Our August 2026 Legislative Committee Updates includes a Spotlight on Sen. Casey Weinstein, a call to action in support of Plug-In Solar for Ohio, and our Legislative Committee Bill Tracker. We welcome your comments and your help as we work together to build strong, empowered communities in Ohio.
Legislative Spotlight: State Sen. Casey Weinstein
Ohio Sen. Casey Weinstein is one of the most dedicated environmental champions in the Ohio General Assembly. He has shown strong leadership in support of clean energy and environmental protections since he was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and continues that effort as a Senator, serving on the Senate Energy Committee.
During his eight years in the General Assembly, Sen. Weinstein has spearheaded legislation to remove coal subsidies, promote environmentally sustainable practices, and establish clean energy solutions that address the threats of climate change in Ohio.
In April of 2025 Weinstein cosponsored HB 65: Enact the Agriculture Appreciation Act, which designates the second full week in November as Ohio Soil Health Week in recognition of how important fertile, thriving soil is to our environment, our food production, and our own health. He shepherded that bill through passage and into law in July of 2025.
Now Sen. Weinstein is working again to serve Ohio residents and improve our environmental sustainability by introducing Senate Bill 383: Regards Portable Solar Generation Devices, a bipartisan bill that will allow Ohioans to generate solar energy quickly and easily at their own homes.
Sen. Weinstein says SB 383 will “expand access to portable solar generation devices, providing Ohioans with more flexibility to offset rising energy costs with clean, affordable alternatives. Ohio is at a critical juncture; by acting now, we can help protect households across the state from higher costs and less reliable service.”
You can help. Please consider participating in this month’s Call to Action to ensure that hearings are held for SB 383. We all need to work together to make clean, renewable, affordable energy available to all Ohioans.
Sen. Casey Weinstein deserves our recognition and support as we move into the final months of this legislative session. Please join us in thanking Sen. Weinstein for his work at the Statehouse protecting our communities and our natural environment.
Call to Action on Plug-In Solar!
Rising costs of electricity are straining the monthly budgets of individuals and families across Ohio. Gas-burning power plants spew particulate matter into our air. Extractive industries are threatening our public parks and natural areas.
Roof top solar addresses some of these issues, but many Ohioans live in apartments, condominiums, or other multifamily buildings and cannot install standard solar panels. Additionally, many single family homes are not suitable for rooftop solar.
Ohioans can take action to support affordable, clean energy generation and to slow this destructive spiral. “Plug-in,” “balcony” or “portable” solar power generation is part of the solution. Balcony solar allows all Ohioans to benefit from clean, affordable solar energy and lower monthly energy bills. Ohio House Bill 755 and its companion in the Senate Bill 383 give everyone an opportunity to own their own portable solar devices, lower their monthly energy bills, and clean up our environment.
Plug-in solar units are small energy generation systems that can be placed on balconies, patios, small yards, or on the side of a building. These portable units plug in to a standard outlet and generate electricity that can be used inside the building that they are connected to.
Utah, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, and Connecticut currently support plug-in solar, and dozens of additional states are currently considering legislation that supports plug-in solar.
Rep. Tristan Rader, who is one of the bipartisan sponsors of HB 755, states: “If an Ohio household wants to safely generate a little of its own electricity, reduce its utility bill, and contribute to a cleaner environment, the law should not stand in its way. Balcony solar gives people that opportunity.”
You can take action to make portable plug-in solar available in Ohio! Tell your elected officials about the importance of moving portable solar forward in the Ohio General Assembly.
- 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.
For more information about plug-in or balcony solar read here:
- Canary Media: Where does balcony solar stand in your state?
- New York Times: The Tiny Solar Panel That Could Change America
- Sierra Club: Plug-In Solar Power Could Be Coming to a Balcony Near You
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.
HB 755 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 three 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, Sept. 1, 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet joining info: Video call link
