Ohio House adopts Stillbirth Prevention Day, confirms Jim Tressel as lieutenant governor and approves rule changes

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House of Representatives on Feb. 12, 2025 approved several floor measures, including House Bill 4 to designate Sept. 19 as Ohio Stillbirth Prevention Day, adopted a concurrent resolution authorizing a joint convention to receive the governor’s State of the State address, confirmed the governor’s lieutenant governor nominee and adopted changes to the chamber’s rules after debate over notice to the public.

House Bill 4, sponsored by Rep. Tim Holmes and co-sponsored by Rep. Cecil Thomas, passed on a recorded vote of 95-0. Holmes said the designation aims to focus existing health-care resources and attention on stillbirth prevention, particularly for low-income mothers and communities with higher stillbirth and infant mortality rates. “We hope that raising awareness of stillbirth issues in Ohio will save the lives of mothers and babies,” Holmes said on the floor.

Rep. Cecil Thomas, a joint sponsor, told colleagues the bill is intended to “elevate the issue of stillbirth prevention and begin an ongoing vital dialogue on how we support Ohio…