of thousands of Ohioans.

House Bill 12/ Senate Bill 209
“The Jeff, Dave, & Angie Patient Right to Try Act”

WHAT DOES HB 12/ SB 209 DO?

1. Protects a consenting patient’s right to fill a prescription for an FDA approved drug prescribed by their physician without obstruction from the pharmacist, so as long as there is no life-threatening contraindication with the drug and the pharmacist does not have a moral objection to filling the prescription. This applies to outpatient pharmacies, hospitals, and nursing homes.

2. Prohibits pharmacists, hospitals, and nursing homes from refusing to fill a drug for a consenting patient because a they have a "scientific objection." However, if they note they have a scientific objection in the patient’s chart and inform the physician of the objection, they will be immune from any civil liability and administrative penalties when they fill the prescription. This provides protection to pharmacists and facilities that disagree with the physician’s drug choice without obstructing the right of a physician to treat their consenting patient.

3. Provides licensure protection for physicians using innovation in prescribing a drug off-label to a consenting patient. (Note: Protecting a physician’s license from unwarranted threats from the medical board does NOT prevent a patient from suing a doctor for harm.)

4. Establishes that Healthcare providers should be allowed to engage in scientific debate and protects healthcare providers’ from being penalized or having their licenses threatened by health related licensing boards because they express opinions regarding the risks, benefits, or efficacy of a drug or medical intervention that differs from the views held by the licensing board. This is essential for healthcare providers to be able to give their patients informed consent.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

1) Add your name to our one-click petition... Sign on below — every signature is filed with OAMF’s testimony to the Speaker and the Health Committee in support of HB 12/SB 209.

2) See the status and text for HB 12/ SB 209 here...

3) Donate today...

Please consider donating toward text messaging or mailers to inform voters about legislators who are blocking pro-medical freedom legislation. When voters are informed that their legislator is working against them, it can influence how they vote in the next primary election.

Or mail a check to Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom with “Hold legislators accountable” in the message line!

Conscientious Right to Refuse Act – HB112

What is Conscientious Right to Refuse

Conscientious Right to Refuse (CR2R), Ohio House Bill 112, is proposed legislation to enact law via Ohio Revised Code to prohibit discrimination against an individual for the refusal of certain medical interventions for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions.

Conscientious Right to Refuse will accomplish the following:

• Prohibit discrimination of any kind for adults and emancipated minors who refuse any vaccine, pharmaceutical, biologic, facial covering (that is not being used for surgery purposes), or a medical device used to track or store medical, financial or information, due to a conscientious or religious objection.

• Prohibit refusal of medical care or transplant services to children whose parents decline vaccination for conscientious or religious objection.

• Allows for litigation if discrimination occurs.

What is the current status of Conscientious Right to Refuse

Conscientious Right to Refuse is currently waiting introduction in the Ohio House of Representatives 136th General Assembly by bill sponsors Representative Jennifer Gross and Representative Beth Lear.

The legislation is being Co-Sponsored by: Tim Barhorst, Adam C. Bird, Thaddeus J. Claggett, Gary Click, Rodney Creech, Levi Dean, Ron Ferguson, Tex Fischer, Sarah Fowler Arthur, Thomas Hall, Adam Holmes, Marilyn John, Mark Johnson, Angela N. King, Roy Klopfenstein, Brian Lorenz, Ty D. Mathews, Riordan T. McClain, Kevin D. Miller, Melanie Miller, Diane Mullins, Justin Pizzulli, Kevin Ritter, D. J. Swearingen, Michelle Teska, Bernard Willis, and Heidi Workman.

Current Conscientious Right to Refuse Call-to-Action

1) Add your name to our one-click petition below. Every signature is filed with OAMF’s testimony asking Ohio lawmakers to support the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act (CR2R).

2) To amplify your support, please consider also taking the next few minutes to call or email Ohio lawmakers (contact info at the bottom of this page) to support the Conscientious Right to Refuse Act (CR2R) by working with Representative Jennifer Gross and Representative Melanie Miller.

3) Donate to Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom (OAMF) so we can continue fighting for the rights of Ohioans.

History of Conscientious Right to Refuse

Conscientious Right to Refuse (CR2R) was introduced by Representative Jennifer Gross and Representative Scott Wiggam as Ohio House Bill 319 in the 135th Ohio General Assembly.

The legislation was Co-Sponsored by: Tim Barhorst, Adam C. Bird, Thaddeus J. Claggett, Gary Click, Rodney Creech, Bill Dean, Jay Edwards, Ron Ferguson, Thomas Hall, Adam Holmes, Marilyn John, Darrell Kick, Angela N. King, Roy Klopfenstein, Beth Lear, P. Scott Lipps, Brian Lorenz, Mike Loychik, Riordan T. McClain, Derek Merrin, Kevin D. Miller, Melanie Miller, Jena Powell, Sharon A. Ray, Tracy M. Richardson, Jean Schmidt, Dick Stein, Reggie Stoltzfus, D. J. Swearingen, Bernard Willis, and Tom Young.

Ohio House Bill 319, Conscientious Right to Refuse, received FOUR opposition testimonies and SEVENTY EIGHT proponent testimony, including proponent testimony from other organizations like National Vaccine Information Center, Cleveland Right to Life, and Ohio Christian Alliance. The testimonies can be found on the Ohio House website.

Ohio House Bill 319, Conscientious Right to Refuse, was voted out of the Ohio House Health Provider Services Committee with an overwhelming 7-3 vote on December 11, 2024. The bill expired on December 31, 2024 and needs reintroduced for consideration by the 136th General Assembly.

Conscientious Right to Refuse was a new, completely re-written iteration of Ohio House Bill 248, which was introduced in the 134th General Assembly by Representative Jennifer Gross, and Co-Sponsored by: Thomas E. Brinkman Jr., Gary Click, Rodney Creech, Bill Dean, Jay Edwards, Ron Ferguson, Sarah Fowler Arthur, Kris Jordan, Mike Loychik, Riordan T. McClain, Derek Merrin, Reggie Stoltzfus, A. Nino Vitale, Scott Wiggam, Paul Zeltwanger. To date, HB248 received the most written proponent testimonies of any piece of legislation in Ohio history. Legislators received nearly a thousand written testimonies for HB248, multiple thousands of phone calls, and tens of thousands of emails in favor of the legislation.

Conscientious Right to Refuse in the Media

Ohio Capitol Journal – Ohio bill would limit the ability of employers… 📄

Dayton Daily News – Ohio House moves closer on bill… 📄

Ohio Press Network – Submit your testimony… 📄

Country News Online – Ohio House Health Committee Appointments spell trouble… 📄

Click here to identify your elected officials: House / Senate

Ohio Republican Representatives Email Copy/Paste List:

rep12@ohiohouse.gov, rep17@ohiohouse.gov, rep29@ohiohouse.gov, rep30@ohiohouse.gov, rep31@ohiohouse.gov, rep32@ohiohouse.gov, rep35@ohiohouse.gov, rep36@ohiohouse.gov, rep37@ohiohouse.gov, rep39@ohiohouse.gov, rep40@ohiohouse.gov, rep44@ohiohouse.gov, rep45@ohiohouse.gov, rep46@ohiohouse.gov, rep47@ohiohouse.gov, rep48@ohiohouse.gov, rep49@ohiohouse.gov, rep50@ohiohouse.gov, rep51@ohiohouse.gov, rep52@ohiohouse.gov, rep54@ohiohouse.gov, rep55@ohiohouse.gov, rep56@ohiohouse.gov, rep57@ohiohouse.gov, rep59@ohiohouse.gov, rep60@ohiohouse.gov, rep61@ohiohouse.gov, rep62@ohiohouse.gov, rep63@ohiohouse.gov, rep64@ohiohouse.gov, rep65@ohiohouse.gov, rep66@ohiohouse.gov, rep67@ohiohouse.gov, rep68@ohiohouse.gov, rep69@ohiohouse.gov, rep70@ohiohouse.gov, rep71@ohiohouse.gov, rep72@ohiohouse.gov, rep73@ohiohouse.gov, rep74@ohiohouse.gov, rep75@ohiohouse.gov, rep76@ohiohouse.gov, rep77@ohiohouse.gov, rep78@ohiohouse.gov, rep79@ohiohouse.gov, rep80@ohiohouse.gov, rep81@ohiohouse.gov, rep82@ohiohouse.gov, rep83@ohiohouse.gov, rep84@ohiohouse.gov, rep85@ohiohouse.gov, rep86@ohiohouse.gov, rep87@ohiohouse.gov, rep88@ohiohouse.gov, rep89@ohiohouse.gov, rep90@ohiohouse.gov, rep91@ohiohouse.gov, rep92@ohiohouse.gov, rep93@ohiohouse.gov, rep94@ohiohouse.gov, rep95@ohiohouse.gov, rep96@ohiohouse.gov, rep97@ohiohouse.gov, rep98@ohiohouse.gov, rep99@ohiohouse.gov

Ohio Republican Senator Email Copy/Paste List:

McColley@ohiosenate.gov, Gavarone@ohiosenate.gov, Reynolds@ohiosenate.gov, Lang@ohiosenate.gov, shuffman@ohiosenate.gov, Wilson@ohiosenate.gov, Blessing@ohiosenate.gov, Koehler@ohiosenate.gov, Manchester@ohiosenate.gov, Manning@ohiosenate.gov, Johnson@ohiosenate.gov, Wilkin@ohiosenate.gov, Cirino@ohiosenate.gov, Brenner@ohiosenate.gov, Schaffer@ohiosenate.gov, Romanchuk@ohiosenate.gov, Patton@ohiosenate.gov, Reineke@ohiosenate.gov, Roegner@ohiosenate.gov, Timken@ohiosenate.gov, Chavez@ohiosenate.gov, Landis@ohiosenate.gov, brien@ohiosenate.gov, Cutrona@ohiosenate.gov

HB 182- “The Safe Water Act”

Introduced by Representative Levi Dean

What does HB 182 do?

Protects Ohio’s Public water system: “No public water system shall add fluoride to the water supplied by the system.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

1) Add your name to our one-click petition… Sign on below — every signature is filed with OAMF’s testimony to the Speaker and the House Natural Resources Committee in support of HB 182.

2) See the status and text for HB 182

3) Donate today…

Please consider donating toward text messaging or mailers to inform voters about legislators who are blocking pro-medical freedom legislation. When voters are informed that their legislator is working against them, it can influence how they vote in the next primary election.

Or mail a check to Ohio Advocates for Medical Freedom with “Hold legislators accountable” in the message line!

Please sign up for emails to make sure you don’t miss updates on the progress of this bill!