COLUMBUS, OH, Jan. 12, 2025 — As the 2025 Ohio Legislature begins its work this week, the American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, worked with volunteer advocates from across the state to announce its policy agenda for the upcoming legislative session, focusing on key initiatives essential to improving the health and well-being of all Ohioans.
During the 2024 legislative session, the Association was able to successfully advance legislation to ensure longer, healthier lives for all through the work in key policy areas, including protecting students from preventable death from sudden cardiac arrest and strengthening the chain of survival through telecommunicator CPR and funding CPR training in schools. While not all priorities were passed, the Association made great forward movement in advancing key policy items during the 135th Legislative General Assembly.
- AEDs IN SCHOOLS: The Ohio House passed the AED Bill (HB 47) on June 14, 2024, with a vote of 84-6. Cosponsored by Reps. Brown and Bird, H.B. 47 requires AEDs to be placed in each school and sports and recreational locations in Ohio. It also requires emergency action plans be adopted at these sites and for staff to be trained in CPR and the use of AEDs, which complements and reinforces Ohio’s existing requirement that coaches be certified in CPR.
- TELECOMMUNICATOR CPR IMPLEMENTATION & FUNDING: As a part of a larger coalition, but leading the way as a public health organization, the Association successfully obtained $45M in funding to implement a NextGen 9-1-1 system for the state. This system includes a requirement that all dispatchers be trained in providing over-the-phone CPR instructions for bystanders. By guiding callers through CPR steps, they can significantly increase the chances of survival. This will help to ensure improved patient outcomes, enhance public safety statewide, and provide increased confidence and competence in bystanders who need to administer CPR.
- CPR TRAINING FUNDING FOR OHIO SCHOOLS: In 2016, Ohio enacted a requirement that all high school students be trained in CPR; however, there were no funds to ensure they had the resources for that training. The Association requested and successfully obtained $598,000 per year for the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to ensure schools are prepared to help train a Nation of Lifesavers. Roughly 100,000 students graduate in Ohio each school year. This funding will help provide the confidence and knowledge needed if they find themselves in a cardiac emergency.
- DEFENDED OHIO’S SMOKE-FREE LAW: In 2006, Ohioans voted to ban smoking indoors. HB 530 would have allowed the creation of cigar bars and permitted them to allow indoor smoking with only 20% of revenue coming from cigar-related sales - including the renting of humidors. The Association and other public health organizations quickly rallied against this bill and were able to defeat it.
- DEFENDED AGAINST SNAP BENEFIT CHANGES: The Association successfully blocked the passage of SB 240, legislation that would have made it harder for some Ohioans to receive SNAP benefits and ensure they and their families were fed. Many Ohio families would have been hurt by this bill, including survivors of domestic violence, rural Ohioans with limited job opportunities, formerly incarcerated citizens working to rebuild their lives, and low-income parents with child support obligations.
- ADDING STROKE REGISTRY TO THE OHIO REVISED CODE & ADDING “THROMBECTOMY-CAPABLE” TO THE STROKE FACILITY DESIGNATION LIST: Already a rule, but not enshrined in the Ohio Revised Code, the stroke registry will help Ohio stroke victims with improved patient outcomes, enhanced public health surveillance, and policy and program development. Adding “thrombectomy-capable” centers to the facility designation enshrines another rule in the Ohio Revised Code.
- INCREASE TO THE SNAP DOUBLE-UP FOOD BUCKS PROGRAM: Ohio’s Produce Perks program provides a $1-$1 match for all SNAP participants to assist with the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables - up to $25. The Association worked with Produce Perks to secure an additional $500,000 per year for this program, bringing its total appropriation to $1 million per year. This will help Produce Perks partner with more local farmers' markets and independent grocers, helping more Ohioans eat healthier and keep the money in the community.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Ohio Legislative Session, the Association aims to continue to focus on eight key initiatives, including those that aim to protect Ohio children from the harmful effects of tobacco and ensure that all children, regardless of family income, can obtain healthy meals throughout the year and have the best chance to learn and thrive in school.
- PROVIDE HEALTH SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL OHIO CHILDREN: Providing healthy school meals at no cost for every student in Ohio – regardless of income – is a critical investment in improving the health and well-being of Ohio’s students. Several states have already stepped up to ensure that all children can obtain healthy meals throughout the year and have the best chance to learn and thrive in school. Ohio can be next!
- INCREASE FUNDING TO TOBACCO USE PREVENTION FUND: Comprehensive, well-funded tobacco control programs help prevent youth from starting to use tobacco products and support and promote cessation among current tobacco users. The Association will work with coalition partners to increase the current appropriation from $7 million to $27 million per year.
- INCREASE OHIO’S EXCISE TAX ON CIGARETTES: In 2022, Ohio’s smoking rate was 20.8%, behind only West Virginia, Kentucky and Louisiana. Research shows that to lower smoking rates and change behavior, individual tobacco tax increases must be $1 or more per pack. Tax revenue can be used to fund comprehensive tobacco control and prevention programs, cover the cost of cessation, and improve access to healthcare. It will also lead to substantial reductions in tobacco use for both youth and adults.
- CREATE TAX PARITY AMONG TRADITIONAL CIGARETTES AND OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS: Currently other tobacco products (OTP) are taxed at 17% of the wholesale price. Increasing the taxes to match the 25% tax structure among traditional cigarettes would send a message about the dangers of these products and put them on par with other addictive and dangerous tobacco products.
- SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CPR IN SCHOOLS: Building on the success of the last biennium, we will work to secure additional funds to support Ohio’s CPR training curriculum requirement that ensures all students have received CPR training prior to graduation. With an increase in students projected, increasing the appropriation to this lifesaving program will ensure the program’s continued success in creating a Nation of Lifesavers trained to respond to a cardiac emergency.
- SECURE FUNDING FOR THE OHIO CARDIAC ARREST REGISTRY TO ENHANCE SURVIVAL (CARES): Ohio CARES is part of a nationwide effort to improve survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) doubles or triples the chance of survival, but only 33% of cardiac arrests in Ohio receive bystander CPR. Other states have a bystander CPR rate as high as 75%. Overall, the CARES program seeks to improve the bystander CPR rate in Ohio to save more lives from cardiac arrest, strengthen collaboration between bystanders, 9-1-1 centers, first responders, emergency medical services (EMS) agencies and hospitals, and provide a simple, confidential process for measuring patient outcomes in compliance with HIPAA to help communities improve. The Association will seek to increase the current appropriation to $500,000 per year for the Department of Public Safety to ensure CARES continues to operate in Ohio.
- ENACT “EASY ENROLLMENT” FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE: More than 250,000 Ohioans are eligible for Medicaid but are not currently covered. The Association will seek to create a program that connects consumers to coverage via an opt-in option for coverage eligibility determination as a part of the state income tax filing system.
- SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PRODUCE PERKS: Since 2017, Produce Perks has generated more than $12 million in healthy food purchases in Ohio, creating more than $32 million in local economic impact. The Association will seek to increase funding for this impactful program and continue to help eligible Ohioans double their purchasing power to purchase fresh, healthy fruits and vegetables from Ohio farmer’s markets and grocery retailers across the state.
The American Heart Association urges Ohio lawmakers to prioritize these essential policies to improve the health of all Ohioans. Together, we can work to reduce the number of deaths caused by heart disease, expand access to life-saving healthcare, and promote healthier communities across the state.
In addition, Association advocates will be at the State Capitol on March 18 to visit with legislators about these key issues. To support the Association’s work in Ohio, join the American Heart Association’s You’re the Cure network by texting “OH” to 46839. Members will receive regular updates about these bills and opportunities to engage with elected officials in support of these initiatives.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Brianne Ballard; brianne.ballard@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org