June 2, 2026 · Arts, Athletics and Tourism Committee · 856 words · 10 speakers · 26 segments
Arts, Athletics, and Tourism Committee to order. Would you all please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Clerk, would you please call the roll?
Chair Miller? Here. Vice Chair Heiner? Here. Ranking Member Jerrolds? Here. Representative Dieter? Here. Representative Gambari? Checked in. Representative Grimm? Here. Representative Luray? Checked in. Representative Matthews? Here. Representative McNally is excused. Representative Rob Blaisdell? Here. Representative Swearingen? Here. Representative Thomas? Here. Representative Upchurch?
with the court being present we will proceed as a full committee members i invite you to check your ipads the minutes from the previous meeting on may 19th 2026 are on your ipads for review are there any objections to the minutes without objection the minutes are approved i will now bring forward house bill 687 for its fourth and I'd like to recognize Vice Chair Heiner for a motion.
I move to favorably report House Bill 687 and recommend its passage Will the clerk please call the roll Chair Miller Yes Vice Chair Heiner Yes
Ranking Member Jarrells? Representative Dieter?
Yes.
Representative Gambari? Representative Grimm?
Yes.
Representative Larray? Representative Matthews?
Yes.
Representative McNally? Representative Rob Laysdale?
Yes.
Representative Swearengin?
Yes.
Representative Thomas. Representative Upchurch.
With nine affirmative votes and zero negative votes, the bill is favorably reported. Members, I encourage you to please sign the roll call sheet as it's passed around and indicate next to your name if you'd like to add your name as a co-sponsor by adding a star. We will also go ahead for the members who have checked in but have other committees. We will leave the row open until 5 o'clock so that they can record their vote. This concludes the fourth hearing for House Bill 687. I will now bring forward House Bill 138 for its fifth hearing and recognize Vice Chair Heiner for a motion.
Thank you, Chair. I move to amend House Bill 138 with Amendment AM underscore 136 underscore 1900.
The motion is in order. Could you please explain the amendment?
This amendment comes from the bill sponsors and would limit the authority to create tourism promotion districts to counties with populations that are at least 1 million and municipal corporations and townships in those counties
Okay, thank you. Are there any objections to the amendment? Without objection, the motion is agreed to and the amendment is adopted. This concludes the fifth hearing of House Bill 138. At this time, I would like to bring forward House Concurrent Resolution 37 for its first hearing and recognize Representative Ferguson for sponsored testimony. Welcome to committee.
Thank you so much, Chair Miller, Vice Chair Heiner, Ranking Member Jerrels, all the members here in the arts, athletics, and tourism community for this opportunity to give some testimony on House Concurrent Resolution 37. I model myself as an America first, you know, elected official back in my district. This right here is as America first as it gets. We're talking about, of course, the wonderful victories of both our men and women's U.S. Olympic hockey teams. I know that I certainly was celebrating at the time that it happened. It says this resolution recognizes the extraordinary achievement these athletes have accomplished and is a simple but meaningful way to congratulate these teams, as well as acknowledge their achievement and the inspiration that it has brought to us. We have Democrats on this committee We have Republicans We are all Americans It fantastic when we get a chance to celebrate You take a sport like hockey that we have not been known as the world leaders This resolution talks about we are now the world leaders in hockey. My favorite part, of course, here says that the United States of America's men and women's national hockey teams each achieve victory against Canada, also referred to herein as that quote that country up north and so for my Ohio State fans we get a little bit of a jab therein as well but no it's so great to celebrate such an accomplishment anytime we can celebrate the great accomplishments of the people that wear the red white and blue I think it's worthy of recognizing and so that's what this resolution does is recognizes both our men and our women for bringing home that gold medal which we've never done before in the same Olympics, brought home the gold medal. So with that, I ask for your favorable passage. Thank you.
Thank you, Representative. And couldn't agree more. We definitely want to celebrate these men and women who are outstanding athletes. And America is a wonderful place to live. And so at this time, are there any questions from the members of the committee? All right. Thank you so much, Representative, for bringing forward this resolution for our consideration.
Thank you all. Have a good one.
This concludes the first hearing for House Concurrent Resolution 37. Seeing no other business, this concludes the Art, Athletics, and Tourism Committee. We are adjourned.