Ohio Lawmakers Fail to Pass Bill on Controversial Climate Beliefs in College Classrooms

Ohio lawmakers have been unable to pass a bill that sought to regulate discussions on “controversial beliefs” about climate policies in college classrooms. The bill, known as Senate Bill 83, proposed several rules for public colleges and universities, including restrictions on diversity training and requirements to discuss alternative viewpoints on topics like climate policies, immigration, and abortion. Despite attempts to modify the bill, it faced strong opposition from faculty, students, environmental groups, and unions. Critics warned that the bill would hinder the teaching of climate science in Ohio’s public institutions.

Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens announced that the bill lacked sufficient support to pass the House, even though it had been approved by the Senate earlier. Supporters of the bill, led by Republican Senator Jerry Cirino, argued that they were challenging what they called the “woke fiefdom” of higher education.

The inclusion of the provision regarding “controversial beliefs or policies” within Senate Bill 83 resulted in opposition from science educators and researchers. They argued that this provision would impair the teaching of climate science at Ohio’s colleges and universities. Keely Fisher, a Ph.D. student at Ohio State University, expressed her pride in the way faculty, classmates, and other universities rallied against the bill, defending their research and opposing the regulation.

Democratic Representative Casey Weinstein highlighted that the bill’s failure was not surprising, as many Republican colleagues had reservations about different aspects of it. Weinstein emphasized the importance of Ohio’s public universities to the state’s workforce and economy, making the attacks on them particularly concerning.

The bill faced criticism for its potential impact on the teaching of sensitive historical topics. During a House committee hearing, Weinstein questioned Cirino on how the bill would affect the teaching of the Holocaust. Weinstein expressed discomfort with the bill’s apparent endorsement of treating Holocaust denial as just another point of view. Cirino did not respond to interview requests.

The language in the bill stated that faculty and staff at public universities should allow and encourage students to form their own conclusions on controversial beliefs or policies, without imposing any particular social, political, or religious viewpoint. The bill specifically mentioned topics such as climate policies, electoral politics, foreign policy, diversity, equity, inclusion programs, immigration policy, marriage, and abortion. Although an earlier version of the bill referred to “climate change,” the language was changed to “climate policies” to address concerns regarding the regulation of climate science teaching. However, opponents argued that the bill would still hinder education on climate change.

The failure of the bill is regarded as a victory by organizations like the National Center for Science Education, which opposes threats to science education at both K-12 schools and universities. The deputy director of the organization, Glenn Branch, explained that attacks on science education are more prevalent in K-12 schools, with his organization currently opposing efforts in Texas to restrict textbooks covering climate change and evolution.

Branch noted that the Ohio bill’s audacity, along with the broad range of opposition it faced, contributed to its defeat. However, he expressed caution that similar policy ideas could resurface in the future. Senate President Matt Huffman, who continues to support the bill, stated that he would persist in pushing for its passage. In response, the coalition that opposed the bill remains prepared to fight against any future attempts to introduce similar legislation.

Keely Fisher, the Ohio State student who initially felt unsure about remaining in Ohio due to the bill, expressed relief that the legislation is no longer a present concern. She described the bill’s failure as a weight lifted off her shoulders, providing a sense of unexpected relief.