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House Education Committee reports HCR 22 encouraging students to read Declaration of Independence
Summary
The House Education Committee favorably reported House Concurrent Resolution 22, which urges Ohio K–12 students to read and study the U.S. Declaration of Independence during the 2025–26 school year; the measure passed committee on an 8–4 roll call after proponent testimony and limited debate.
The House Education Committee on a voice and roll-call vote favorably reported House Concurrent Resolution 22, which urges Ohio students to read and study the U.S. Declaration of Independence during the 2025–26 school year.
Supporters told the committee the measure is intended as a bipartisan civic-education initiative. Chris Long, president of the Ohio Christian Alliance, said the resolution encourages "Ohio school children to read The US Declaration of Independence during the 2025–26 school year" and described the organization's work on an American Documents curriculum. Ivory Kennedy Jr., an educator who testified in favor, urged full context for students and asked, "Will we have the courage to tell the whole story?"
Why it mattered: backers framed the resolution as a low-cost, symbolic step to bolster civic knowledge and mark the nation's semiquincentennial; opponents registered concerns that wording needed technical changes to secure unanimous support. Representative Rhett Brennan told the committee he had sought technical amendments — including language referencing the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission and an explicit nod to study as well as reading — to broaden bipartisan appeal.
Committee action: Vice Chair Odioso moved to favorably report HCR 22. Representative Brennan spoke in favor of unanimous support but said technical language had not been adopted. The chair ruled an offered amendment out of order, and the clerk conducted a roll-call vote. The recorded vote was Chair Fowler Arthur (yes), Vice Chair Odioso (yes), Ranking Member Brennan (no), Representative Byrd (yes), Representative Klick (yes), Representative John (yes), Representative Miller (no), Representative Newman (yes), Representative Antonio (no), Representative Ritter (yes), Representative Robinson (no), Representative Thomas (yes). With eight affirmative votes and four negatives, HCR 22 was favorably reported out of committee.
What comes next: The committee concluded the second hearing on HCR 22; the resolution will proceed according to chamber procedure for concurrent resolutions. The chair asked members to sign the rule before leaving.
