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Votes at a glance: Ohio House approves excavation law, highway namings and adopts electric-grid security resolution
Summary
On Oct. 14, 2025, the Ohio House passed multiple measures on the floor, including updates to underground excavation notification rules, two memorial highway namings and Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 urging investment in grid security and resiliency; most measures passed unanimously.
The Ohio House of Representatives completed several floor votes on Oct. 14, 2025, approving bills on underground excavation rules, naming sections of state routes for fallen or honored public servants and adopting a concurrent resolution urging investment in electrical grid security.
House Bill 227, sponsored by Representative Rob Blaisdell and co-sponsored by Chair Johnson, passed unanimously (93-0). The measure adjusts the excavation notification timeline to provide utilities a true 48 hours to respond, updates the legal definition of "excavation" to qualify Ohio for federal safety grant funding, and removes obsolete statutory language. Blaisdell said the changes are intended to improve worker and public safety and restore eligibility for U.S. Department of Transportation funds.
House Bill 275, sponsored by Representative McLean, designates a portion of State Route 53 in Wyandot County as the Deputy Sheriff Daniel Kin Memorial Highway. The House approved the bill 93-0. Representative McLean outlined Deputy Kin's service history and the circumstances of his death in December 2022 and asked members to support the naming to honor his service.
House Bill 325, sponsored by Representative Ritter with Representative Holmes as a co-sponsor, designates a portion of State Route 13 in Athens County as the Marshal Teddy Ray Holcomb Memorial Highway; the House passed the bill 92-0. Ritter described Holcomb's decision to respond to a call as an act of service that cost him his life and urged support for the memorial naming.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 2, carried over from the Senate and supported on the floor by Representative Holmes, was adopted unanimously (93-0). The resolution urges Ohio electric-utility stakeholders, the governor and the U.S. Congress to invest in the security, reliability and resiliency of the state and national interconnected electric grids against natural and man-made threats. Speakers on the floor said the resolution highlights the need for investment as Ohio pursues energy technologies that could bring economic growth.
Other routine measures and committee appointments were approved without recorded opposition, and the House adjourned until Oct. 21, 2025.
