Ohio House Community Revitalization Committee - 5-19-2026

Chair Click. Here.

Ranking Member Brewer. Here.

Representative Fowler-Arthur.

Representative Hoops excused.

Representative Lawson-Rowe.

Representative Salvo. Here.

Representative Teska. Here.

Heavenly Father, we just thank you for your presence in our lives, and we thank you for all that you've done for us, and we're eternally grateful for every day. we ask that you bless this meeting today this committee meeting help us to think with clarity and do what is the best for our constituents and for all involved in the name of Jesus Amen

you may receive him

Thank you, Chair. I move to amend House Bill 585 with AM 2349-1.

Thank you, Chair, Vice Chair, Ranking Members, members of the committee. We've been doing a good job listening to stakeholders in this area, trying to draft a bill that has the least amount of restrictions and at the same time addresses their concerns. It was brought to our attention, and I consider this a technical amendment, because the bill refers to a series of other laws that have at the top do not apply to medical, the community service waivers. So let me get this out here for you. So what we tried to do is we tried to make sure that we recognize the Medicaid waivers for home and community-based services is definitely not prohibited by any of the buildings and any of the acquisitions that the county boards make. And so the idea is just to reassure the stakeholders that these buildings and people who receive those services will be eligible to reside in these buildings. So that was our intent. And so it was a good faith effort on our part. Again, the overall intention is not to add unnecessary detail and restrictions on 585. the restrictions that have been placed in other housing operations has reduced the number of inventory for the DD and ID community in this regard we really do understand concerns as they relate to congregation of course and other things but at the same time those concerns in the past is why we're here, because those concerns in the past have led to over onerous regulations that deny folks who function on the lower levels of least restrictive environments and opportunity to live in the community. So we definitely understand their concerns from the past, but we want to make sure that the committee and all attending that it's not our intent in any way to restrict the folks using these home and community-based services and these operations, and we want to make sure they understand that we are definitely working with them to make sure that we can increase the inventory, which is the purpose of this bill.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Ma'am, I'm going to ask you.

That's your fault.

Okay. As we go on. Thank you. It's on. It's on. Testing. Is that better? Okay. Here you go. Thank you. Thank you, Chair Glick, Vice Chair Mullins, Reggie Member Brewer, and members of the House Revitalization Committee. Thank you for this opportunity to provide Interested Party testimony on House Bill 585. My name is Jennifer Kucera and I'm here. My apologies. Great. Testing again? Yes. Okay, yay. So I'm here representing an organization called the Ohio Olmstead Task Force, of which I am the chair. A little bit about the Ohio Olmstead Task Force. We are a coalition of people with disabilities, family members, all, it's cross-disabilities, so we kept every disability represented on our task force along with family members, different organizations across Ohio that listen to disability concerns or assist with disability and so I am representing all those folks today. First we want to acknowledge and commend the General Assembly for recognizing Ohio's urgent shortage of accessible community-based housing for people with developmental disabilities and really frankly for people of all types of disabilities. We support the intention behind HB 585 to expand these housing options and appreciate the willingness to review current rules that may be limiting new development. We believe strongly that individuals with disabilities do deserve real choice and freedom and where and how they live. Ohio's policy of deinstitutionalization reflects that principle but we know the reality of that on the ground has not always match that vision I've lived through those years. People with disabilities continue to face a lack of truly integrated community-based housing and the shortage is severe. If you look around and study housing available, I'm going off script a little here, but housing for people with disabilities, there's not that many options. There are disability only buildings, meaning only people with disabilities live in those buildings. There are senior options for people that are over 65 that could live with other seniors. There are various random sometimes accessible units built in you know housing that received some federal funding. But other than that we don't have really any truly inclusive models and so oftentimes like myself I have to choose between living with with disabilities, which I don't want to live with. There are several reasons for that For me it isolating I feel alone I love being around non people as well So I don't, and oftentimes they're in not so great locations, lack of housing, not housing, shopping, all of those other things. So I actually choose to live in a fair market value apartment that I was not able to remodel. So I have never used the bathroom. But I live there because it's close to shopping. It's close to family. It's close to friends. I have my own garden that I can plant in because there are simply no integrated housing models that are accessible to me in the community. So my only choice is going into a disability-only unit or the fair market choice that I have chosen. So we need more models in Ohio, which is why this bill is great because it does expand that language. But many people other than myself also face that. They're not given their choice of where they want to live. You know, again, I shared the story with some of you already that if my parents had their way, I would be in an institution and not living on my own. But obviously I am loud, and so I did not let my parents do that to me. But there are so many others with disabilities, and I'm not at all saying families are bad because we need our families to support us. But they often, even for those that are severely disabled, they don't allow them to have any say in the situation. And again, I'm going off script, but in this bill, when it calls for them having moderate control, I can't remember the exact language right now, over their choice of living situation, that's not enough just to say that simple word. We really would like, and some of the suggestions for the amendment language that I've included and sent out to all of you is expanding that so that each individual does have their own lease so that if something breaks down or their guardian, it doesn't matter to me who signs the lease as long as it's a person representing the person with a disability. They should have their own lease so that they're not necessarily tied to that property. Also, we ask for a separation between who owns the property and who provides the services, because quite often I've heard of people with disabilities that don't want that particular provider anymore, and so they lose their housing at the same time. So we don't have any guardrails around that kind of situation from happening either. And I think one other thing that we want, again, not reading completely from everything, on my, because I know you all can read and you could read through all of this. But another thing is to consider adding components of the settings rule. I think with the amendment, and I'm not clear on this, when Rep. Odioso came in here and explained the amendment, because he's opening the door to home and community-based services, there is an Ohio version of the settings, the federal settings rule. And since it involves now people receiving HCBS services, The setting rule is implied for those folks, but it doesn't apply to the people that are in the supported living, because people that are in the supported living model don't necessarily receive home and community-based services. So we really would like to see some sort of language in there that supports the setting rule. I've spelled out in detail in one of the two documents in front of you the exact language that we would like you all to consider adding, and hopefully we can come to some kind of compromise. Before I end today, I really would like to say, and I know this is not the Medicaid office, but I am really concerned with the changes that or the kind of talk going on with the Medicaid division. I am somebody that has received services and would not be here today if I did not get those services. I have a job, a career. I can only make so much money, obviously, because I'm on Medicaid, but it still helps me to have a better level of care than maybe some other people do because I do not have any family that is around that is willing to help support me. So I am myself and the caregivers. So I really just would like all of you to really be critical when you hear some of these other conversations going on and just take the conversations of those that live this life and have to rely on Medicaid into consideration as you make some of those decisions. And I know they're going to be tough decisions to make, but please, I would love to be at the table when some of those decisions are being made. People with lived experience should be included in those decisions, and so I just ask for that consideration.

Thank you.

That is a very correct statement.

Yes, absolutely.

And we want to have control over that choice once we make it.

Yes, we've met with Rep. Odioso and Representative Lett on more than one occasion. We sent out, that's why I want to tell you the letters that you have in front of you. Not only did we send it to those sponsors, we sent it to all of you, and we also sent it to members of the DODD, Department of Developmental Disabilities Work Group. This, unfortunately, only got sent out on Monday, so we really haven't heard anything back. and so we're still hoping to hear from someone.

Absolutely. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair Click. To you and Vice Chair Mullin and Ranking Member Brewer and all the members of the committee I appreciate the opportunity to testify regarding House Bill 585 My name is Mark Dunham and I here on behalf of an organization that some of you may have heard of but probably not. We're relatively new. It's called All Inclusive Living or All In for short. And we are very interested in this legislation. We're very supportive of its primary goals. We believe, as many in the disability community do, that a modernization of the CCA program is long overdue. And we're excited. We were very happy to see the bill introduced. We do think it can be strengthened, and I want to say a word about that. But first, just so you're aware, All In is partnering with some terrific partners to develop what will be a first in Ohio, and that is a multifamily development with genuinely inclusive housing options for people with and without disabilities. So it's called All In Dublin. We're breaking ground this fall in Dublin, and it's a multifamily affordable development with 76 units of housing. 25% of them will be set aside and made deeply affordable for people of all disabilities. 40% preference for older adults, and the remaining units workforce housing for individuals and families. So it's a project we're very excited about. It's taken a lot to get us here. We were awarded a 9% low-income housing tax credit from OFA, and we're pulling in philanthropic support and other sources of support around the state and the country, for that matter, for the project. So we're addressing a need that all of us are quite familiar with, and that is a need for housing for folks with developmental disabilities. Our project will be cross-disability, but we would love to set aside some units in the community specifically for folks with IDD. And so an opportunity like a grant from DODD, which this bill would allow to happen, would be very, very useful. But rather than wait on that, we've moved forward with a project that will break ground in the fall. And as I said, it's got some great partners attached. And it's also developed a lot of interest. Over the last year alone, as we've gotten media attention for this project, we've received several hundred e-mails and voicemails from folks. And I wish I could share some of them with you or play some of the voicemails, but you wouldn't be surprised. They are passionate. They are heartbreaking. and they are very determined, folks absolutely determined to find better ways, better options for housing folks with disabilities. So we see this bill as, again, very positive, but in our view, decades of policy and funding directives towards segregated housing, while very necessary and in some ways groundbreaking when you think about how far we've come, has still created a funding environment where inclusive housing options are terribly under-supported. This project, all in Dublin, it will be the first of its kind in Ohio, which should not be the case. And we want other developers to do what we're doing. But we feel a strengthening of this bill and amending it to prioritize inclusive housing options after this long period and decades of support only for segregated housing would be a very appropriate thing to do. It would help us expedite the development of these kind of projects. and it would generate more interest from the part of developers that we need to become engaged in this movement with us because it is a movement. It is a movement to address something that doesn't exist and is greatly needed. Case in point, there's a great project in Maryland called Patuxent Commons, almost identical to all in Dublin. When their housing lottery opened for 76 units of housing last year, almost 2,400 applicants came in for those 76 units. So multifamily is a way, that platform is a way to scale up in an appropriate way the development of inclusive housing for folks with IDD and to blend the sources of funding in a way that creates real community, creates amenities on site that folks with IDD, frankly, might not otherwise be able to enjoy if they were living in segregated housing. We are absolutely of the mind that there needs to be appropriate range of choices. We do not in any way oppose disability-only housing in principle at all. There are some great providers of that kind of housing in Ohio, and there should be. This is not the option for everyone, but it is an under-supported option that would benefit greatly from an expedited funding option provided by an amendment to the legislation. So we hope, and we've shared our views with Representative Odioso and Lett, and we so appreciate their leadership on this issue, but we do hope there will be some consideration of this. And finally, I want to say thank you to all of you. Our groundbreaking is this fall in Dublin. I hope you'll be there. We'll get an invitation out to you. And thanks for doing what you can to expand housing options for people with and without disabilities in Ohio. Thank you.

Thank you again, Chair. I move to amend HB 758 with AM 2380.

Yes. Just one second.

Take your time.

Okay. This amendment will remove all of the following. A private insurance mandate to cover seizure detection devices. It will remove Medicaid coverage mandate to cover seizure detection devices and pre-existing coverage protections. that is providers cannot reject coverage if someone has epilepsy. Thank you.

to provide sponsor testimony for House Bill 766. Begin when you are ready. Good afternoon. Chair Click, Vice Chair Mullins, Ranking Member Brewer, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide sponsor testimony today on House Bill 766. Legislation to designate October as Augmentative and Alternative Communication, or AAC Awareness Month in Ohio. AAC refers to tools and supports that help individuals communicate when spoken language is limited or unavailable. This may include speech-generating devices, tablets, picture systems, or other forms of assisted communication. While individuals with autism represent the largest population of Ohioans who benefit from AAC, AAC can also support individuals with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries, stroke-related impairments, ALS, degenerative diseases, rare genetic conditions, and other communication disabilities. Without communication, it becomes more difficult for individuals to fully participate in education, employment, relationships, health care, and community life. This issue came to my attention after hearing a young woman named Jordan Zimmerman speak at an event I attended. Jordan is a non-speaking autistic woman who was not introduced to AAC technology until she was 18 years old. Prior to receiving AAC support, it had been suggested that Jordan had an IQ of approximately 60. And as a result, she did not receive educational opportunities that reflected her true abilities and potential. After gaining access to AAC and proper support, Jordan graduated from college, earned advanced degrees, became an educator and an advocate, and now speaks nationally and internationally about communication access and disability inclusion. Her story was both inspiring and deeply eye-opening for me. It also highlighted something important Communication barriers should never be mistaken for lack of intelligence potential or value An autism diagnosis and other communication disabilities as autism diagnoses and other communication-related disabilities continue to rise, I believe it is important that we create opportunities for greater awareness and understanding surrounding AAC and communication access. Awareness is often the first step toward better understanding, earlier intervention, and more informed policymaking. House Bill 766 is intended to do exactly that. This legislation designates October as AAC Awareness Month in Ohio to encourage education, understanding, and public awareness regarding communication disabilities and the life-changing role AAC technology and support services can play for individuals and families. I also believe this awareness effort is important because many Ohioans, including policymakers like myself, may simply not have been familiar with AAC or understand the barriers many families face in obtaining not only communication devices themselves, but also the training, support, and specialized services necessary to effectively use them. For many individuals, access to communication can mean greater independence, stronger educational outcomes, improved mental and emotional well-being, stronger family relationships, and increased participation in community life. Access to communication can help individuals participate more fully in their communities and pursue educational and employment opportunities that otherwise might not have been possible. My hope is that by passing this important piece of legislation, we can leverage the designation of October as AAC Awareness Month to educate Ohioans and create greater awareness around this issue. I also hope these conversations can help inform future discussions about how to improve access to AAC devices, support services, and communication resources for individuals who may benefit from them. At its core, House Bill 766 is about recognizing the importance of communication, dignity, inclusion, and human potential. Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony, and I'll open it up to my co-sponsor.

Thank you so much for your testimony. Are there any questions for the witnesses? The chair recognizes Representative Tuska for a question.

there's no cost involved in this at all other than whatever promotional opportunities that may come from the department that elevates this, which would already be budgeted. So, again, we're not increasing anything or asking for any monies or anything like that to be spent on that.

Chair recognizes Representative Mullins for a question.

I can answer it if you want me to. Yeah. It's through the chair to the representative. I've worked on several bills in this capacity, one with RepClick, which was House Bill 144. and one of the things that we do once we get it passed and signed by the governor is there's a public awareness campaign that goes out, and however that looks through commercial social media, radio seems to be a really great way to advertise some of the things that we're doing. But generally speaking, I would surmise it would be more of a social media type event, And I would hope that the press would pick this up as well. Typically, they follow into these types of things. So great question. Thank you.

I will end to that. with Keith's Law, which Rep. Lorenz and I carried. Once that was made law, ODD was very good, and I began seeing it popping up everywhere. In fact, Keith, who the bill was named after, it's like every other day he had a new link that he was sharing online from someone who was promoting it, whether it was law enforcement or opportunities for our homes with disabilities and so forth. So the professionals know how to get it done and get the word out. So thank you. Are there any other questions for the witnesses? Well, thank you for bringing this to our attention, and I'm grateful for this, and thank you for being here today. Thank you. All right, and this concludes our testimony on the first hearing for House Bill 766. And now I neglected to do this at the beginning, but if you'll pay attention to your iPads, The minutes from the previous meeting are on your iPads. And Ranking Member Brewer and I have to sign something here in a minute, so make sure we get that done properly. Are there any objections to the minutes? Seeing none, the minutes are approved. Is there any other business to be brought before the committee today? Seeing none, we are adjourned.