ACTION: HB 698 Testimony
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
HB 698 is an SB1 companion bill that extends some of the powers of SB1 and adds some new ones. This bill uses financial threats to try to ensure enforcement of SB1, intimidates university employees doing work dubbed DEI, facilitates program retrenchment, and creates new definitions around faculty workload. We encourage you to submit testimony opposing the bill.
If you want to read the contents of the bill, you can do so here. For an easier-to-read version, you can review the summary written by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
The committee is now taking testimony that opposes the bill. All testimony must be submitted by Monday, 5/11 at 10am, and oral testimony will be heard on Tuesday, 5/12 at 10am.
There are two ways to testify on a bill at the Ohio Statehouse. The first way is by providing written testimony only. This written letter (usually about 1 page) is submitted to the committee and then published publicly. The second way is by providing both written and oral testimony. This involves both writing a letter and reading that letter to the committee at the time of the hearing. We aim for a testimony that runs 3-5 minutes if delivered orally (1-2 pages). No matter the manner of testimony, it is due 24 hours in advance of the hearing (see deadline above).
While oral testimony is ideal, written is excellent as well. The number of testimonies matters!
We'll be holding a virtual testimony writing party on Sunday, 5/10 at 5 pm to answer any questions you might have. See the resources below on "How To" write and submit testimony at the Ohio Statehouse and to RSVP for the writing party.