Couch to Capitol: June Legislative Updates

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Protections for LGBTQ+ youth in Ohio face significant threats through budget proposals and legislative actions that may fundamentally alter counselors' ability to provide ethical, affirming care. Recent developments include proposed restrictions on gender-affirming care, resource access, and support services that would directly impact vulnerable youth populations and create ethical dilemmas for mental health professionals.

• Ohio's budget proposal (HB96) defines gender strictly as male or female, ignoring transgender, intersex and non-binary experiences.
•  Proposed budget would restrict library materials on sexual orientation for minors and prohibit funding for affirming homeless shelters.
•  988 Suicide and Crisis Response Line received a $2.5 million increase effective in fiscal year 2026
• Supreme Court ruling in US v. Scrimeti upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.
• Ohio's HB68 (ban on gender-affirming care) is being challenged in Moe v. Yost using different legal arguments.
• Advocacy opportunities exist through Equality Ohio's legal clinics and resources  

If you have questions, feedback or want to get involved with our advocacy efforts, drop us a line through text or connect with our socials found in the show notes. Stay tuned, stay engaged and keep advocating for the future of counseling in Ohio, because what happens at the Capitol doesn't stay at the Capitol – it impacts every counseling conversation.

Resources:

• LINK to equality ohio’s legislative analysis bit.ly/EO_Skrmetti 
• https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/clerk/ecms/#/recentfiling
• https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/status-reports
• https://ohiocounseling.org/legislative-advocacy

If you would like to provide any feedback for the podcast, we invite you to do so at the form linked here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfV0u5jSuQ4hNaGM3Nioymbj4ZuQAIlcxIJrYr98fUgfiwnNQ/viewform

If you or your division have a PSA you'd like Ohio Counseling Conversations to share, you can complete the form linked here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDWNUFWbzJ6OclTzEh8WvBFdgCi_cXtRq3XYKVQClGwLfUpA/viewform

Both of these links are always available on the OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling

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If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at [e-mail]!

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Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee

·Hosted by Victoria Frazier

·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, Victoria Frazier, Linda Marcel-Rene & Kendra Thornton

·Editing by Leah Wood & Marisa Cargill