Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Ohio
Kent Smith
Democratic · Senator

Kent Smith

Represents District 21 in the State Senate.

Official site ↗ Email
Votes with Democrats
96%
on 49 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 97%
Cast a vote
100%
Yea or Nay on 329 of 329 roll calls · Senate median 100%
Their bills that became law
79 of 181
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 116
Roll calls on record
329
136th General Assembly
Votes and bills updated Oct 5, 2026 from LegiScan (CC BY 4.0), which republishes the legislature’s own records. Profile details from OpenStates / Plural Policy. Figures cover 136th General Assembly.

How Kent Smith votes

A party-line vote is a roll call where most voting Democrats and most voting Republicans took opposite sides. Absences and not-voting are never counted. Same method as our Congress pages.

Where Kent Smith sits in the Senate

Each dot is one member of the Senate, placed by how often they voted on the Democratic side of party-line votes. Kent Smith is circled.

Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party

2 of 49 party-line votes.

HB173 · Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services
Yea
Senate Passed · 2026-06-10 · Passed 24–9 · most Democrats voted the other way
HB173 · Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services
Yea
Senate Favorable Passage · 2026-06-10 · Passed 9–2 · most Democrats voted the other way
Closest votes they cast

Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.

SB87 · Define antisemitism; expand the offense of ethnic intimidation
Nay
Senate Favorable Passage · 2026-03-04 · Passed 4–2
SB34 · Enact the Historical Educational Displays Act
Nay
Senate Favorable Passage · 2025-11-18 · Passed 4–2
HB114 · Regards age requirements for kindergarten admission
Nay
Senate Favorable Passage · 2025-11-18 · Passed 4–2
SB311 · Regards the operation of public and chartered nonpublic schools
Nay
Senate Favorable Passage · 2026-06-10 · Passed 5–2
HB455 · Regards the operation of public schools and the DEW
Nay
Senate Favorable Passage · 2026-06-10 · Passed 5–2
Republicans they vote with most

Share of contested roll calls (the losing side got at least 10%) where both voted and landed on the same side. Unanimous votes are left out, because on those everyone agrees.

Bill BlessingRepublican · District 8 · 46 shared contested votes
30%
Tom PattonRepublican · District 24 · 37 shared contested votes
14%
Al CutronaRepublican · District 33 · 40 shared contested votes
10%
Their session, month by month

Dark bars are roll calls they were recorded on each month; the red part is the ones without a Yea or Nay (0 in all). Gaps are months the chamber wasn’t voting.

2025-01: 8 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-02: 12 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-03: 13 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-04: 17 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-05: 12 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-06: 15 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-10: 45 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-11: 52 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2025-12: 1 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-02: 18 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-03: 23 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-04: 10 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-05: 33 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-06: 69 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or Nay2026-09: 1 roll calls, 0 without a Yea or NayJan 2025Sep 2026
← Ohio Delegation
Their bills, from filing to law

Bills Kent Smith was a primary sponsor of this session. Most bills from either party never leave committee; in Illinois many never get past the Assignments or Rules committee.

Introduced181
Out of committee112
Passed one chamber110
Passed both chambers80
Became law79
Never left committee69

For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 116 bills that became law this session.

What their bills are about
Special Designations 29Senate Judiciary Committee 20Taxation 18Senate Transportation Committee 18House Transportation Committee 17Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee 17
Regards timing of health insurer recoupment from providers
In plain English Limits the timeframe within which health insurers can recoup payments from health care providers.
Official synopsis: To amend section 3901.388 of the Revised Code regarding the timeframe for health insurer recoupment from health care providers.
Became lawEffective · 2026-10-07
Enact the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act
In plain English Requires Ohio's SNAP program to use chip-enabled EBT cards and makes changes to Medicaid program integrity and fraud prevention procedures.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 109.85, 117.10, 2903.216, 2913.40, 2923.31, 4113.52, 5101.542, 5164.32, 5164.33, 5164.36, 5164.57, 5167.03, and 5167.18 and to enact sections 103.413, 3901.93, 5101.5411, 5162.138, 5162.139, 5162.1311, 5162.17, 5162.19, 5162.90, 5163.05, 5164.11, 5164.12, 5164.13, 5164.292, 5164.302, 5164.303, 5164.304, 5164.305, 5164.331, 5164.332, 5164.40, 5164.401, 5164.402, 5164.403,…
Became lawEffective · 2026-10-06
Designate Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway
In plain English Designates a portion of U.S. Route 42 in Morrow County as the Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway.
Official synopsis: To enact section 5534.474 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of U.S. Route 42 in Morrow County as the "Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway."
Became lawEffective · 2026-10-06
Regards funds provided by county for Memorial Day expenses
In plain English Allows counties to provide more money to military, veterans, and civic organizations for Memorial Day expenses.
Official synopsis: To amend section 307.66 of the Revised Code to increase the amount a county may provide to military and veterans organizations, and civic organizations, for Memorial Day expenses.
Became lawEffective · 2026-10-06
Designate September 25 as Dolly Parton Day
To enact section 5.64 of the Revised Code to designate September 25 as "Dolly Parton Day."
Not out of committeeReferred to committee: Government Oversight and Reform · 2026-09-30
Designate State Senator I. Ray Miller Jr. Memorial Highway
To enact section 5534.506 of the Revised Code to designate a portion of U.S. Route 62 in Columbus as the "State Senator I. Ray Miller Jr. Memorial Highway."
Not out of committeeReferred to committee: Transportation · 2026-09-30
Add two judges to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
To amend section 2301.02 of the Revised Code to add two judges to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas to be elected in 2028.
Not out of committeeReferred to committee: Judiciary · 2026-09-30
Condemn Russian Federation regarding Ukrainian children
To condemn the Russian Federation for the wrongful and illegal abduction, forcible transfer, and subsequent illegal adoption and indoctrination of children from Ukraine.
Not out of committeeReferred to committee: General Government · 2026-09-30
Regards physician supervision of imaging contrast administration
To amend sections 9.66, 122.84, 303.12, 306.43, 319.301, 323.152, 519.12, 1901.186, 3318.36, 3318.363, 4503.065, 4773.10, 4774.08, 4774.10, 5502.75, 5705.31, 5705.316, 5713.08, 5715.23, and 5715.27; to amend, for the purpose of adopting a new section number as indicated in parentheses, section 5502.75 (5119.74); to enact sections…
Became lawEffective Appropriations effective June 24, 2026 · 2026-09-23
Regards filing for certificate of qualification for employment
In plain English Allows people to file for a certificate of qualification for employment at a different time than currently permitted.
Official synopsis: To amend section 2953.25 of the Revised Code to modify when a person may file a petition for a certificate of qualification for employment.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-23
Verify veteran status of imprisoned individuals
In plain English Requires prisons to verify whether incarcerated individuals are veterans.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 341.02 and 5901.03 and to enact section 341.43 of the Revised Code to require incarcerating institutions to verify the veteran status of incarcerated individuals.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-23
Establish process to regulate carbon capture, storage technology
In plain English Establishes a regulatory process for carbon capture and storage technologies and long-term underground storage of carbon dioxide.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 1509.01, 1509.33, and 1509.99 and to enact sections 1509.71, 1509.72, 1509.73, 1509.75, 1509.76, 1509.77, 1509.78, 1509.79, 5301.57, 5301.58, 5301.59, and 5301.60 of the Revised Code to establish a process to regulate carbon capture and storage technologies and the geologic sequestration of carbon…
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-23
Regulate the ownership of electric vehicle charging stations
To amend sections 4909.042, 4909.15, 4909.173, 4909.174, 4928.01, 4928.03, and 4928.041 of the Revised Code regarding electric vehicle charging stations and to make corrections to provisions of Senate Bill 103 of the 136th General Assembly.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-23
Designate Congressman David Hobson Memorial Highway
In plain English Creates multiple memorial highways and specialty license plates, including the Congressman David Hobson Memorial Highway.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 4501.21 and 5910.07 and to enact sections 4503.472, 4503.4913, 4503.537, 4503.599, 4503.705, 4503.717, 4503.727, 4503.736, 4503.739, 4503.742, 4503.861, 4503.889, 4503.897, 4503.898, 4503.912, 4503.937, 4503.938, 4503.939, 4503.947, 5534.102, 5534.141, 5534.155, 5534.428, 5534.429, 5534.443, 5534.444, 5534.451, 5534.454, 5534.455, 5534.456, 5534.482, 5534.59, 5534.607, 5534.609, 5534.617,…
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-23
Regards emergency Joshua Alert system for certain missing kids
To amend section 5502.522 of the Revised Code to clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-17

“In plain English” lines are written by ThePolitibase with AI (Claude), from the official synopsis only; the synopsis is the authoritative text. Descriptions are the legislature’s own synopsis. Bill data from LegiScan, CC BY 4.0.

Loading committees…
HB519 · 2026-09-30
Prohibit specified actions with intent to steal a motor vehicle (Senate Passed)
Passed · 26-5
Yea
SB273 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Keep Them Safe Act (Senate Passed)
Passed · 32-0
Yea
SB102 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Gus Frangos Act (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
HB292 · 2026-06-10
Establish the Ohio Defense Commission (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB342 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit certain clauses from conservancy district contracts (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
HB541 · 2026-06-10
Designate Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
HB541 · 2026-06-10
Designate Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB19 · 2026-06-10
Regards academic intervention, math improvement and intervention (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB419 · 2026-06-10
Revise temporary instruction permit eligibility, requirements (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB398 · 2026-06-10
Create the Adopt a Trail Program (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB52 · 2026-06-10
Designate Congressman David Hobson Memorial Highway (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB219 · 2026-06-10
Revise the law governing oil and gas wells (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
HB646 · 2026-06-10
Create the Data Center Study Commission (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 8-3
Nay
SB421 · 2026-06-10
Increase time period to bring civil action for sex offense victim (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
HB472 · 2026-06-10
Waive ID, birth certificate fees for homeless individuals (Senate Passed)
Passed · 23-10
Nay
SB162 · 2026-06-10
Regards timing of health insurer recoupment from providers (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB311 · 2026-06-10
Regards the operation of public and chartered nonpublic schools (Senate Passed)
Passed · 24-9
Nay
SB311 · 2026-06-10
Regards the operation of public and chartered nonpublic schools (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 5-2
Nay
HB105 · 2026-06-10
Revise non-recourse litigation funding agreement regulations (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 6-0
Yea
HB105 · 2026-06-10
Revise non-recourse litigation funding agreement regulations (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-2
Yea
HB173 · 2026-06-10
Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 9-2
Yea
HB173 · 2026-06-10
Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services (Senate Passed)
Passed · 24-9
Yea
SB294 · 2026-06-10
Declare the state's energy siting policy (Senate Passed)
Passed · 24-9
Nay
SB315 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
HB455 · 2026-06-10
Regards the operation of public schools and the DEW (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 5-2
Nay
HB455 · 2026-06-10
Regards the operation of public schools and the DEW (Senate Passed)
Passed · 24-9
Nay
HB251 · 2026-06-10
Regards drone use by law enforcement; aviation facilities (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-2
Yea
SB341 · 2026-06-10
Repeal law that authorizes a person who is 17 to marry (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
HB479 · 2026-06-10
Regards physician supervision of imaging contrast administration (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB324 · 2026-06-10
Revise X-ray machine operator and radiation technician law (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB149 · 2026-06-10
Enter into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
HB3 · 2026-06-10
Enact the School Bus Safety Act (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-2
Yea
HB210 · 2026-06-10
Regards the sale of used catalytic converters (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
HB210 · 2026-06-10
Regards the sale of used catalytic converters (Senate Passed)
Passed · 32-1
Yea
SB326 · 2026-06-10
Require students complete a high school computer science course (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB326 · 2026-06-10
Require students complete a high school computer science course (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 6-0
Yea
HB433 · 2026-06-10
Alter amusement ride classification for inspection fee purposes (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB160 · 2026-06-10
Regards prescription drugs and medication switching (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB230 · 2026-06-10
Authorize pharmacists to test, treat certain health conditions (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-2
Yea
SCR19 · 2026-06-10
Urge Congress to enact the Ohio River Restoration Program Act (Senate Adopted)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB276 · 2026-06-10
Ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists (Senate Passed)
Passed · 24-9
Nay
HB533 · 2026-06-10
Revise list of vehicles that can commit vehicular homicide (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB179 · 2026-06-10
Verify veteran status of imprisoned individuals (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB262 · 2026-06-10
Require construction contracts note variation from standard form (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB178 · 2026-06-10
Form Missing Women-Black, Indigenous, People of Color task force (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
SCR20 · 2026-06-10
Urge Congress accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure (Senate Adopted)
Passed · 24-9
Nay
HB297 · 2026-06-10
Regards funds provided by county for Memorial Day expenses (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB423 · 2026-06-10
Regards employment status of health care workers for certain laws (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB422 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit certain offenders from school or child care premises (Senate Passed)
Passed · 33-0
Yea
SB422 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit certain offenders from school or child care premises (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
HB492 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit interfering with motor vehicle-related arrests (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 5-2
Nay
HB492 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit interfering with motor vehicle-related arrests (Senate Passed)
Passed · 24-9
Nay
SCR20 · 2026-06-09
Urge Congress accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 8-3
Nay
HB397 · 2026-06-04
Expand allowable uses of profits from jail commissary funds (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
SB450 · 2026-06-03
Make capital appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2028 (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-0
Yea
SB331 · 2026-06-03
Allow certain public hospitality employees to accept gratuities (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-0
Yea
SB106 · 2026-06-03
Regulate the ownership of electric vehicle charging stations (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-0
Yea
SB120 · 2026-06-03
Establish the Urban Farmer Youth Initiative Pilot Program (Senate Passed)
Passed · 31-0
Yea
SB102 · 2026-06-03
Enact the Gus Frangos Act (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
HB195 · 2026-06-03
Revise the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code (Senate Favorable Passage)
Passed · 7-0
Yea
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 329 total roll-call votes this session).
Voting data provided by LegiScan, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Capitol Office
📍Room 223, Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square Second Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
Official Links
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