OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 659 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 659’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Mathews and Lorenz
Effective date:
Jessica Sutton, Research Analyst
SUMMARY
▪ Requires each school district, community school, STEM school, and chartered nonpublic
school to provide information about the importance of water safety education upon a
student’s initial enrollment in the district or school.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Water safety education information
Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, the bill requires each school district,
community school, STEM school, and chartered nonpublic school to, upon initial enrollment of a
student, provide information on the importance of water safety education courses and swimming
lessons for saving lives. Generally, that information must be given to the student’s parent.
However, in the case of students who are at least eighteen years old or enrolling in an adult
education program and under twenty-one years old, the information must be given to the
student. Under the bill, “water safety” means age-appropriate education intended to promote
safety in, on, and around bodies of water and reduce the risk of injury or drowning.
Each district or school must provide the information electronically or in hard copy and
include, if available, local options for water safety courses and age-appropriate swimming lessons
that result in a certificate of completion, including courses and lessons offered for free or at a
reduced price.1
1 R.C. 3313.473, 3314.03(A)(11)(d), and 3326.11.
September 11, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 8-28-24
ANHB0659IN-135/sb
P a g e |2 H.B. 659
As Introduced