Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026 Info Page

This is the information page for all things Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026! This page displays meeting times and locations with legislators, OPA legislative priorities, location info for the Statehouse and Riffe Center, links to the training videos provided, and other helpful information at the bottom. 

 

Meeting Time and Locations with Legislators

Attendees listed in alphabetical order by last name. 

OPA 2025 Legislative Priorities 

PBM Regulation – HB 229 & SB 210

Status: HB229 (Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology – 2^nd Hearing on 11/04/25); SB210 (Referred to Senate Health on 06/04/25)

Goal: Oversight, accountability, and transparency for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

• Established a stand-alone licensing process for PBMs under the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI).
• Requires transparent contracts with pharmacies and plan sponsors.
• Grants ODI clear enforcement authority.

Why It Matters:
Unchecked PBM practices drive pharmacy closures and increase costs for patients and taxpayers. HB 229 and SB 210 create the same regulatory safeguards applied to other insurance entities, restoring fairness and patient choice in pharmacy care.

Community Pharmacy Protection Act – HB 192

Status: House Insurance – 4^th Hearing on 11/04/25

Goal: Safeguard patient access and promote fair network participation.

• Prevents health plans and PBMs from imposing unnecessary accreditation or certification requirements beyond what Ohio law requires.
• Requires PBMs to report drug cost data, providing transparency for plan sponsors and pharmacies.
• Protects pharmacies from retaliation or exclusion for reporting violations advocating for fair practices.

Why It Matters:
Local pharmacies are cornerstones of care, especially in rural and underserved areas. HB 192 ensures a level playing field, fair network access, and accountability in PBM-pharmacy relationships.

340B Protections – HB 276 & SB 198

Status: HB276 (House Insurance – Fourth Hearing on 11/04/25; SB198 (Senate Health – Third Hearing on 11/12/25)

Goal: Preserve access to affordable medications for Ohio’s most vulnerable patients.

• Stops manufacturers from restricting reimbursements to 340B providers.
• Ensures patients maintain the freedom to fill prescriptions at their pharmacy of choice, including contract pharmacies.

Why It Matters:
These bills protect essential healthcare access points and preserve a federal program that returns critical savings to patients most in need.

Expanding Pharmacist Authority – SB 230

Status: Senate Health – First Hearing on 11/12/25

Goal: Empower pharmacists to provide timely, accessible care.

• Authorizes pharmacists to screen, test, and treat common respiratory illnesses—such as flu, strep, RSV, and COVID-19.
• Builds on pharmacists’ proven track record in administering vaccines and delivering point-of-care services.
• Requires training and reporting standards to ensure safe, high-quality care.

Why It Matters:
SB 230 expands access to care, reduces unnecessary urgent-care visits, and allows patients to receive treatment quickly at their local pharmacy.

 

Statehouse/Riffe Center Location Info

Ohio Statehouse 1 Capitol Sq, Columbus, OH 43215

Vern Riffe State Office Tower 77 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215

Other Helpful Info

Meetings at the Riffe Center

• Please enter through the revolving doors on S. High Street and show your ID to the security desk before walking through the metal detectors. Go up two sets of escalators and turn left before walking through the security gates to the second set of elevators (the security desk on this floor can open the gate and assist you with any questions).
• Take the elevator to the floor of your appointment and enter through the doors showing a receptionist desk. Please tell the receptionist the member you’re here to meet and time of your meeting, and I will meet you in this area.

Free Guided Tours Daily

• Guided tours are available every day, except on state holidays. On weekdays, walk-in tours start from the Map Room on the hour, every hour, starting at 10 a.m. with the last tour starting at 3 p.m. During the weekends, walk-in tours start at noon, 1p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
• Tours depart from the Map Room easily accessible from the Third Street entrance. Visitors are welcome to drop in at least five minutes before the hour

Committee Hearings - Tuesday, November 18

House Insurance Committee
Rm. 122, 12:00 pm

• HB 105 Non-Recourse Litigation Funding
  To revise and supplement state regulations concerning non-recourse litigation funding agreements.
• HB 448 Prescription Drug Rebates
  To apply prescription drug rebates to cost-sharing requirements.
• HB 453 Autism Treatment
  To modify laws regarding insurance and Medicaid coverage of applied behavior analysis therapy for autism treatment and to permit exam-eligible technicians to engage in the practice of applied behavior analysis.
• HB 33 Health Screenings
  To require health insurers to cover preventive screenings for certain men at high-risk for
  developing prostate cancer.
• HB 192 Pharmacies
  To limit insurer accreditation requirements for pharmacies, to implement drug cost reporting
  requirements for pharmacy benefit managers, and to name this act the Community Pharmacy
  Protection Act.

House General Government Committee
Rm. 114, 12:30 pm

• HB 59 Occupational Regulations
  To revise and streamline the state's occupational regulations.
• SB 293 Ballots
  To require all marked absent voter's ballots to be delivered to the board of elections by the close of the polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

House Development Committee
Rm. 122, 1:30 pm

• HB 553 Evictions
  To require landlords to notify tenants of rent defaults prior to commencing evictions.
• SB 217 Land Conveyance
  To authorize the conveyance of state-owned land.
• HB 458 Foreclosure
  Relating to real property foreclosures.

House Government Oversight Committee (Testimony & Documents)
Rm. 018, 2:15 pm

• HB 395 Employment
  To require the Director of Job and Family Services to establish an online process for employers to report individuals who fail to appear for a scheduled job interview.
• HB 542 Inmate Pregnancies
  To require all inmate pregnancy outcomes to be reported to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
• HB 42 Citizenship And Immigration Status
  To require certain agencies to collect and report data concerning the citizenship or immigration
  status of persons with whom they come into contact.

Senate Transportation Committee
Finance Hearing Room, 2:30 pm

• SB 302 Speciality License Plate
  To create the "Land of U.S. Grant" license plate.
• SB 97 Funeral Processions
  To double fines for failing to yield to a funeral procession.
• SB 228 Special Interest License Plate
  To create the "Lifetown" license plate.

Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs & Public Safety Committee
South Hearing Room, 3:00 pm

• SB 273 Firearm Storage
  To provide guidelines and civil immunity for the voluntary storage of firearms.
• SB 218 Child Care
  To exempt from licensure family child care providers certified by a branch of the United States
  armed forces.

House Community Revitalization Committee (Testimony & Documents)
Rm. 113, 3:15 pm

• HB 393 State Identification
  To require that community-based correctional facilities and programs assist inmates in obtaining state identification cards prior to release.
• HB 543 Food Grant Program
  To create a food desert elimination grant program and to make an appropriation.
• HB 562 Food
  To make an appropriation to promote food options for students with religious dietary restrictions
• HB 585 Community Capital Assistance Program
  Regards the authority of the Department of Developmental Disabilities to adopt rules regarding the use of community capital assistance funds.
• HB 58 Recovery Housing
  To create a certificate of need program for recovery housing residences.

Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance & Technology Committee
Finance Hearing Room, 3:30 pm

• SB 241 Workers Compensation
  To impose a fine against an employer who appeals specified awards of workers' compensation related to cancer incurred while performing official duties as a firefighter if the employer loses the appeal.
• SB 306 Insurance
  Regarding electronic signatures in insurance transactions, the Ohio assigned risk insurance plan, special purpose financial captive insurance companies, civil actions related to towed vehicles that are brought by insurance companies, and to prohibit certain repair shop activities related to insurance policies.
• HB 229 Pharmacy Benefit Managers
  To establish a stand-alone licensing process and new contractual requirements for pharmacy benefit managers