Nickie J. Antonio News

Today, members of the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus held an informal brown bag lunch discussion with news media to discuss their top issues and goals for the 135th Ohio General Assembly.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement in response to Governor DeWine's inauguration:

Today, Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) released the following statement in response to Governor DeWine's veto of legislation that would have blocked cities from banning harmful tobacco products or raising the age to buy them:

Today, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine urging him to use his executive powers to veto House Bill 458, which would make it more difficult for Ohioans to vote by requiring strict photo ID requirements and slash the timeframe in which voters can return their ballots after Election Day. The bill also eliminates early in-person voting on the Monday before election day, one of the busiest early in-person voting days.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) took the oath of office to serve in the Ohio Senate as Senate Minority Leader during the 135th General Assembly. She is the first LGBTQ+ Minority Leader in the history of the Ohio Senate.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement on the sentencing of George Wagner IV, who was convicted last month on charges of aggravated murder for killing eight members of the Rhoden family in 2016:

Today, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus applauded Democratic successes during lame duck and urged Governor DeWine to veto a number of harmful pieces of legislation that passed.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) applauded the many individuals and advocates that testified in opposition to House Bill 151, especially Ember Zelch, the sole transgender girl playing sports in Ohio, whose testimony Antonio shared during session. As amended and passed by the Senate, H.B. 151 would have prohibited transgender girls from playing on girls' school sports teams. The measure failed to advance in the Ohio House.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) announced the Senate's concurrence on Senate Bill 288. Senate Bill 288 was amended to include her bill, Senate Bill 90, joint-sponsored with Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard), which creates the offense of strangulation in the Ohio Revised Code.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) announced the House's passage and the Senate's concurrence on Senate Bill 202. The legislation, joint-sponsored by Senators Antonio and Bob Hackett (R-London), would prohibit a person's disability from being used to deny or limit custody, parenting time, visitation, adoption or service as a guardian or foster caregiver.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) released the following statement after the Ohio State Board of Education passed a resolution that opposes a proposal by the U.S. Department of Education to expand federal Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students in Ohio:

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) provided sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 198, which would eliminate criminal and civil statutes of limitations for rape in Ohio. The bill would not apply to crimes already past the statute of limitations.

Today, the Ohio Senate Democratic Caucus voted on and announced caucus leadership for the 135th General Assembly, beginning in January 2023. The Caucus voted to elect state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) as Minority Leader.

Today, state Senators Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Stephanie Kunze (R-Hilliard) provided sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 137, which would modify the Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Board (PAMR). The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) established the Ohio PAMR to identify and review pregnancy-associated deaths with the goal of developing interventions to reduce maternal mortality, particularly for pregnancy-related deaths.

Today, state Senators Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester) provided sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 50, which would prohibit certain licensed healthcare professionals in Ohio from engaging in conversion therapy when treating minors.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued a statement in response to the Ohio Supreme Court's ruling that overturned the conviction of Ralph Bortree for the 1993 attempted aggravated murder of Anita Clark in Logan County:

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) released the following statement after the Ohio State Board of Education announced that it will consider adopting a resolution that would urge school districts to oppose and disregard the enhanced Title IX protections proposed in June 2022 that would prohibit all schools that receive federal funds - including public, charter, private, and parochial schools - from "adopting a policy or engaging in a practice that prevents a person from participating in an education program or activity consistent with their gender identity."

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) applauded a multimillion-dollar appropriation in the fiscal year 2023 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) budget, which will go to organizations across Ohio that work to reduce poverty and support families and children.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) released the following statement in response to Attorney General Dave Yost's decision to join 21 other attorneys general in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for their new rules prohibiting discrimination against gender identity or sexual orientation in schools that receive federal funding for nutrition assistance programs:

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) sent a letter to Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff urging him to accelerate Ohio's response to the outbreak of the monkeypox virus, which he recently declared a "disease of significant public concern" that poses a risk of human fatality or disability in the state.

Today, Assistant Minority Leader Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) sponsored a lunch and discussion with Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India - the first openly gay royal in the world - Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), additional invited legislators and other advocates for LGBTQ+ equality in Ohio.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, which overturns Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, removes the federal constitutional right to abortion and gives the power to restrict or ban abortion to each state:

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) praised the Ohio Senate's passage of the state's Capital Budget, which includes $3.7 million for eleven economic development projects within Ohio's 23rd Senate District and over $23 million for Cuyahoga County as a whole.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) praised the Ohio Senate's passage of Senate Bill 255, which designates the Officer Wayne A. Leon Memorial Highway.

Today, state Senator Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) announced the Senate's concurrence on Substitute Senate Bill 61, her bill to strengthen a number of consumer protection provisions for condominium owners and make changes to the law regarding solar panel installation in condo properties and planned communities.