Overview
- House Bill 486 passed the Ohio House 61–26 and would require public schools and universities to teach the positive impacts of Judeo-Christian religion, sending the measure to the Senate.
- The bill, named the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act and sponsored by Reps. Gary Click and Mike Dovilla, lists examples including the pilgrims, founders’ religious backgrounds, the Ten Commandments’ influence, the Civil Rights movement, and evangelist Billy Graham.
- The Ohio Senate approved Senate Bill 34 by a 23–10 vote to require local boards to vote on displaying at least four of nine historical documents in grades 4–12 classrooms, including the Ten Commandments, and forwarded it to the House.
- SB 34 permits schools to accept donations for displays and directs the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to post formatting guidance and educational materials.
- Democrats argue the measures endorse a particular faith and violate the Establishment Clause, pointing to a recent federal ruling that struck down a Texas Ten Commandments classroom law as a warning sign.