As Passed by the Senate

136th General Assembly

Regular Session Sub. S. B. No. 7

2025-2026

Senator Johnson

Cosponsors: Senators Huffman, Brenner, Antonio, Blackshear, Cirino, Cutrona, DeMora, Gavarone, Hicks-Hudson, Ingram, Landis, Liston, O'Brien, Patton, Reineke, Reynolds, Roegner, Romanchuk, Schaffer, Timken, Weinstein, Wilkin

To amend sections 3301.0732, 3313.60, and 3313.6024 and to enact sections 3301.0722, 3301.165, 3313.6031, 3314.0311, 3326.092, and 3328.60 of the Revised Code regarding instruction for students in the harmful effects of substance use.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 3301.0732, 3313.60, and 3313.6024 be amended and sections 3301.0722, 3301.165, 3313.6031, 3314.0311, 3326.092, and 3328.60 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3301.0722. (A) As used in this section, "evidence-based" has the same meaning as in section 3301.221 of the Revised Code.

(B) The department of education and workforce, in collaboration with the department of mental health and addiction services, shall conduct a review of available resources and develop a list of curricula, materials, programs, and instructional strategies related to the instruction required under divisions (A)(5)(b) and (g) of section 3313.60 of the Revised Code and section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, that districts or schools may utilize. The department of education and workforce shall highlight any evidence-based resources that exist on its list. Periodically, the department of education and workforce shall review and update the list developed under this section.

Sec. 3301.0732. The minimum education standards prescribed by the director of education and workforce for nonchartered nonpublic schools under section 3301.07 of the Revised Code shall comply with and shall be limited to this section.

(A) A nonchartered nonpublic school that is not seeking a charter from the department of education and workforce because of truly held religious beliefs shall annually certify in a report to the parents of its pupils that the school meets minimum education standards for nonchartered nonpublic schools as described in this section. A copy of the report shall be filed with the department of education and workforce on or before the thirtieth day of September of each year.

(B) A nonchartered nonpublic school shall be open for instruction with pupils in attendance for not less than four hundred fifty-five hours in the case of pupils in kindergarten unless such pupils are provided all-day kindergarten, in which case the pupils shall be in attendance for nine hundred ten hours; nine hundred ten hours in the case of pupils in grades one through six; and one thousand one hours in the case of pupils in grades seven through twelve in each school year.

(C) The parents of a child enrolled in a nonchartered nonpublic school shall be responsible for reporting their child's enrollment or withdrawal from that school to the treasurer of the board of education of the city, exempted village, or local school district in which the pupil resides. Pupil attendance is reported for the purposes of facilitating the administration of laws relating to compulsory education and the employment of minors. An individual in charge of the nonchartered nonpublic school may, as a matter of convenience, provide the report to the treasurer on behalf of the parents.

The attendance report shall include the name, age, and place of residence of each pupil below eighteen years of age. The report shall be made within the first two weeks of the beginning of each school year. In the case of pupil withdrawal or entrance during the school year, notice shall be given to the treasurer of the appropriate board of education within the first week of the next school month.

(D) Teachers and administrators at nonchartered nonpublic schools shall hold at least a bachelor's degree, or the equivalent, from a recognized college or university.

(E) The curriculum of each nonchartered nonpublic school shall include the study of the following subjects:

(1) Language arts;

(2) Geography, the history of the United States and Ohio, and national, state, and local government;

(3) Mathematics;

(4) Science;

(5) Health, which may include age and developmentally appropriate instruction about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter an individual's mood is harmful to an individual's health;

(6) Physical education;

(7) The fine arts, including music;

(8) First aid, safety, and fire prevention;

(9) Other subjects as prescribed by the nonchartered nonpublic school.

(F) Each nonchartered nonpublic school shall follow regular procedures for promotion from grade to grade for pupils who have met the school's educational requirements.

(G) Each nonchartered nonpublic school shall comply with all applicable health, fire, and safety laws.

(H) Pupils attending a nonchartered nonpublic school shall not be entitled to pupil transportation or auxiliary services. A nonchartered nonpublic school is not entitled to reimbursement for administrative costs.

Sec. 3301.165. The governing authority of each chartered nonpublic school annually may provide instruction to students in the grade levels the school serves about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an individual's health. Each governing authority may do all of the following with regard to the instruction:

(A) Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to students;

(B) Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;

(D) Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude, and skills as a child develops.

Sec. 3313.60. Notwithstanding division (D) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code, divisions (A) to (E) of this section do not apply to any cooperative education school district established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code.

(A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district and the board of each cooperative education school district established, pursuant to section 3311.521 of the Revised Code, shall prescribe a curriculum for all schools under its control. Except as provided in division (E) of this section, in any such curriculum there shall be included the study of the following subjects:

(1) The language arts, including reading, writing, spelling, oral and written English, and literature;

(2) Geography, the history of the United States and of Ohio, and national, state, and local government in the United States, including a balanced presentation of the relevant contributions to society of men and women of African, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and American Indian descent as well as other ethnic and racial groups in Ohio and the United States;

(3) Mathematics;

(4) Natural science, including instruction in the conservation of natural resources;

(5) Health education, which shall include instruction in:

(a) The nutritive value of foods, including natural and organically produced foods, the relation of nutrition to health, and the use and effects of food additives;

(b) The harmful effects of and legal restrictions against the use of drugs of abuse, including marijuana, opioids, opiates, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco, including electronic smoking devices;

(c) Sexually transmitted infection education, except that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in sexually transmitted infection education;

(d) In grades kindergarten through six, annual developmentally appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse prevention, including information on available counseling and resources for children who are sexually abused. Such instruction and information provided shall not be connected in any way to any individual, entity, or organization that provides, promotes, counsels, or makes referrals for abortion or abortion-related services. Upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in child sexual abuse prevention.

(e) In grades kindergarten through six, instruction in personal safety and assault prevention, except that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in personal safety and assault prevention;

(f) In grades seven through twelve, developmentally appropriate instruction in dating violence prevention education and sexual violence prevention education, which shall include instruction in recognizing dating violence warning signs and characteristics of healthy relationships, except that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian a student shall be excused from taking instruction in sexual violence prevention.

In order to assist school districts in developing a dating violence prevention education and sexual violence prevention education curriculum, the department of education and workforce shall provide on its web site links to free curricula addressing dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention education. Such instruction and information shall not be connected in any way to any individual, entity, or organization that provides, promotes, counsels, or makes referrals for abortion or abortion-related services.

Each school district shall notify the parents and legal guardians of students who receive instruction related to child sexual abuse prevention and sexual violence prevention, as described under divisions (A)(5)(d) and (f) of this section, of all of the following:

(i) That instruction in child sexual abuse prevention and sexual violence prevention is a required part of the district's curriculum;

(ii) That upon request, parents and legal guardians may examine such instructional materials in accordance with this section;

(iii) That upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in child sexual abuse prevention and sexual violence prevention.

If the parent or legal guardian of a student less than eighteen years of age submits to the principal of the student's school a written request to examine the dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention instruction materials used at that school, the principal, within forty-eight hours after the request is made, shall allow the parent or guardian to examine those materials at that school.

(g) Prescription opioid abuse prevention, with an emphasis on the prescription drug epidemic and the connection between prescription opioid abuse and addiction to other drugs, such as heroin;

(h) The process of making an anatomical gift under Chapter 2108. of the Revised Code, with an emphasis on the life-saving and life-enhancing effects of organ and tissue donation;

(i) Beginning with the first day of the next school year that begins at least two years after March 24, 2021, in grades six through twelve, at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of evidence-based suicide awareness and prevention and at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of safety training and violence prevention, except that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in suicide awareness and prevention or safety training and violence prevention;

(j) Beginning with the first day of the next school year that begins at least two years after March 24, 2021, in grades six through twelve, at least one hour or one standard class period per school year of evidence-based social inclusion instruction, except that upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in social inclusion.

For the instruction required under divisions (A)(5)(i) and (j) of this section, the board shall use a training program approved by the department of education and workforce under section 3301.221 of the Revised Code.

Schools may use student assemblies, digital learning, and homework to satisfy the instruction requirements under divisions (A)(5)(i) and (j) of this section.

(k) Instruction in bullying and hazing.

(6) Physical education;

(7) The fine arts, including music;

(8) First aid, including a training program in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which shall comply with section 3313.6021 of the Revised Code when offered in any of grades nine through twelve, safety, and fire prevention. However, upon written request of the student's parent or guardian, a student shall be excused from taking instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

(B) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, every school or school district shall include in the requirements for promotion from the eighth grade to the ninth grade one year's course of study of American history. A board may waive this requirement for academically accelerated students who, in accordance with procedures adopted by the board, are able to demonstrate mastery of essential concepts and skills of the eighth grade American history course of study.

(C) As specified in divisions (B)(6) and (C)(6) of section 3313.603 of the Revised Code, except as provided in division (E) of this section, every high school shall include in the requirements for graduation from any curriculum one-half unit each of American history and government.

(D) Except as provided in division (E) of this section, basic instruction or demonstrated mastery in geography, United States history, the government of the United States, the government of the state of Ohio, local government in Ohio, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Constitution of the state of Ohio shall be required before pupils may participate in courses involving the study of social problems, economics, foreign affairs, United Nations, world government, socialism, and communism.

(E) For each cooperative education school district established pursuant to section 3311.521 of the Revised Code and each city, exempted village, and local school district that has territory within such a cooperative district, the curriculum adopted pursuant to divisions (A) to (D) of this section shall only include the study of the subjects that apply to the grades operated by each such school district. The curricula for such schools, when combined, shall provide to each student of these districts all of the subjects required under divisions (A) to (D) of this section.

(F) The board of education of any cooperative education school district established pursuant to divisions (A) to (C) of section 3311.52 of the Revised Code shall prescribe a curriculum for the subject areas and grade levels offered in any school under its control.

(G) Upon the request of any parent or legal guardian of a student, the board of education of any school district shall permit the parent or guardian to promptly examine, with respect to the parent's or guardian's own child:

(1) Any survey or questionnaire, prior to its administration to the child;

(2) Any textbook, workbook, software, video, or other instructional materials being used by the district in connection with the instruction of the child;

(3) Any completed and graded test taken or survey or questionnaire filled out by the child;

(4) Copies of the statewide academic standards and each model curriculum developed pursuant to section 3301.079 of the Revised Code, which copies shall be available at all times during school hours in each district school building.

Sec. 3313.6024. (A) Annually each school district and other public school, as defined in section 3301.0711 of the Revised Code, shall report to the department of education and workforce, in ~~the manner prescribed~~a survey established by the department, the types of prevention-focused programs, services, and supports used to assist students in developing the knowledge and skills to engage in healthy behaviors and decision-making and to increase their awareness of the dangers and consequences of risky behaviors, including substance abuse, suicide, bullying, and other harmful behaviors. ~~The~~ Each district or school shall report on the survey the following information regarding such programs, services, and supports for each building operated by the district or school and for each of grades kindergarten through twelve served by the building:

(1) Curriculum and instruction provided during the school day;

(2) Programs and supports provided outside of the classroom or outside of the school day;

(3) Professional development for teachers, administrators, and other staff;

(4) Partnerships with community coalitions and organizations to provide prevention services and resources to students and their families;

(5) School efforts to engage parents and the community;

(6) Activities designed to communicate with and learn from other schools or professionals with expertise in prevention education. ;

(7) A description of how the district or school complies with the following:

(a) For each school district, divisions (A)(5)(b) and (g) of section 3313.60 of the Revised Code and section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code;

(b) For every other public school, section 3314.0311, 3326.092, or 3328.60 of the Revised Code.

(8) The number of substance abuse cases that occurred in the district or school.

(B) A chartered nonpublic school may report to the department the information described in division (A) of this section by electing to participate in the department's annual survey.

(C) Each year, the department shall analyze the substance abuse case data and the information on programs, services, and supports collected in the annual survey prescribed under this section for that year, and prior years, to determine the overall effectiveness of different programs, services, and supports at preventing substance abuse cases over time and identify best practices for prevention education.

(D) The department may use information reported under this section, and any other information collected by the department pursuant to law, as a factor in the distribution of any funding available for prevention-focused programs, services, and supports.

Sec. 3313.6031. (A) As used in this section, "substance use" includes the use of marijuana, alcoholic beverages, opioids, opiates, and tobacco, including electronic smoking devices, and any substance derived from a source external to the human body that is not legally permitted or authorized for use without a prescription.

(B) In accordance with the curriculum requirement prescribed under divisions (A)(5)(b) and (g) of section 3313.60 of the Revised Code, the board of education of each city, local, and exempted village school district annually shall provide instruction to students in grades kindergarten through twelve about how short-term or chronic substance use to alter one's mood is harmful to an individual's health.

(1) Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to students;

(2) Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;

(3) Conform the instruction to prevention best-practice frameworks;

(4) Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude, and skills as a child develops.

Sec. 3314.0311. The governing authority of each community school established under this chapter annually shall provide instruction to students in the grade levels the school serves about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an individual's health. Each governing authority shall do all of the following with regard to the instruction:

(A) Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to students;

(B) Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;

(D) Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude, and skills as a child develops.

Sec. 3326.092. The governing body of each each science, technology, engineering, and mathematics school established under this chapter annually shall provide instruction to students in the grade levels the school serves about how short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an individual's health. Each governing body shall do all of the following with regard to the instruction:

(A) Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to students;

(B) Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;

(D) Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude, and skills as a child develops.

Sec. 3328.60. The board of trustees of each college-preparatory boarding school established under this chapter annually shall provide instruction to students in the grade levels the school serves about how the short-term or chronic substance use, as defined in section 3313.6031 of the Revised Code, to alter one's mood is harmful to an individual's health. Each board of trustees shall do all of the following with regard to the instruction:

(A) Determine the manner in which the instruction is provided to students;

(B) Ensure the instruction is age and developmentally appropriate;

(D) Focus the instruction on addressing changes in knowledge, attitude, and skills as a child develops.

Section 2. That existing sections 3301.0732, 3313.60, and 3313.6024 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.