Ohio recently recognized “Sunshine Week,” an initiative to educate the public about the importance of open government and your right to access information. I am proud to say that the Ohio Senate did more than talk about sunshine – we increased public access by announcing that several of our committees will now be broadcast and made available online.

The Ohio Senate has made open government a priority, and technology gives us the opportunity to increase transparency and participation in the legislative process for Ohioans wherever they are.

That’s why, beginning this week, the Senate is televising hearings of our Education Committee; Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee; and the Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee. In addition to the Finance Committee, which oversees the critical state budget review process, these committee proceedings can be viewed on the Ohio Channel and will also be streamed on OhioSenate.gov. This week’s coverage of the Transportation Committee included deliberations on the state’s transportation budget, which funds construction and maintenance of Ohio’s roads, bridges and infrastructure projects.

The Senate also championed access to public records last year, as Senate Bill 321 created an expedited process for individuals whose public record requests have been denied by a public office at the state or local levels. Ohioans can now file a complaint with the Court of Claims that will begin a mediation process designed to resolve the dispute over access to the requested public records. 

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the court has accepted nearly three dozen appeals since the bill's effective date almost six months ago. Ten cases have been settled as part of the first-step mediation process, with those denied records winning them in nine cases. 

Government works for "We the people," and it works best when it operates openly and can be easily accessed by Ohio’s citizens. I remain committed to improving access and increasing the public’s confidence in Ohio’s government. Please tune in to see your legislature, and your democracy, in action.