OEC Action Fund
133rd General Assembly Scorecard

We’ve created the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund Scorecard to hold lawmakers accountable for votes that damage our environment, and to celebrate our environmental champions. The scorecard focuses on four policy areas: energy, water, public lands and democracy.

The narratives and scores included reflect the administration’s and state lawmakers’ actions on key environmental decisions and legislation during the 133rd Ohio General Assembly, which spanned 2019 and 2020. You’ll get to know some of Ohio’s best environmental protectors and worst polluters. We’ve given each chamber and the DeWine administration an overall score that takes into account their policy stances on our four key focus areas as well as an issue-area score. For the rest of the Ohio General Assembly members, you’ll see how each member voted on our key legislation, actions they took to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation, and their overall score.

Most importantly, you’ll see the environmental policy picture for the state of Ohio. We share our outlook on key legislation needed to ensure a healthier environment for all Ohioans.

We’ve included a brief snapshot of the scorecard content below.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL SCORECARD.

- ENERGY -

Governor DeWine was a staunch supporter of HB 6, the state’s dirty energy bailout bill, even saying it was “good policy” the day after the FBI revealed it was passed as part of the largest bribery and money laundering scheme in Ohio’s history. Though he has since called for repeal and condemned the process by which HB 6 was created, Governor DeWine defended the policy that bailed out dirty and aging forms of generation while repealing Ohio’s clean energy standards. Additionally, Governor DeWine appointed Sam Randazzo as Chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Former Chair Randazzo had a decades-long history of advocating against clean energy. Decisions made by the PUCO and the Ohio Power Siting Board under his tenure confirmed his deep biases against renewable energy and energy efficiency, countering Governor DeWine’s stated “all-of-the-above” energy strategy.

Energy Score: 0

- DEMOCRACY -

In 2020, the health of our democratic institutions were intertwined with the global public health crisis. The DeWine Administration began the COVID-19 pandemic with a strong response, listening to health experts and implementing science-based actions like the stay-at-home order to stem the tide of the outbreak. The Governor’s initial aggressive actions gained national recognition. One of these actions included canceling in-person voting in Ohio’s primary election, in consultation with Secretary of State LaRose, impacting democratic participation and resulting in the eventual mail-in vote that occurred in April 2020. This decision was protective of public health during the early stages of the pandemic; however, it set a problematic precedent in terms of elections. Given the complexity of this choice and the fact that the Governor’s pandemic response is ongoing, the administration receives an “incomplete” score for democracy. 

Democracy Score: Incomplete

- LAND -

Governor DeWine championed landmark investments in Ohio’s public lands over the last two years. With his leadership, the biennial state budget secured $47 million in new bond authority to acquire the 35,414-acre Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area. This is the most significant Ohio public land expansion in a generation. In addition, Governor DeWine’s first budget proposed a restoration in funding to Ohio’s nature preserve system and reestablished the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP) as a stand-alone division within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Within the first months of his inauguration, Governor DeWine scrapped the previous administration’s plans to convert portions of Ohio’s largest state forests into motorsports zones. In his Capital Budget proposal, Governor DeWine proposed and the legislature approved the reauthorization of full funding for the Clean Ohio Program, which enables the creation of local parks, trails and conservation easements throughout all of Ohio's 88 counties.

Land Score: 8.75

- WATER -

The DeWine administration proposed and championed historic investments in water quality and safe drinking water via the H2Ohio initiative. In July of 2019, the Ohio General Assembly agreed to invest $172 million in the initiative, which implemented a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality and addressing some of the state’s most pressing water challenges. Other water accomplishments include the launch of the PFAS Action Plan—a statewide testing program for PFAS pollution in drinking water systems—and the implementation of a temporary statewide water shutoff moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, the statewide water shutoff moratorium was far too short, at three months, putting many Ohioans at risk of losing access to running water in their homes during an ongoing public health emergency. Additionally, the Governor’s Lead Advisory committee recommendations did not include lead service line replacement goals for the state of Ohio. While the H2Ohio investments have been historic, they would be stronger when paired with accountability measures of success, specifically around meeting nutrient reduction goals and securing more diverse voices at the table.  

Water Score: 8

OHIO HOUSE & OHIO SENATE

In general, the Ohio House and Senate passed meaningful legislation to invest in water and land protections in Ohio. Unfortunately, the entire legislative session cast a cloud over itself when the FBI unveiled the House Bill 6 bribery and racketeering scandal in July of 2020; Additionally, the Ohio House attempted to advance anti-science legislation that would have limited the powers of the Governor to put in place public health orders to protect Ohioans during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

- ENERGY -

Former Speaker of the House Larry Householder led the charge in passing HB 6, the worst energy bill of the 21st century. Time and time again, the OEC Action Fund and other advocates provided evidence that HB 6 would cost Ohioans’ money, hurt our health, damage Ohio clean energy businesses, and eliminate future career pathways, but it passed anyway in the summer of 2019. Immediately, HB 6 opponents launched a citizen referendum effort to strike down the law at the ballot box, but due to the tactics deployed by former Speaker Householder and his associates, the effort to place the measure on the ballot failed. On July 21st, 2020, the FBI unveiled charges against the former speaker and four political operatives for racketeering and bribery related to the passage of HB 6, and the effort to block citizens’ access to the ballot. According to federal prosecutors, the scandal was “likely the largest bribery, money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people of the state of Ohio." 

Despite multiple repeal bills introduced in both chambers, no action was taken even as two of the four co-conspirators entered guilty pleas. This legislation was always a bad deal for Ohioans, even without a bribery scheme, sticking Ohio with dirtier air and higher utility bills while gutting our clean energy future.

Ohio House Energy score: 0
Ohio Senate Energy score: 5 

- DEMOCRACY -

Ensuring Ohio has safe and equitable access to the ballot box should be among the top priorities at the Ohio Statehouse, but that was not the case during the 133rd General Assembly. In addition to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to Ohio’s primary election, the legislature actively blocked measures that would have ensured every Ohioans’ vote could be cast safely. Lawmakers also pushed legislation to add more barriers to the ballot box. For example, House Bill 680 (HB 680) had the potential to either disenfranchise voters or possibly put them at risk for contracting COVID-19. It would have prevented flexibility in absentee voting in the General Election while stifling science-based health decisions when conducting the election. While HB 680 passed in the Ohio House of Representatives, fortunately, the bill failed to move out of Committee in the Ohio Senate and was not enacted.

Ohio House Democracy Score: 0
Ohio Senate Democracy Score: 0

- LAND -

The legislature passed Governor DeWine’s requested $47 million in new bond authority to acquire the 35,414-acre Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area. This is the most significant Ohio public land expansion in a generation. In addition, the legislature supported the Governor’s priorities to restore funding to Ohio’s nature preserve system, reestablished the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves (DNAP), and fully funded the Clean Ohio Program, which enables the creation of local parks, trails and conservation easements throughout Ohio. Support for these core conservation investments in high-quality public green space will improve quality of life and increase access to outdoor spaces for more Ohioans while helping local economies thrive. 

Ohio House Land Score: 10
Ohio Senate Land Score: 10 

- WATER -

Through the state operating budget bill, the legislature passed Governor DeWine’s H2Ohio initiative, one of the most comprehensive, science-based plans for clean water in state history. The legislature appropriated $172 million for H2Ohio, which focuses specifically on reducing phosphorus, creating wetlands, addressing failing septic systems, and preventing lead contamination. This landmark investment is already improving drinking water across the state and invigorating local economies that rely on Ohio waterways. Additionally, the legislature passed HB 7 which creates a watershed coordinator program within the Ohio Department of Agriculture to ensure conservation efforts are efficiently working together through programs like H2Ohio.

Ohio House Water Score: 10
Ohio Senate Water Score: 10

FOR INDIVIDUAL LAWMAKER SCORES, CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FULL SCORECARD.

MOVING FORWARD

Ohio communities depend on good governance, education, business, and recreation, all made possible when we have a healthy environment. Clean water and air are critical to all Ohioans’ health and quality of life. Open spaces connect us to nature and provide a safe respite during a global pandemic. As our health, communities, and economy struggle under the weight of the coronavirus, we have an opportunity to embrace and invest in clean energy, safe and affordable drinking water, and public lands to build a more sustainable and equitable economy. 

Governor DeWine and the Ohio’s 134th General Assembly have an opportunity to create the state’s environmental agenda and claim a national leadership role in repairing our economy through equitable investments and smart policies. Below are the priorities for which we will be advocating during the next General Assembly and beyond:

- ENERGY -

• Repeal House Bill 6 and reinstate statewide clean energy policy

• Remove market and regulatory barriers to development of utility-scale renewables in the state

• Implement cost-effective statewide energy waste reduction measures to reduce Ohioans’ bills and conserve energy

• Enact programs that remove the longstanding barriers faced by environmental justice communities, including developing equitable workforce policies in the energy space, enabling community solar, and creating an office of environmental justice that oversees implementation of these policies across the state 

• Reduce the unequal annual registration fees on electric vehicles and create a statewide EV charging rebate program 

- DEMOCRACY -

• Ensure Ohio’s redistricting process provides fair maps for Ohio’s future elections

• Advance automatic voter registration and verification

• Guarantee equal access to the ballot by expanding absentee drop boxes and modernizing our vote-by-mail system 

- LAND -

• Complete the public acquisition of the AEP ReCreation Land’s remaining 18,000 acres

• Incentivize carbon storage and sequestration on public and private lands

• Maintain full funding for the Clean Ohio Program

• Increase state coordination and investment in outdoor recreation and trails initiatives 

- WATER -

• Increase investment in the H2Ohio program to continue to improve Ohio’s water quality by building off the program’s first year success

• Increase funding for water infrastructure, including grants for low-income communities

• Enact a statewide requirement to fully replace lead service lines in Ohio within 20 years

• Achieve a statewide water affordability policy, including a permanent, statewide prohibition on water service disconnection due to a household’s inability to pay 

• Prevent Invasive Carp from entering the Great Lakes and Lake Erie