Jane Timken sworn in to fill 29th Ohio Senate vacancy; named to multiple committees

Jane M. Timken was elected and sworn in as the senator for Ohio's 29th senatorial district during the Ohio Senate session. The chamber adopted Senate Resolution 15 to fill the vacancy and administered the oath of office; the vote was recorded as 22 yays and 0 nays. Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy of the Ohio Supreme Court administered the oath.

The election was introduced by Senator Reineke and was limited to Republican members for the roll call, which the presiding officer confirmed before the vote. After the oath, Senator Jane M. Timken addressed the chamber, saying she would work “to be a good and honorable public servant and work true and hard for my district, Stark County, Ohio, and the rest of Ohio.”

The president of the Senate announced changes to standing committees under senate rules, removing Senator Brenner as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Housing and appointing Senator Timken as vice chair. The president also named Timken to the Senate Committees on Energy; General Government; Higher Education; and Transportation. Those committee changes were announced pursuant to Senate rules and recorded in the session.

In addition to the election and committee appointments, the Senate adopted several routine resolutions by unanimous or near‑unanimous votes, including mileage reimbursement for the new member and adoption of chamber rules and a legislative code of ethics for the 136th General Assembly. The chamber also authorized use of the senate chamber and committee rooms by multiple youth and civic groups and adopted a House concurrent resolution concerning delegation of argument-writing authorities for constitutional or referendum measures.

Why it matters: The appointment fills representation for the 29th district and gives the new senator immediate committee assignments that determine where she will participate in policy development and oversight. Committee positions can affect a member’s influence on legislation affecting Stark County and related policy areas such as housing, higher education and transportation.

Votes at a glance - Senate Resolution 15 — Election of Jane M. Timken to fill the vacancy in the 29th senatorial district: Adopted, roll call 22 yays, 0 nays. (Sponsor: Sen. Reineke.) - Senate Resolution 16 — Mileage reimbursement for Senator Timken: Adopted, roll call 30 yays, 0 nays. - Senate Resolution 17 — Adopt rules of the Senate for the 136th General Assembly: Adopted, roll call 31 yays, 0 nays. (Sponsor: Sen. Reineke.) - Senate Concurrent Resolution 4 — Legislative code of ethics for the 136th General Assembly: Adopted, roll call 31 yays, 0 nays. (Sponsor: Sen. Reineke.) - Senate Resolution 18 — Permit use of chamber by Western Ohio National Speech and Debate Association (March 15, 2025): Adopted, roll call 31 yays, 0 nays. - Senate Resolution 19 — Authorize Ohio & West Virginia Youth Leadership Association to use chamber (April 10–12, 2025): Adopted, roll call 31 yays, 0 nays. - Senate Resolution 20 — Authorize Ohio YMCA Youth & Government to use chamber (Jan. 30–31, 2025; March 20–21, 2025): Adopted, roll call 31 yays, 0 nays. - House Concurrent Resolution 3 — Delegation of argument-writing authority for amendments, referenda and initiatives: Adopted by the House; concurrence in the Senate was recorded by voice vote (ayes have it).

Other formal actions recorded - Motion to excuse senators absent the week of Jan. 26, 2025, provided a written explanation is filed with the clerk pursuant to Senate Rule 17: Adopted without objection (mover: Sen. Lang). - Motion to adjourn until Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.: Adopted without objection.

Speakers quoted or recorded in the session are listed below with their roles at first reference. Quotations in this article are taken from their remarks during the session.