Just a day after Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced he tested positive for COVID and exposed members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission to the virus, lawmakers are taking action to allow state agencies and boards to conduct remote meetings again.
State agencies were allowed to meet virtually until last summer when boards and commissions went back to in-person meetings. Republican Sen. Bill Blessing (R-Groesbeck) said the Senate wants to allow agencies to do that again due to the omicron surge. He said state lawmakers were talking about making this change weeks ago before members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission were exposed.
“Even really before anything on redistricting took place, we were discussing doing this because of the spike in omicron cases,” said Blessing.
Blessing said the House is also working to allow the change. The intent is to pass it this week so boards and commissions can meet remotely through June 30th.
The omicron virus is highly contagious and has been blamed for the closure of events and businesses in recent weeks.
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