WATCH TODAY: Parental Consent for App Stores Hearing, Gambling Expansion Press Conference
It's a busy day at the Ohio Statehouse for Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) and our partner ministry, the Christian Business Partnership, with two critical bills receiving hearings and our press conference opposing gambling.
11:00 am: Hearing for Parental Consent for App Stores Bill
CCV Policy Director David Mahan will testify today—Wednesday, May 28—before the House Judiciary Committee in support of House Bill 226 (HB226).
Sponsored by Representative Melanie Miller (R-Ashland), HB226 would require parental consent before children under 16 can download certain apps and give parents new tools to manage app usage. It also requires developers and device makers to identify likely child users and enable parental controls.
HB226 is the companion bill to Senate Bill 167, sponsored by Senator Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester)—a legislative strategy that helps move a bill more efficiently to the governor’s desk.
If you can't watch the hearing live, you can watch the recording once it's posted.
12:00 pm: Press Conference Opposing Gambling Expansion
CCV will host a press conference at 12:00 pm in the Women's Gallery at the Ohio Statehouse alongside Ohio State Representatives and pastors from across the state.
More than 120 pastors have signed an open letter to Governor DeWine and the Ohio Legislature, warning that the proposed gambling expansion would lead to increased addiction, broken families, and even suicide.
They are urging lawmakers to reject the false promises of easy revenue and instead protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
2:30 pm: Hearing for Gambling Expansion Bill
Following the 1:30 pm Senate session, Partnership Executive Director Monty Lobb and CCV Policy Director David Mahan will testify in opposition to Senate Bill 197 (SB197) before the Senate Select Committee on Gaming.
Sponsored by Representative Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville), SB197 would dramatically expand state-sponsored predatory gambling through online casinos (iGaming) and video slot machines (VLTs) in bars and restaurants. SB197 would target the poor, exploit addiction, and devastate families.
If you can't watch the hearing live, you can watch the recording once it's posted.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or media@ccv.org.
As Ohio's largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel.
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