COLUMBUS — Lawmakers Wednesday sent Gov. Mike DeWine a bill canceling mandatory school testing this year and setting a new date for the state’s canceled primary election.
DeWine indicated he planned to sign it.
I want to thank Senate President @LarryObhof, House Speaker @HouseholderOH, Minority Leaders @EmiliaSykesOH
and @KennyYuko, and all members of the Ohio General Assembly who worked for the bipartisan and unanimous passage of House Bill 197. #InThisTogetherOhio pic.twitter.com/Zd3Qjm7Ump— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 25, 2020
The change came as part of wide-ranging legislation dealing with the impact of the coronavirus.
The bill that passed both the unanimously in both chambers also set an April 28 deadline for voting in the postponed March 17 primary. Voting will be done by absentee ballot by mail.
BREAKING: The Ohio General Assembly has enacted a plan to extend voting by mail in Ohio’s March 17 primary through April 28. Get your absentee ballot request form at https://t.co/TI8p9denz4 and mail it in today! pic.twitter.com/BLEfipm9GD
— Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) March 25, 2020
The legislation also grants recent nursing graduates a temporary certificate to allow them to begin work immediately and addresses numerous other disruptions for Ohioans created by the virus that causes COVID-19.
The bill also removes the one-week waiting period for collecting initial unemployment benefits, changes eligibility to include COVID-19 related unemployment situations and waives the work search requirement.
The bill moves tax filing day to July 15, in compliance with the move for federal filings as well.