Ron Ferguson

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 living28 with · 20 against48 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    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 · against 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

    Urge Congress to make the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent

    Urges Congress to make the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.

    Jun 11, 2025 · Passed 62–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All jobs & cost of living votes
• ›Rights & public safety27 with · 2 against29 votes

  Most contested

  • 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 ↗

  • Yes

    Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act

    Creates the offense of “unlawful adult cabaret performance” that prohibits a person, with knowledge of its character and content, from recklessly engaging in an adult cabaret performance in a location other than an adult cabaret. Provides that the penalty for “unlawful adult cabaret performance ” is a first degree misdemeanor or a fourth or fifth degree felony depending on the circumstances of the offense. Names the act the “Indecent Exposure Modernization Act.”.

    Mar 25, 2026 · Passed 63–32 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All rights & public safety votes
• ›Health & care12 with · 8 against20 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

    Enact the Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act

    Specifies that health care sharing ministries having certain qualifications are not engaged in the business of insurance and not subject to Ohio insurance laws. Specifies that any requirement made by a state institution of higher education that attending students have health care coverage is met by participation in a health care sharing ministry. Authorizes a personal income tax deduction for dues paid for membership in a health care sharing ministry. Names the bill the “Health Care Sharing Ministries Freedom to Share Act.”.

    Nov 12, 2025 · Passed 65–31 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All health & care votes
• ›Education & families10 with · 6 against16 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

    Regards age and schooling certificates, minor work hours

    Would have allowed a 14- or 15-year-old to be employed between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at any time of the year if the minor had approval to do so from a parent or legal guardian. Would have required a minor who wished to receive an age and schooling certificate (commonly referred to as a “work permit”) to submit a minor work hour notification form signed by the child’s parent or legal guardian.

    Nov 5, 2025 · Passed 62–30 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All education & families votes
• ›Climate & energy9 with · 2 against11 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 ↗

  • No

    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 · against 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 & defense0 with · 4 against4 votes

  Most contested

  • No

    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 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    Create the Ohio International Trade Commission

    Creates the Ohio International Trade Commission. Permits the Treasurer of State to use Commission funds to purchase foreign bonds.

    Jun 9, 2026 · Passed 92–3 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All foreign affairs & defense votes
• ›Transportation2 with · 2 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 ↗

  • No

    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 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  • No

    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 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗

  All transportation votes
• ›Housing & rent1 with · 1 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 ↗

  • No

    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 · against 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 against most of their party on 5 of 36 party-divided votes on file.

Most often on: Jobs & cost of living (4), Climate & energy (1), Education & families (1)

• Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services

  What it does: 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 stan…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 1–29, Republicans 55–6

  Jun 10, 2026Official record ↗

• Enact the Clinical Teaching Subsidy Reform Act

  What it does: Requires the Chancellor of Higher Education to annually distribute a clinical teaching subsidy to public medical schools to support clinical instruction and the education of physicians in Ohio. Requires the Chancellor…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 12–21, Republicans 58–5

  Jun 9, 2026Official record ↗

• Make capital reappropriations for biennium ending June 30, 2028

  What it does: Makes capital reappropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2028 (FYs 2027 and 2028) and other appropriations. Makes various supplemental appropriations and earmarks.

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 4–28, Republicans 62–1

  Mar 18, 2026Official record ↗

• Make state operating appropriations for FY 2026-27

  What it does: 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 subjec…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–33, Republicans 59–5

  Jun 25, 2025Official record ↗

• Make state operating appropriations for FY 2026-27

  What it does: 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 subjec…

  Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–34, Republicans 60–5

  Apr 9, 2025Official record ↗

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

• No

  Make state operating appropriations for FY 2026-27

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

  Apr 9, 2025Official 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 ↗

• Yes

  Enact the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act

  With most of their party · Passed 63–32 · Yes 63–No 32 · Democrats 0–31, Republicans 63–1

  Mar 25, 2026Official record ↗