Committee advances substitute to require display of founding documents only when funded by donations

The Senate Education Committee advanced a substitute version of Senate Bill 34 that narrows when school districts must post specified founding documents in classrooms, and it changes the bill’s title to reference “founding documents of historical significance.”

Senator Kaler offered the substitute, saying the change “clarifies that we're displaying founding documents in the class room rather than any historical document” and that the substitute “further clarify[ies] that the use of state funds is not required for compliance and districts are only required to post displays if they receive sufficient donated funds or displays.”

Senator Kaler and other members explained the substitute leaves the list of documents intact but adjusts funding and compliance language. In committee discussion, Senator Kaler read lines 39–43 of the substitute: "the board of education of each school district that receives donated funds or displays shall comply with this section no later than 07/01/2026. This section does not apply to a school district that does not receive donated funds or displays." That text sets a compliance date for districts that accept donated displays.

Chris Long, representing the Ohio Christian Alliance, testified in person in favor of the bill. Long enumerated the documents listed for display in SB 34, which he said include the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the mottos of the United States and of Ohio, the Articles of Confederation, the Ten Commandments, and the Magna Carta. He told the committee the displays would “complement what is already being taught in the classroom.”

During questioning, Ranking Member Ingram and Senator Smith raised whether the requirement would be permissive or mandatory in practice and whether teachers or boards would select the documents. Committee members clarified that the substitute allows teachers discretion among the listed items, and the bill provides that a board must adopt a policy if the district receives donated funds or displays; committee members also said the substitute limits any state funding requirement.

With no objections, the committee adopted the substitute and the sub bill “will become the bill.” The fifth hearing on SB 34 concluded; committee members noted written-only opponent testimony on the committee’s iPads.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote tally in the transcript for adoption of the substitute; the chair asked for objections and, hearing none, the substitute was adopted by unanimous consent as recorded in the transcript.