Jim Thomas

Votes by issue

Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned

• ›Jobs & cost of living62 with · 0 against62 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Make state operating appropriations for FY 2026-27

    This analysis is arranged by state agency in alphabetical order. Items that do not directly involve an agency are located under the agency that has regulatory authority over the item or otherwise deals with the subject matter of the item. After the last agency (the Department of Youth Services), separate chapters address the following: 1. Election Law, addressing the replacement of the Ohio Elections Commission and other elections matters; 2. Sports facilities and unclaimed funds; 3. Boards and commissions; 4. Local government; 5. Low-income utility assistance and block grants; 6.

    Apr 9, 2025 · Passed 60–39 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Prohibit certain public nuisance actions

    Prohibits public nuisance actions arising from the sale of a product.

    May 7, 2025 · Passed 59–36 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Revise medical and adult-use marijuana laws; levy marijuana taxes

    Overview. Repeals the Cannabis Control Law and combines regulations concerning the cultivation, processing, dispensing, use, and home grow of adult-use and medical marijuana into one chapter, referred to in this analysis as the Marijuana Control Law. Condenses the operations of the Division of Cannabis Control ( DCC) and the Division of Marijuana Control (DMC) into DCC. Product regulations. Prohibits possession or use of marijuana that is not acquired from a licensed Ohio dispensary or cultivated at the adult-use consumer ’s primary residence in accordance with the Marijuana Control Law.

    Nov 19, 2025 · Passed 52–34 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Rights & public safety36 with · 0 against36 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Waive ID, birth certificate fees for homeless individuals

    Absent voting by mail. Would have required an elector to provide photo identification ( ID) to vote by mail beginning with the November 2027, general election. Would have exempted certain electors from that requirement and provided alternative ID procedures for them. Would have allowed an elector to fulfill the photo ID requirement by providing it either when applying for ballots or when returning voted ballots to the board. Would have permitted an elector to show photo ID at the board’s office instead of making a copy.

    Jun 10, 2026 · Passed 60–34 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act

    DEI and intellectual diversity Policy. Requires state institutions of higher education to adopt and enforce a policy requiring the institution to:  Prohibit: ❖ Any orientation or training course regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), unless the institution submits a written request for an exception; ❖ The continuation of existing or establishment of new DEI offices or departments; ❖ Using DEI in job descriptions; ❖ Contracting with consultants or third parties whose role is to promote admissions, hiring, or promotion on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual…

    Mar 19, 2025 · Passed 59–34 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Prohibit certain public nuisance actions

    Prohibits public nuisance actions arising from the sale of a product.

    May 7, 2025 · Passed 59–36 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Health & care25 with · 0 against25 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Urge Presidential support for Medicaid work requirements

    Urges the President to support the Ohio Department of Medicaid's request to impose work requirements on certain Medicaid recipients.

    May 14, 2025 · Passed 57–31 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Enact SHE WINS Act

    Permits an elective abortion to be performed or induced only if a physician meets with the woman at least 24 hours before the abortion to provide specified information and document the woman’s informed consent, except in the case of a medical emergency. Prohibits payment from being required for any elective abortion-related service until the bill’s informed consent requirements are met. Authorizes civil liability, including damages and attorney’s fees, and professional discipline against a physician who fails to satisfy the bill ’s abortion informed consent requirements.

    Mar 25, 2026 · Passed 64–32 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Revise medical and adult-use marijuana laws; levy marijuana taxes

    Overview. Repeals the Cannabis Control Law and combines regulations concerning the cultivation, processing, dispensing, use, and home grow of adult-use and medical marijuana into one chapter, referred to in this analysis as the Marijuana Control Law. Condenses the operations of the Division of Cannabis Control ( DCC) and the Division of Marijuana Control (DMC) into DCC. Product regulations. Prohibits possession or use of marijuana that is not acquired from a licensed Ohio dispensary or cultivated at the adult-use consumer ’s primary residence in accordance with the Marijuana Control Law.

    Nov 19, 2025 · Passed 52–34 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Education & families23 with · 0 against23 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists

    Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. Enters Ohio into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists to improve public access to school psychological services by facilitating the interstate practice of school psychology in educational or school settings. As a member of the Compact, requires Ohio to offer equivalent licenses to school psychologists from another member state of the Compact, subject to Ohio ’s laws and rules governing school psychologists.

    Jun 10, 2026 · Passed 60–38 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act

    DEI and intellectual diversity Policy. Requires state institutions of higher education to adopt and enforce a policy requiring the institution to:  Prohibit: ❖ Any orientation or training course regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), unless the institution submits a written request for an exception; ❖ The continuation of existing or establishment of new DEI offices or departments; ❖ Using DEI in job descriptions; ❖ Contracting with consultants or third parties whose role is to promote admissions, hiring, or promotion on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual…

    Mar 19, 2025 · Passed 59–34 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Enact the Baby Olivia Act

    Requires each public school to provide human growth and development instruction in its curriculum for grades 5-12, which must include a high-definition ultrasound video and the “Meet Baby Olivia ” video produced by Live Action, or its successor entity, or a substantially similar video. Prohibits the Department of Education and Workforce from adopting a model curriculum in human growth and development that conflicts with the bill’s requirements. Requires the Department to establish and publicize a list of instructional materials in human growth and development compliant with the bill.

    Nov 19, 2025 · Passed 59–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Climate & energy13 with · 0 against13 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Urge Congress accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure

    On the version voted Jun 10, 2026: Urges Congress to enact reforms to federal permitting policies to speed deployment of new energy infrastructure.

    Jun 9, 2026 · Passed 63–32 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services

    Regulates companies that resell electricity to tenants through submetering: requires registration with the Public Utilities Commission, disconnection protections, and a tenant bill at least 3% below the utility's standard service offer bill, and limits building conversions to submetering.

    Jun 10, 2026 · Passed 56–35 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Revise the law governing oil and gas wells

    Oil and Gas Well Fund. Provides protections against executive branch raids of the Oil and Gas Well Fund. Specifies that the Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management, on behalf of the state, owns the right to carbon credits for any orphaned well plugged using state or federal money. Allows the Chief of the Division to enter into agreements to obtain or to sell carbon credits and directs any proceeds from the sale of carbon credits to the Oil and Gas Well Fund. ODNR authority to regulate interstate wells.

    Jun 3, 2026 · Passed 63–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All climate & energy votes
• ›Foreign affairs & defense5 with · 0 against5 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Create the Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership

    Creates the Ohio-Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership.

    Nov 5, 2025 · Passed 73–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Establish the Ohio Defense Commission

    Establishes the Ohio Defense and Space Advisory Commission. Establishes the Defense and Aerospace Industry Expansion Program under which the Department of Development may make grants to support economic development related to the defense industry. Requires any entity that receives a grant under the program undergo an audit of the project administration. Makes an appropriation.

    Mar 4, 2026 · Passed 82–10 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Create the small defense business linked deposit program

    Creates the Small Defense Business Linked Deposit Program for the purpose of lending money to eligible small defense businesses, including their subcontractors, at a rate below the present borrowing rate. Adds the Small Defense Business Linked Deposit Program to the administrative requirements in the statutes also governing the continuing Adoption Linked Deposit Program, Agricultural Linked Deposit Program, Small Business Linked Deposit Program, and Home Improvement Linked Deposit Program.

    Feb 25, 2026 · Passed 88–5 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes
• ›Transportation4 with · 0 against4 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Prohibit specified actions with intent to steal a motor vehicle

    Gas and diesel fuel tax. Reduces the tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for a period of three months, from 38.5 ¢ per gallon for gasoline and 47¢ per gallon for diesel to 0.01¢ per gallon for either. Prohibits a licensed retail dealer or licensed motor fuel dealer from selling motor fuel during the temporary reduction period without passing the full benefit of the reduced tax onto the consumer or other purchaser. Provides that violation of the prohibition may be considered in any licensing determination made by the Tax Commissioner and referred to the Attorney General (AG).

    Sep 30, 2026 · Passed 78–16 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Make appropriations for transportation for FY 2026-27 biennium

    Appropriates money for transportation programs for July 2025 through June 2027, and amends and repeals state laws on vehicles, traffic, driver licensing and highway administration.

    Mar 19, 2025 · Passed 87–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Exempt military driver's license applicants from driver's ed

    Budget corrections Limited term license: education requirements. Exempts certain military-related limited term license applicants from the driver ’s education requirements. TMUD tax credit transfers. Modifies the procedure for transferring a transformational mixed-use development (TMUD) tax credit. Water pipe grants. Removes from the Workforce Housing Project Grant Program the grant metric that favored polyvinyl chloride water pipe over ductile iron. OBM authority to award funds for cultural facilities.

    Nov 5, 2025 · Passed 88–3 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Housing & rent2 with · 0 against2 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Regards unpaid water, sewer, and trash charges at rented property

    Prohibits the appropriate municipal authority from certifying a lien to the county auditor for unpaid village water, city water, or municipal sewerage service amounts, and prohibits the county auditor from placing such a lien against a property, if either of the following apply:  The unpaid amounts have arisen pursuant to a service contract made with a tenant;  The property served by the connection is not occupied by the property owner.

    Mar 18, 2026 · Passed 67–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Regards DoDD authority re: community capital assistance funds

    Requires the Director of Developmental Disabilities to adopt rules establishing a process for the Department of Developmental Disabilities to make available community capital assistance funds for county boards of developmental disabilities to acquire housing for individuals receiving supported living services.

    Jun 10, 2026 · Passed 95–2 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All housing & rent votes
• ›Technology & privacy2 with · 0 against2 votes

  Most contested

  • Yes

    Enact the Ohio Blockchain Basics Act

    Prohibits the state and local governments from impairing the acceptance of digital assets as payment or taking custody of such assets through hardware or self-hosted wallets. Permits digital asset mining by individuals in residential areas, subject to applicable local ordinances. Permits digital asset mining businesses to operate in any area zoned for industrial use, provided the businesses meet the requirements for industrial use.

    Jun 18, 2025 · Passed 70–26 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • Yes

    Enact the Innocence Act

    Names specific provisions of the bill the “Innocence Act.”. Requires an organization that sells, delivers, furnishes, disseminates, provides, exhibits, or presents any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles ensure that a geolocation check is performed. Requires an organization to submit an affidavit to the Attorney General stating that the organization complied with the age verification requirements. Requires the Attorney General to adopt rules specifying the information that organizations must include in the affidavit.

    Mar 18, 2026 · Passed 95–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All technology & privacy votes

Where they stood out

Voted with most of their party on all 50 party-divided votes on file.

How this is counted

Their votes on the most contested roll calls

The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank

• Yes

  Make state operating appropriations for FY 2026-27

  With most of their party · Passed 60–39 · Yes 60–No 39 · Democrats 0–34, Republicans 60–5

  Apr 9, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  Waive ID, birth certificate fees for homeless individuals

  With most of their party · Passed 60–34 · Yes 60–No 34 · Democrats 0–33, Republicans 60–1

  Jun 10, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  Urge Presidential support for Medicaid work requirements

  With most of their party · Passed 57–31 · Yes 57–No 31 · Democrats 0–31, Republicans 57–0

  May 14, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  Ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists

  With most of their party · Passed 60–38 · Yes 60–No 38 · Democrats 0–33, Republicans 60–5

  Jun 10, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  Enact Advance Ohio Higher Education Act

  With most of their party · Passed 59–34 · Yes 59–No 34 · Democrats 0–31, Republicans 59–3

  Mar 19, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  Prohibit certain public nuisance actions

  With most of their party · Passed 59–36 · Yes 59–No 36 · Democrats 0–31, Republicans 59–5

  May 7, 2025Official record ↗

• Yes

  Urge Congress accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure

  With most of their party · Passed 63–32 · Yes 63–No 32 · Democrats 0–32, Republicans 63–0

  Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗

• Yes

  Enact SHE WINS Act

  With most of their party · Passed 64–32 · Yes 64–No 32 · Democrats 0–32, Republicans 64–0

  Mar 25, 2026Official record ↗