The first major hurdle to get a referendum on the November ballot to repeal Ohio’s massive higher education law has been cleared. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost certified the title and summary language for a referendum that would repeal Senate Bill 1, set to take effect at the end of June.
Members of the Youngstown State University’s chapter of the Ohio Education Association are behind efforts to get the referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot. About 248,092 signatures are needed — 6% of the total vote cast for governor during the last gubernatorial election. The signatures must be from at least 44 of Ohio’s 88 counties. For Clermont County, 2405 signatures are needed, but organizers plan to double that number to ensure sufficient valid signatures. The signatures would likely be due at the end of June. To request information on signature collection efforts, click here.
S.B. 1 bans diversity efforts, regulates classroom discussion, prohibits faculty strikes, creates post-tenure reviews, puts diversity scholarships at risk, and creates a retrenchment provision that blocks unions from negotiating on tenure, among other things. The law affects Ohio’s public universities and community colleges.
