Idea
Every bill starts with someone, just like you, identifying a problem in their community and proposing a solution.
Advocacy Center
How a bill becomes law in Ohio
Ten steps, two chambers and one signature. Knowing the shape of it is what turns a strong opinion into a vote, because every stage below is a place where someone outside the building can still be heard.
- 3
- hearings, typically
- 50
- of 99 to pass the House
- 17
- of 33 to pass the Senate
- 90
- days until it takes effect
The process
Ten steps, two chambers, one signature
Drafting
State lawmakers take ideas to Ohio’s Legislative Service Commission to draft the bill.
Chamber of origin
The bill can be introduced in either chamber: the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Committee hearings
The Speaker of the House or the Senate President assigns the bill to a committee. It typically receives at least three hearings: sponsor, proponent and opponent. It can be amended in committee and needs more than half the votes to pass.
Full chamber vote
The whole chamber votes. A bill needs 50 votes in the House or 17 in the Senate and can be amended here as well.
Opposite chamber
Once passed, the bill moves to the other chamber and goes through the whole process again.
Committee hearings
Again the bill typically receives three hearings, can be amended and must clear the committee by more than half the votes.
Full chamber vote
The chamber votes. If the bill was amended here it returns to the chamber of origin for approval; if that chamber refuses the changes, a conference committee tries to settle the difference and both chambers vote again.
Governor
The governor may sign the bill, veto it, or do nothing. If nothing happens within ten days, it becomes law without a signature.
Law
The bill becomes law 90 days later, unless it carries an emergency clause.
Scroll to follow the bill
Where you come in
Steps1–3Before it is writtenAn idea reaches a lawmaker through a constituent.Find your lawmaker Steps4 & 7At the hearingsAnyone can give proponent or opponent testimony.Testify yourself Steps5 & 8Before the floor voteOffices tally calls by bill and by position.See what is moving Steps9On the governor’s deskTen days to sign, veto, or let it pass.Read the record
The 136th General Assembly
99Ohio House50 votes to pass
R65 RepublicansD34 Democrats
33Ohio Senate17 votes to pass
R24 RepublicansD9 Democrats
Leadership
Senate PresidentRob McColleyDistrict 1·R
Presiding officer of the Senate, elected by all members to conduct session: recognising members in debate, keeping order, calling votes and signing all acts.
President Pro TemporeBill ReinekeDistrict 26·R
Serves as temporary president in the absence of the Senate President.
Majority Floor LeaderTheresa GavaroneDistrict 2·R
Responsible for developing and implementing the agenda of the majority party.
Majority WhipGeorge F. LangDistrict 4·R
Monitors legislation and secures votes on the floor for the majority.
Minority LeaderNickie J. AntonioDistrict 23·D
Elected to lead the party in the minority and set its agenda.
Assistant Minority LeaderHearcel F. CraigDistrict 15·D
Assists the Minority Leader in developing and implementing the minority agenda.
Minority WhipKent SmithDistrict 21·D
Monitors legislation and secures votes on the floor for the minority.
Assistant Minority WhipBeth ListonDistrict 16·D
Assists the Minority Whip in monitoring legislation and securing votes.
Speaker of the HouseMatt HuffmanDistrict 78·R
Presiding officer of the House. The Speaker appoints the members and chairs of every committee, directs legislative procedure and presides over daily sessions.
Speaker Pro TemporeGayle ManningDistrict 52·R
“Speaker for a time”, serves as temporary Speaker in the Speaker’s absence.
Assistant Speaker Pro TemporePhil PlummerDistrict 39·R
Majority Floor LeaderMarilyn JohnDistrict 76·R
Responsible for developing and implementing the agenda of the majority party.
Assistant Majority Floor LeaderAdam C. BirdDistrict 63·R
Assists the Majority Floor Leader in developing and implementing that agenda.
Majority WhipRiordan T. McClainDistrict 87·R
Majority WhipSteve DemetriouDistrict 35·R
Majority WhipNick SantucciDistrict 64·R
Majority WhipJosh WilliamsDistrict 44·R
Minority LeaderC. Allison RussoDistrict 7·D
Elected to lead the party in the minority and set the caucus agenda.
Assistant Minority LeaderDontavius L. JarrellsDistrict 1·D
Assists the Minority Leader in developing and implementing the minority agenda.
Minority WhipDani IsaacsohnDistrict 24·D
Assistant Minority WhipMichele GrimDistrict 43·D
The House seats four Majority Whips. CCV notes the term comes from the “whipper-in” at a fox hunt, by way of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Steps, thresholds, chamber make-up and leadership are as CCV publishes them. Districts and roles change with each General Assembly: legislature.ohio.gov
Your gift funds the testimony, research and grassroots pressure that move votes where laws are made.
Proclaiming Christ. Defending Virtue.Protecting Families.
Office
62 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone
513.733.5775
Giving
CCV is a 501(c)(3). Gifts are tax-deductible.
Get involved
© 2026 Center for Christian Virtue. All rights reserved.SearchPrivacy policyFinancial accountabilityMedia requests