Honoring Jim Kelly for his stalwart service to the Legislative Service Commission.

As Adopted by the Senate

136th General Assembly

Regular Session

S. R. No. 239

2025-2026

Senators
McColley, Antonio

Cosponsors:
Senators Blackshear, Blessing, Brenner, Chavez, Cirino, Craig,
Cutrona, DeMora, Gavarone, Hicks-Hudson, Huffman, Ingram, Johnson,
Koehler, Landis, Lang, Liston, Manchester, Manning, O'Brien, Patton,
Reineke, Reynolds, Roegner, Romanchuk, Schaffer, Smith, Timken,
Weinstein, Wilkin, Wilson

A R E S O L U T I O N

Honoring
Jim Kelly for his stalwart service to the Legislative Service
Commission.

WHEREAS,
The members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of Ohio are
pleased to pay tribute to Jim Kelly on his retirement from the Ohio
Legislative Service Commission; and

WHEREAS,
The Legislative Service Commission was established to provide
nonpartisan drafting, research, and fiscal analysis to all members of
the Ohio General Assembly, and Jim Kelly has certainly embodied the
agency’s compelling directive since joining in 1988. Commencing his
career as a drafter, he served in a variety of areas, including
banking and insurance, health and human services, finally finding a
drafting home in education. Demonstrating high degrees of expertise
and competence, he served in leadership roles during much of his
tenure with the Legislative Service Commission. He served as division
chief of the education group, led the administrative rule division,
and ultimately was appointed director of research and drafting
services. Throughout his thirty-seven-year tenure, he has freely
shared his wealth of knowledge and experience with others, and he has
been esteemed for his patience, adaptability, ingenuity, and insight.
Undoubtedly, he has been a distinguished mentor and friend, and the
State of Ohio has benefited from his dedication; and

WHEREAS,
Jim Kelly has gained tremendous respect for his dependability and
guidance, and his professional legacy is reflected in his
collaboration with Ohio legislators and their offices as well as with
his colleagues at the Legislative Service Commission. Indeed, he has
helped to guarantee a high level of success for all projects with
which he has been associated, including several innovative
improvements most notably to bill support documents, legislative
software, and administrative rule procedures. His loyalty to Ohio,
along with his integrity and work ethic, are the measure of how a
more promising future can be achieved for the people of our state;
and

WHEREAS,
We are proud to note that it is through the unsurpassed efforts and
deep commitment of conscientious people such as Jim Kelly that the
State of Ohio continues to prosper. Over the years, he has striven to
serve his fellow citizens to the best of his ability, and we applaud
him on his fine work; therefore be it

RESOLVED,
That we, the members of the Senate of the 136th General Assembly of
Ohio, in adopting this Resolution, salute Jim Kelly for his
meaningful and lasting contributions to the Ohio Legislative Service
Commission and extend best wishes for a happy, healthy retirement;
and be it further

RESOLVED,
That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a duly authenticated copy of
this Resolution to Jim Kelly.