Monthly Legislative Update – Sierra Club Miami Group

In our September update, we spotlight Rep. Allison Russo and include our endorsed candidates for office; we feature actions you can take today in support of sustainable energy generation; and we provide our running bill tracker. We welcome your comments and your help as we work together to build strong, empowered communities in Ohio.

Legislative Spotlight: State Rep. Allison Russo

Since taking office in 2019, State Rep. Allison Russo from District 7 (Upper Arlington) has shown strong leadership in support of environmental protections and healthy communities in Ohio. Russo is currently running for Ohio Secretary of State and has earned the endorsement and full support of the Ohio Sierra Club.

As a member of the General Assembly, Russo has joined with allies in the State House in proposing legislation to regulate drinking water contaminants (HB 815), to establish the Agriculture Appreciation Act (HB 65), to restore the Clean Ohio Fund (HB 93), to replace lead water lines (HB 307), to prohibit the removal of oil and gas from under state parks and under Lake Erie (HB 399), and to limit the use of PFAS in commercial products (HB 743).

During her time in office, Rep. Russo has supported clean, renewable energy generation, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure that could put Ohio on the forefront of the clean energy transition.

Rep. Russo has a strong background in public health, holding a doctoral degree in health policy, a master’s degree in public health epidemiology, and a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. Russo respects scientific findings and has demonstrated that she prioritizes public health over polluter profits.

Now Rep. Russo is working to earn the opportunity to serve Ohio residents as Secretary of State. In this role, Russo will have the authority to oversee elections, investigate frauds, track campaign finance, approve ballots, and maintain public access to government actions and state records. Ohio needs a Secretary of State who is a strong environmental leader and community health advocate.

Please join us in thanking Rep. Russo for her work at the Statehouse as we support her candidacy for Secretary of State.

Take Action to Support Plug-in Solar & Community Energy!

You can help to make portable plug-in solar available in Ohio!

1. Join our learning session Nov. 12 from 6 PM to 7 PM.

Portable and plug-in solar panels are making clean energy more accessible than ever — but Ohio policy still needs to catch up. Join us to learn how this technology works, why it matters, and what advocates and legislators are doing to expand access for Ohio residents. Register here to join the Sierra Club, Solar United Neighbors, Third Act, and Bright Save on Thursday, November 12 from 6pm to 7pm EST.

2. Call your Ohio legislator today.

Call your Ohio legislator today, and talk to them about the importance of Plug-In Solar in Ohio. Here is a sample phone script to help you get started .
Contact the House Energy Committee Chair Adam Holmes and ask for a hearing on House Bill 755.
Contact the Senate Energy Committee Chair Rob McColley and ask for a hearing on Senate Bill 383.

3. Learn more information about plug-in or balcony solar:

Support Community Energy in Ohio! Thanks to Solar United Neighbors for providing this information about Community Energy and HB 303.

Letters to the Editor: Submit a Letter to the Editor (LTE) in support of community energy (HB 303). * If you are interested in submitting an LTE, contact Roger Sikes at [email protected] and he will work with you one-on-one to get an LTE placed. Linked here are LTE ideas from SUN including: Affordability, Reliability, Bi-partisan support, Renter Access.

Proponent Testimony Prep: Save the date for a HB303 Proponent Testimony writing session on 11/5 at 6:30 PM. Testimonies will be submitted to the Senate Energy Committee for the record. RSVP HERE.

Municipal Resolutions in support of HB 303:
Municipalities across the state are calling on the Ohio Senate to support community energy. Your local government could be next. Learn more about the communities who have passed resolutions. Here is a step by step guide to passing a municipal resolution in your community.

Bill Tracker

The Ohio Sierra Club Legislative Committee is tracking these bills. Please consider reaching out to your state senator or representative about these proposed pieces of legislation.

The Ohio Chapter supports House Bill 303: Establishment of community energy program and pilot program.

House Bill 303 would authorize and create a pilot program for community energy generation in Ohio. Community energy generation would allow Ohio residents to offsite solar energy projects without the need for individual rooftop capacity or financing. Community energy has the potential to greatly expand access to clean, renewable energy for Ohioans. Proponents are urging Senate leadership to schedule hearings and send HB 303 to the Governor before the end of this legislative session.

House Bill 303 was introduced in September 2025. Primary sponsors of HB303 are Rep. Sharon A Ray and Rep. James M Hoops. HB303 was passed by the House with bipartisan support of 77-8. It is now in the Senate Energy Committee waiting for a hearing to be scheduled. Learn more here.

The Ohio Chapter supports House Bill 755 and Senate Bill 383: Portable solar generation devices

House Bill 755 would authorize the use of certified portable (balcony) solar devices in Ohio. Both HB303 (Community Solar), HB755 (Plug-In Solar), and SB 383 (Plug-In Solar) would expand access to solar resources for individuals across Ohio. Portable solar is already popular in other parts of the world. Portable, “balcony” or “plug-in” solar devices are designed for renters or homeowners to mount outside the home and connect directly to standard 120-volt wall outlets using inverters. Generally, users can see a 10-30 percent reduction in energy costs. By allowing the use of these portable devices, Ohio would allow for greater adoption of solar power.

A bipartisan companion bill in the Senate (SB 383) has been cosponsored by Sen. Louis Blessing and Sen. Casey Weinstein. Each of the bills should have at least one hearing before the end of the legislative session.

HB755 was introduced on March 18 2026. Primary sponsors are Rep. Tristan Rader and Rep. Chris Glassburn. It is assigned to the House Energy Committee. No hearings have been scheduled. SB 383 was introduced to the Senate on March 19 and referred to the Energy Committee on March 25. No hearings have been scheduled. Learn more here.

The Ohio Chapter supports House Bill 399 and Senate Bill 132: HB399 Prohibit oil and gas removal from under Lake Erie or a state park; SB132 Preserve Act

The Ohio General Assembly and the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission are leasing our state parks for toxic fracking operations. Between May 2023 and May 2026, approximately 12,000 acres of public lands in state parks and wildlife areas were leased for fracking. On June 29, 2026 Texas and Oklahoma companies were given the right to frack an additional 15,000 acres of Ohio’s publicly owned land. This extractive industry threatens the air, water, and soil in and around our parks and wildlife areas, and puts our communities at risk. The Sierra Club is opposed to oil and gas extraction generally, and especially in sensitive environments and areas that are accessible for recreation and that provide water to 11 million people.

Both HB399 and SB132 have been introduced and sent to committee. The primary sponsors for HB399 are Rep. Tristan Rader and Rep. Christine Cockley. The primary sponsor for SB132 is Sen. Nickie Antonio. Both of these bills deserve a hearing that would allow public input. Learn more here.

The Ohio Chapter supports Senate Bill 329: Prohibit the surface application of brine from oil and gas wells

Senate Bill 329 and its companion bill House Bill 439 would prohibit the surface application of brine from oil and gas wells. In Ohio brine from oil and gas wells may still be legally used for de-icing roads and dust control. Brine from oil and gas wells contains a number of pollutants, including radioactive material, and its use is environmentally harmful.

SB 329 was introduced in February 2026. SB 329’s primary sponsors are Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson and Sen. Kent Smith. HB 439’s primary sponsors are Rep. Tristan Rader and Rep. Sean P. Brennan. SB 329 has had one public hearing with 70 proponent testimonies. Learn more here.

The Ohio Chapter supports House Bill 815: Require rules on drinking water contaminants, water quality

HB 815 would require the Director of Environmental Protection to protect public health by adopting rules establishing maximum allowable contaminant levels in drinking water and water quality standards for certain contaminants. These water quality regulations would focus on harmful drinking water contaminants like PFAS (forever chemicals), chromium-6 (a known carcinogen), and 1,4-dioxane (exposure causes live and kidney damage). HB 815 would require the Ohio EPA to set maximum allowable contaminant levels that protect vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women. HB 815 would also require the state to review and update these safety rules every year based on new science.

HB 815 was introduced in April 2026 by Rep. Alison Russo and Rep. Tristan Rader. It was referred to the House Natural Resources Committee and has not yet been given a sponsor hearing. Learn more here.

The Ohio Chapter supports Senate Bill 233: Create the Ohio Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force

SB 233 will create a Local and Organic Food and Farm Taskforce that will offer recommendations to the General Assembly to expand and support local food systems throughout Ohio. This bill addresses food insecurity and food access in urban and rural areas while supporting local growers and community leaders. Sen. Hicks-Hudson has worked with the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association about SB 233 to ensure it serves Ohio communities well and that it supports organic standards.

SB 233 was introduced in July 2025 and assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in October 2025. Learn more here.

The Ohio Chapter opposes Senate Bill 294: Declare the State’s energy siting policy

Senate Bill 294 erroneously defines natural gas as a “clean energy source.” It does not consider battery storage, a powerful component of renewable energy generation, when determining the reliability of a power source. The bill’s preference for energy projects with a “minimum capacity factor of fifty percent” without inclusion of battery storage in its calculation of capacity would eliminate wind and solar. SB 294 would put renewable energy generation further behind in Ohio, and it would continue to prop up natural gas. SB 294 has received 61 opponent testimonies and only 3 proponent testimonies.

SB294 was introduced in October 2025. Its primary sponsors are Sen. George Lang and Sen. Mark Romanchuk. SB294 has passed the Senate 24 to 9 with only Republican support. It was introduced in the House on June 16. Learn more here.

Join Our Legislative Team!

You are invited to the next monthly meeting of our Ohio Chapter Legislative Committee!
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet joining info: Video call link