Grassroots Advocacy

The 136th General Assembly (GA) began in January 2025. Meet the state legislators of the GA: House Directory and Senate Directory. For health policy advocates, ongoing education of new legislators about our role and scope of practice is the key to the successful passage of a bill. While there were over 1,100 bills introduced in the 135th Ohio GA, only a small number were enacted into law.

A bill dies at the end of a 2-year GA unless it is passed by both chambers (i.e., the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate) and signed by the Governor before being enacted into law. The bills that do not pass the last GA have the potential for reintroduction in the next GA. For more information, see How a Bill Becomes a Law in Ohio.

Historical Successes

Legislative & Other Policy Updates

136th Ohio General Assembly (2025-2026)

Coming Soon!

135th Ohio General Assembly (2023-2024)

Substitute House Bill 5 | Modernize the Adoption Process: Law effective on March 20, 2025.
Amended Substitute Senate Bill 196 | APRN Global Signature Authority: Law effective on March 20, 2025.

Ohio Senate Bill 81

Effective September 20, 2024

Ohio Senate Bill 81 passed the 135th Ohio General Assembly and was signed by the Governor. While the effective date of the new law is September 20, 2024, nursing rules are expected to be promulgated in Spring of 2025.

Authorizes physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists,
and certified nurse midwives to sign documents related to the admission, treatment,
and discharge of psychiatric inpatients, if certain conditions are met.
Replaces the Board of Nursing’s Substance Use Disorder Monitoring Program with the
Safe Haven Program, a program to be conducted by an organization under contract with
the Board to monitor applicant and practitioner impairment resulting from substance
use or mental or physical disability.
Authorizes an insurance navigator to receive compensation from a health insurer
offering insurance through an exchange operating in Ohio so long as the compensation
is not in connection with enrollment in a qualified health benefit plan.

Safe Haven Program | Coming in Spring 2025!

The Ohio Board of Nursing and Ohio Professionals Health Program (OhioPHP) will officially launch the Safe Haven Program and provide educational opportunities about the new program to all licensees of the Board.

What is a Safe Haven Program and Who is Eligible? A confidential path for individuals to seek help for burnout, mental health or substance use disorders and a therapeutic alternative to regulatory action for chronic illnesses. All licensees, certificate holders, or applicants of the Ohio Board of Nursing.

State Advocacy Resources