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riversedge

(77,982 posts) Thu Sep 25, 2025, 05:43 PM Thursday

Ohio lawmakers' texts, emails blocked from public scrutiny under new secrecy law Updated: Sep. 24, 2025, 2:40 p.m.

Ohio lawmakers’ texts, emails blocked from public scrutiny under new secrecy law
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09/ohio-lawmakers-texts-emails-blocked-from-public-scrutiny-under-new-secrecy-law.html

Updated: Sep. 24, 2025, 2:40 p.m. Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Starting next Monday, Ohio lawmakers’ text messages and emails between each other and their staff will be exempted from public-records disclosure for up to two years.

The changes, included in part of Ohio’s new state budget that takes effect next Monday, are the most significant restrictions to state public-records law regarding the legislature in more than a quarter century.

Proponents of the new limits argue that lawmakers need to be able to frankly discuss bills without fear that everything they type will end up coming under public scrutiny. They also note the new rules will mirror federal public-records limits.

But critics say the new restrictions will allow lawmakers to keep the inner workings of the lawmaking process secret from the public – including potentially scandalous activity, embarrassing comments, and revealing information about lobbyists’ influence on bills they introduce and vote on.

What are the new rules?
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‪League of Women Voters of Ohio‬
‪@lwvohio.bsky.social‬
· 10h
Starting next Monday, text messages and emails sent between Ohio lawmakers and staff will be off-limits to public-records requests until start of next legislative session.
Critics fear it will keep inner workings of lawmaking process secret from the public
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...

Starting next Monday, text messages and emails sent between Ohio lawmakers and staff will be off-limits to public-records requests until start of next legislative session.
Critics fear it will keep inner workings of lawmaking process secret from the public
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...
— League of Women Voters of Ohio (@lwvohio.bsky.social) 2025-09-25T11:41:05.763Z

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Ohio lawmakers' texts, emails blocked from public scrutiny under new secrecy law Updated: Sep. 24, 2025, 2:40 p.m. (Original Post) riversedge Thursday OP

It's not clear who sought the public-records change. It was among a slew of anonymously authored amendments added en mas riversedge Thursday #1

One party rule yankee87 Thursday #2

riversedge

(77,982 posts)

1. It's not clear who sought the public-records change. It was among a slew of anonymously authored amendments added en mas

Reply to riversedge (Original post)

Thu Sep 25, 2025, 06:19 PM

Thursday

..........The budget includes an additional change that loosens public-records law: written communication between lawmakers and the Legislative Service Commission during a legislative session will now also become public records after the session ends.

It’s not clear who sought the public-records change. It was among a slew of anonymously authored amendments added en masse by a Republican-controlled legislative panel to the nearly 6,000-page budget bill around 1:30 a.m. on June 25. About 17 hours later, Republican lawmakers voted to approve the changes and send the $60 billion budget to Gov. Mike DeWine, who signed them into law on June 30.

The public-records changes, like other state budget policy measures, take effect 91 days after the governor signed the legislation.

yankee87

(2,679 posts)

2. One party rule

Reply to riversedge (Original post)

Thu Sep 25, 2025, 07:38 PM

Thursday

A bribe of 600 million dollars and we're paying it in our electric bills, have to keep that a secret.

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