Read the full stored bill text
As Passed by the Senate
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
Sub. S. B. No. 7
2025-2026
Senator Johnson
Cosponsors: Senators Huffman,
Brenner, Antonio, Blackshear, Cirino, Cutrona, DeMora, Gavarone,
Hicks-Hudson, Ingram, Landis, Liston, O'Brien, Patton, Reineke,
Reynolds, Roegner, Romanchuk, Schaffer, Timken, Weinstein, Wilkin
To
amend sections 3301.0732, 3313.60, and 3313.6024 and to enact
sections 3301.0722
,
3301.165
,
3313.6031, 3314.0311, 3326.092, and 3328.60 of the Revised Code
regarding
instruction for students in the harmful effects of substance use.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
sections 3301.0732, 3313.60, and 3313.6024 be amended and sections
3301.0722
,
3301.165
,
3313.6031, 3314.0311, 3326.092, and 3328.60 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:
Sec.
3301.0722.
(A)
As used in this section, "evidence-based" has the same
meaning as in section 3301.221 of the Revised Code.
(B)
The department of education and workforce, in collaboration with the
department of mental health and addiction services, shall conduct a
review of available resources and develop a list of curricula,
materials, programs, and instructional strategies related to the
instruction required under divisions (A)(5)(b) and (g) of section
3313.60 of the Revised Code and section 3313.6031 of the Revised
Code, that districts or schools may utilize. The department of
education and workforce shall highlight any evidence-based resources
that exist on its list. Periodically, the department of education and
workforce shall review and update the list developed under this
section.
Sec.
3301.0732.
The
minimum education standards prescribed by the director of education
and workforce for nonchartered nonpublic schools under section
3301.07 of the Revised Code shall comply with and shall be limited to
this section.
(A)
A nonchartered nonpublic school that is not seeking a charter from
the department of education and workforce because of truly held
religious beliefs shall annually certify in a report to the parents
of its pupils that the school meets minimum education standards for
nonchartered nonpublic schools as described in this section. A copy
of the report shall be filed with the department of education and
workforce on or before the thirtieth day of September of each year.
(B)
A nonchartered nonpublic school shall be open for instruction with
pupils in attendance for not less than four hundred fifty-five hours
in the case of pupils in kindergarten unless such pupils are provided
all-day kindergarten, in which case the pupils shall be in attendance
for nine hundred ten hours; nine hundred ten hours in the case of
pupils in grades one through six; and one thousand one hours in the
case of pupils in grades seven through twelve in each school year.
(C)
The parents of a child enrolled in a nonchartered nonpublic school
shall be responsible for reporting their child's enrollment or
withdrawal from that school to the treasurer of the board of
education of the city, exempted village, or local school district in
which the pupil resides. Pupil attendance is reported for the
purposes of facilitating the administration of laws relating to
compulsory education and the employment of minors. An individual in
charge of the nonchartered nonpublic school may, as a matter of
convenience, provide the report to the treasurer on behalf of the
parents.
The
attendance report shall include the name, age, and place of residence
of each pupil below eighteen years of age. The report shall be made
within the first two weeks of the beginning of each school year. In
the case of pupil withdrawal or entrance during the school year,
notice shall be given to the treasurer of the appropriate board of
education within the first week of the next school month.
(D)
Teachers and administrators at nonchartered nonpublic schools shall
hold at least a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, from a
recognized college or university.
(E)
The curriculum of each nonchartered nonpublic school shall include
the study of the following subjects:
(1)
Language arts;
(2)
Geography, the history of the United States and Ohio, and national,
state, and local government;
(3)
Mathematics;
(4)
Science;
(5)
Health
,
which may include age and developmentally appropriate instruction
about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section
3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter an individual's mood is
harmful to an individual's health
;
(6)
Physical education;
(7)
The fine arts, including music;
(8)
First aid, safety, and fire prevention;
(9)
Other subjects as prescribed by the nonchartered nonpublic school.
(F)
Each nonchartered nonpublic school shall follow regular procedures
for promotion from grade to grade for pupils who have met the
school's educational requirements.
(G)
Each nonchartered nonpublic school shall comply with all applicable
health, fire, and safety laws.
(H)
Pupils attending a nonchartered nonpublic school shall not be
entitled to pupil transportation or auxiliary services. A
nonchartered nonpublic school is not entitled to reimbursement for
administrative costs.
Sec.
3301.165.
The
governing authority of each chartered nonpublic school annually may
provide instruction to students in the grade levels the school serves
about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section
3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an
individual's health. Each governing authority may do all of the
following with regard to the instruction:
(A)
Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to
students;
(B)
Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;
(C)
Conform the instruction to prevention best-practice frameworks;
(D)
Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude,
and skills as a child develops.
Sec.
3313.60.
Notwithstanding
division (D) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code, divisions (A) to
(E) of this section do not apply to any cooperative education school
district established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of section
3311.52 of the Revised Code.
(A)
The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local
school district and the board of each cooperative education school
district established, pursuant to section 3311.521 of the Revised
Code, shall prescribe a curriculum for all schools under its control.
Except as provided in division (E) of this section, in any such
curriculum there shall be included the study of the following
subjects:
(1)
The language arts, including reading, writing, spelling, oral and
written English, and literature;
(2)
Geography, the history of the United States and of Ohio, and
national, state, and local government in the United States, including
a balanced presentation of the relevant contributions to society of
men and women of African, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and American Indian
descent as well as other ethnic and racial groups in Ohio and the
United States;
(3)
Mathematics;
(4)
Natural science, including instruction in the conservation of natural
resources;
(5)
Health education, which shall include instruction in:
(a)
The nutritive value of foods, including natural and organically
produced foods, the relation of nutrition to health, and the use and
effects of food additives;
(b)
The harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the use of
drugs of abuse,
including
marijuana, opioids, opiates,
alcoholic
beverages, and tobacco, including electronic smoking devices;
(c)
Sexually transmitted infection education, except that upon written
request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be
excused from taking instruction in sexually transmitted infection
education;
(d)
In grades kindergarten through six, annual developmentally
appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse prevention, including
information on available counseling and resources for children who
are sexually abused. Such instruction and information provided shall
not be connected in any way to any individual, entity, or
organization that provides, promotes, counsels, or makes referrals
for abortion or abortion-related services. Upon written request of
the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from
taking instruction in child sexual abuse prevention.
(e)
In grades kindergarten through six, instruction in personal safety
and assault prevention, except that upon written request of the
student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking
instruction in personal safety and assault prevention;
(f)
In grades seven through twelve, developmentally appropriate
instruction in dating violence prevention education and sexual
violence prevention education, which shall include instruction in
recognizing dating violence warning signs and characteristics of
healthy relationships, except that upon written request of the
student's parent or guardian a student shall be excused from taking
instruction in sexual violence prevention.
In
order to assist school districts in developing a dating violence
prevention education and sexual violence prevention education
curriculum, the department of education and workforce shall provide
on its web site links to free curricula addressing dating violence
prevention and sexual violence prevention education. Such instruction
and information shall not be connected in any way to any individual,
entity, or organization that provides, promotes, counsels, or makes
referrals for abortion or abortion-related services.
Each
school district shall notify the parents and legal guardians of
students who receive instruction related to child sexual abuse
prevention and sexual violence prevention, as described under
divisions (A)(5)(d) and (f) of this section, of all of the following:
(i)
That instruction in child sexual abuse prevention and sexual violence
prevention is a required part of the district's curriculum;
(ii)
That upon request, parents and legal guardians may examine such
instructional materials in accordance with this section;
(iii)
That upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a
student shall be excused from taking instruction in child sexual
abuse prevention and sexual violence prevention.
If
the parent or legal guardian of a student less than eighteen years of
age submits to the principal of the student's school a written
request to examine the dating violence prevention and sexual violence
prevention instruction materials used at that school, the principal,
within forty-eight hours after the request is made, shall allow the
parent or guardian to examine those materials at that school.
(g)
Prescription opioid abuse prevention, with an emphasis on the
prescription drug epidemic and the connection between prescription
opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin;
(h)
The process of making an anatomical gift under Chapter 2108. of the
Revised Code, with an emphasis on the life-saving and life-enhancing
effects of organ and tissue donation;
(i)
Beginning with the first day of the next school year that begins at
least two years after March 24, 2021, in grades six through twelve,
at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of
evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention and at least one hour
or one standard class period per school year of safety training and
violence prevention, except that upon written request of the
student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking
instruction in suicide awareness and prevention or safety training
and violence prevention;
(j)
Beginning with the first day of the next school year that begins at
least two years after March 24, 2021, in grades six through twelve,
at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of
evidence-based social inclusion instruction, except that upon written
request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be
excused from taking instruction in social inclusion.
For
the instruction required under divisions (A)(5)(i) and (j) of this
section, the board shall use a training program approved by the
department of education and workforce under section 3301.221 of the
Revised Code.
Schools
may use student assemblies, digital learning, and homework to satisfy
the instruction requirements under divisions (A)(5)(i) and (j) of
this section.
(k)
Instruction in bullying and hazing.
(6)
Physical education;
(7)
The fine arts, including music;
(8)
First aid, including a training program in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, which shall comply with section 3313.6021 of the
Revised Code when offered in any of grades nine through twelve,
safety, and fire prevention. However, upon written request of the
student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking
instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
(B)
Except as provided in division (E) of this section, every school or
school district shall include in the requirements for promotion from
the eighth grade to the ninth grade one year's course of study of
American history. A board may waive this requirement for academically
accelerated students who, in accordance with procedures adopted by
the board, are able to demonstrate mastery of essential concepts and
skills of the eighth grade American history course of study.
(C)
As specified in divisions (B)(6) and (C)(6) of section 3313.603 of
the Revised Code, except as provided in division (E) of this section,
every high school shall include in the requirements for graduation
from any curriculum one-half unit each of American history and
government.
(D)
Except as provided in division (E) of this section, basic instruction
or demonstrated mastery in geography, United States history, the
government of the United States, the government of the state of Ohio,
local government in Ohio, the Declaration of Independence, the United
States Constitution, and the Constitution of the state of Ohio shall
be required before pupils may participate in courses involving the
study of social problems, economics, foreign affairs, United Nations,
world government, socialism, and communism.
(E)
For each cooperative education school district established pursuant
to section 3311.521 of the Revised Code and each city, exempted
village, and local school district that has territory within such a
cooperative district, the curriculum adopted pursuant to divisions
(A) to (D) of this section shall only include the study of the
subjects that apply to the grades operated by each such school
district. The curricula for such schools, when combined, shall
provide to each student of these districts all of the subjects
required under divisions (A) to (D) of this section.
(F)
The board of education of any cooperative education school district
established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of section 3311.52 of
the Revised Code shall prescribe a curriculum for the subject areas
and grade levels offered in any school under its control.
(G)
Upon the request of any parent or legal guardian of a student, the
board of education of any school district shall permit the parent or
guardian to promptly examine, with respect to the parent's or
guardian's own child:
(1)
Any survey or questionnaire, prior to its administration to the
child;
(2)
Any textbook, workbook, software, video, or other instructional
materials being used by the district in connection with the
instruction of the child;
(3)
Any completed and graded test taken or survey or questionnaire filled
out by the child;
(4)
Copies of the statewide academic standards and each model curriculum
developed pursuant to section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, which
copies shall be available at all times during school hours in each
district school building.
Sec.
3313.6024.
(A)
Annually each school district
and other public school, as defined in section 3301.0711 of the
Revised Code,
shall report to the department of education and workforce, in
the
manner prescribed
a
survey established
by the department, the types of prevention-focused programs,
services, and supports used to assist students in developing the
knowledge and skills to engage in healthy behaviors and
decision-making and to increase their awareness of the dangers and
consequences of risky behaviors, including substance abuse, suicide,
bullying, and other harmful behaviors.
The
Each
district
or school
shall report
on
the survey
the
following information regarding such programs, services, and supports
for each building operated by the district
or school
and for each of grades kindergarten through twelve served by the
building:
(1)
Curriculum and instruction provided during the school day;
(2)
Programs and supports provided outside of the classroom or outside of
the school day;
(3)
Professional development for teachers, administrators, and other
staff;
(4)
Partnerships with community coalitions and organizations to provide
prevention services and resources to students and their families;
(5)
School efforts to engage parents and the community;
(6)
Activities designed to communicate with and learn from other schools
or professionals with expertise in prevention education
.
;
(7)
A description of how the district or school complies with the
following:
(a)
For each school district, divisions (A)(5)(b) and (g) of section
3313.60 of the Revised Code and section 3313.6031 of the Revised
Code;
(b)
For every other public school, section 3314.0311, 3326.092, or
3328.60 of the Revised Code.
(8)
The number of substance abuse cases that occurred in the district or
school.
(B)
A
chartered nonpublic school may report to the department the
information described in division (A) of this section by electing to
participate in the department's annual survey.
(C)
Each year, the department shall analyze the substance abuse case data
and the information on programs, services, and supports collected in
the annual survey prescribed under this section for that year, and
prior years, to determine the overall effectiveness of different
programs, services, and supports at preventing substance abuse cases
over time and identify best practices for prevention education.
(D)
The
department may use information reported under this section, and any
other information collected by the department pursuant to law, as a
factor in the distribution of any funding available for
prevention-focused programs, services, and supports.
Sec.
3313.6031.
(A)
As used in this section, "substance use" includes the use
of marijuana, alcoholic beverages, opioids, opiates, and tobacco,
including electronic smoking devices, and any substance derived from
a source external to the human body that is not legally permitted or
authorized for use without a prescription.
(B)
In accordance with the curriculum requirement prescribed under
divisions (A)(5)(b) and (g) of section 3313.60 of the Revised Code,
the board of education of each city, local, and exempted village
school district annually shall provide instruction to students in
grades kindergarten through twelve about how short-term or chronic
substance use to alter one's mood is harmful to an individual's
health.
(C)
Each district board shall do all of the following with regard to the
instruction:
(1)
Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to
students;
(2)
Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;
(3)
Conform the instruction to prevention best-practice frameworks;
(4)
Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude,
and skills as a child develops.
Sec.
3314.0311.
The
governing authority of each community school established under this
chapter annually shall provide instruction to students in the grade
levels the school serves about how short-term or chronic substance
use, as defined in section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter
one's mood is harmful to an individual's health. Each governing
authority shall do all of the following with regard to the
instruction:
(A)
Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to
students;
(B)
Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;
(C)
Conform the instruction to prevention best-practice frameworks;
(D)
Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude,
and skills as a child develops.
Sec.
3326.092.
The
governing body of each each science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics school established under this chapter annually shall
provide instruction to students in the grade levels the school serves
about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section
3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an
individual's health. Each governing body shall do all of the
following with regard to the instruction:
(A)
Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to
students;
(B)
Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;
(C)
Conform the instruction to prevention best-practice frameworks;
(D)
Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude,
and skills as a child develops.
Sec.
3328.60.
The
board of trustees of each college-preparatory boarding school
established under this chapter annually shall provide instruction to
students in the grade levels the school serves about how the
short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section 3313.6031
of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an
individual's health. Each board of trustees shall do all of the
following with regard to the instruction:
(A)
Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to
students;
(B)
Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;
(C)
Conform the instruction to prevention best-practice frameworks;
(D)
Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude,
and skills as a child develops.
Section
2.
That
existing sections 3301.0732, 3313.60, and 3313.6024 of the Revised
Code are hereby repealed.