Nonpartisan · Data from OpenStates / Plural Policy · Ohio
Democratic
· Senator
Willis Blackshear
Represents District 6 in the State Senate.
Votes with Democrats
100%
on 43 party-line votes · Senate Democrats median 97%
Cast a vote
100%
Yea or Nay on 268 of 268 roll calls · Senate median 100%
Their bills that became law
111 of 162
as a primary sponsor, this session · Democrats median 116
Roll calls on record
268
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 Willis Blackshear 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 Willis Blackshear 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. Willis Blackshear is circled.
Always on the Republican sideAlways on the Democratic side
Times they broke with their party
0 of 43 party-line votes.
They voted with most Democrats on every party-line vote this session.
Closest votes they cast
Roll calls decided by the fewest votes, one per bill.
SJR10 · CA: Require identification to vote
In plain English Requires voters to provide identification in order to vote.
Senate Favorable Passage · 2026-06-03 · Passed 4–2
SCR3 · Urge Fair Labor Standards Act changes for employees under 16
Senate Favorable Passage · 2025-03-18 · Passed 4–2
SB50 · Regards age and schooling certificates, minor work hours
Senate Favorable Passage · 2025-03-18 · Passed 4–2
SB33 · Allow employers to post certain labor law notices on the internet
Senate Favorable Passage · 2025-02-25 · Passed 4–2
HB519 · Prohibit specified actions with intent to steal a motor vehicle
In plain English Prohibits possessing an electronic device while committing motor vehicle theft, temporarily reduces motor fuel taxes, and levies a temporary retail tax on certain motor fuel.
Senate Favorable Passage · 2026-09-30 · 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 · 38 shared contested votes
47%
Tom PattonRepublican · District 24 · 38 shared contested votes
18%
Nathan ManningRepublican · District 13 · 37 shared contested votes
14%
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.
← Ohio Delegation
NayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaNayYeaNayNayNayYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaNayNayYeaYeaYeaYeaYeaYea
Their bills, from filing to law
Bills Willis Blackshear 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.
Introduced162
Out of committee139
Passed one chamber139
Passed both chambers111
Became law111
Never left committee23
For comparison, the median Democratic member of the Senate has 116 bills that became law this session.
What their bills are about
Special Designations 24Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee 16Senate Judiciary Committee 13Public Safety 11Crimes, Corrections, and Law Enforcement 11Senate Transportation Committee 10
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
Revise list of vehicles that can commit vehicular homicide
In plain English Expands the types of vehicles that can be used to commit vehicular homicide or assault.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 2903.06 and 2903.08 of the Revised Code to add to the list of vehicles that can be used to commit a vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.
Became lawEffective · 2026-10-06
Establish the Ohio Defense Commission
In plain English Creates the Ohio Defense and Space Advisory Commission and allows the Department of Development to make grants through a Defense and Aerospace Industries Expansion Program.
Official synopsis: To enact sections 122.952, 122.953, and 122.954 of the Revised Code to establish the Ohio Defense and Space Advisory Commission and the Defense and Aerospace Industries Expansion Program, under which the Department of Development may make grants, and to make an appropriation.
Became lawEffective Appropriations effective July 7, 2026 · 2026-10-06
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
Require athletic facilities to install and maintain AEDs
To enact section 3701.852 of the Revised Code to require athletic facilities to install and maintain automated external defibrillators.
Not out of committeeReferred to committee: Health · 2026-09-30
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
Regards professional employer organizations and Unemployment Law
In plain English Modifies how professional employer organizations and alternate employer organizations are treated under Ohio's unemployment compensation law.
Official synopsis: To amend section 4141.24 of the Revised Code to make changes regarding the treatment of professional employer organizations and alternate employer organizations under the Unemployment Compensation Law.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-17
Require construction contracts note variation from standard form
In plain English Requires construction contracts to note any differences from industry standard forms.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 9.334, 153.12, 153.501, 153.503, and 153.693 of the Revised Code to require a public authority or other party to a construction contract to note variations from an industry standard form.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-17
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
Honoring Yariel Soto Torrado as a gold medalist at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Became lawAdopted · 2026-09-14
Require ODNR discount program for veterans, service members
In plain English Requires the state parks division to establish a discount program for veterans and active service members for park services and rentals.
Official synopsis: To amend section 1546.04 of the Revised Code to require the ODNR Chief of the Division of Parks and Watercraft to establish a discount program for veterans and service members for park services and rentals.
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-07
Designate EMS week in Ohio
In plain English Designates the third full week of May as "EMS week in Ohio.
Official synopsis: To enact section 5.2322 of the Revised Code to designate the third full week of May as "EMS week in Ohio."
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-07
Require electronic recordings of all parole board hearings
In plain English Requires electronic recordings of parole board hearings and makes those recordings public records.
Official synopsis: To amend sections 149.43, 2929.20, 5120.115, 5120.21, 5149.10, and 5149.101 and to enact section 5149.102 of the Revised Code to require electronic recordings to be made of certain parole board hearings, to make electronic recordings of full parole board hearings public records, and to provide…
Became lawEffective · 2026-09-07
“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 Favorable Passage)
HB519 · 2026-09-30
Prohibit specified actions with intent to steal a motor vehicle (Senate Passed)
SB273 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Keep Them Safe Act (Senate Passed)
SB102 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Gus Frangos Act (Senate Passed)
HB292 · 2026-06-10
Establish the Ohio Defense Commission (Senate Passed)
SB342 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit certain clauses from conservancy district contracts (Senate Passed)
HB541 · 2026-06-10
Designate Deputy Daniel "Weston" Sherrer Memorial Highway (Senate Passed)
SB19 · 2026-06-10
Regards academic intervention, math improvement and intervention (Senate Passed)
SB419 · 2026-06-10
Revise temporary instruction permit eligibility, requirements (Senate Passed)
SB419 · 2026-06-10
Revise temporary instruction permit eligibility, requirements (Senate Favorable Passage)
SB398 · 2026-06-10
Create the Adopt a Trail Program (Senate Passed)
SB52 · 2026-06-10
Designate Congressman David Hobson Memorial Highway (Senate Passed)
SB219 · 2026-06-10
Revise the law governing oil and gas wells (Senate Passed)
SB421 · 2026-06-10
Increase time period to bring civil action for sex offense victim (Senate Passed)
HB472 · 2026-06-10
Waive ID, birth certificate fees for homeless individuals (Senate Favorable Passage)
HB472 · 2026-06-10
Waive ID, birth certificate fees for homeless individuals (Senate Passed)
SB162 · 2026-06-10
Regards timing of health insurer recoupment from providers (Senate Passed)
SB311 · 2026-06-10
Regards the operation of public and chartered nonpublic schools (Senate Passed)
HB105 · 2026-06-10
Revise non-recourse litigation funding agreement regulations (Senate Passed)
HB173 · 2026-06-10
Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services (Senate Favorable Passage)
HB173 · 2026-06-10
Regards entities providing behind-the-meter utility services (Senate Passed)
SB294 · 2026-06-10
Declare the state's energy siting policy (Senate Passed)
SB315 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act (Senate Passed)
HB455 · 2026-06-10
Regards the operation of public schools and the DEW (Senate Passed)
HB251 · 2026-06-10
Regards drone use by law enforcement; aviation facilities (Senate Passed)
HB479 · 2026-06-10
Regards physician supervision of imaging contrast administration (Senate Passed)
SB324 · 2026-06-10
Revise X-ray machine operator and radiation technician law (Senate Passed)
SB149 · 2026-06-10
Enter into the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact (Senate Passed)
HB3 · 2026-06-10
Enact the School Bus Safety Act (Senate Passed)
HB210 · 2026-06-10
Regards the sale of used catalytic converters (Senate Passed)
SB326 · 2026-06-10
Require students complete a high school computer science course (Senate Passed)
SB250 · 2026-06-10
Enact the Promised Land Act (Senate Favorable Passage)
HB433 · 2026-06-10
Alter amusement ride classification for inspection fee purposes (Senate Passed)
SB160 · 2026-06-10
Regards prescription drugs and medication switching (Senate Passed)
SB230 · 2026-06-10
Authorize pharmacists to test, treat certain health conditions (Senate Passed)
SCR19 · 2026-06-10
Urge Congress to enact the Ohio River Restoration Program Act (Senate Adopted)
SB276 · 2026-06-10
Ratify the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists (Senate Passed)
HB533 · 2026-06-10
Revise list of vehicles that can commit vehicular homicide (Senate Passed)
SB179 · 2026-06-10
Verify veteran status of imprisoned individuals (Senate Passed)
SB262 · 2026-06-10
Require construction contracts note variation from standard form (Senate Passed)
SCR20 · 2026-06-10
Urge Congress accelerate deployment of new energy infrastructure (Senate Adopted)
HB297 · 2026-06-10
Regards funds provided by county for Memorial Day expenses (Senate Passed)
SB423 · 2026-06-10
Regards employment status of health care workers for certain laws (Senate Passed)
SB422 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit certain offenders from school or child care premises (Senate Passed)
HB492 · 2026-06-10
Prohibit interfering with motor vehicle-related arrests (Senate Passed)
HB292 · 2026-06-09
Establish the Ohio Defense Commission (Senate Favorable Passage)
SB450 · 2026-06-03
Make capital appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2028 (Senate Passed)
SB331 · 2026-06-03
Allow certain public hospitality employees to accept gratuities (Senate Passed)
SB106 · 2026-06-03
Regulate the ownership of electric vehicle charging stations (Senate Passed)
SB120 · 2026-06-03
Establish the Urban Farmer Youth Initiative Pilot Program (Senate Passed)
HB195 · 2026-06-03
Revise the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code (Senate Passed)
HB268 · 2026-06-03
Regards filing for certificate of qualification for employment (Senate Passed)
SJR10 · 2026-06-03
CA: Require identification to vote (Senate Favorable Passage)
SJR10 · 2026-06-03
CA: Require identification to vote (Senate Adopted)
HB359 · 2026-06-03
Regards emergency Joshua Alert system for certain missing kids (Senate Passed)
SB135 · 2026-06-03
Regards real property foreclosures and estate sales (Senate Passed)
HB20 · 2026-06-03
Prohibit harassing or impeding an emergency service responder (Senate Passed)
HCR7 · 2026-06-03
Support American Legion Buckeye Boys State, Buckeye Girls State (Senate Adopted)
SB358 · 2026-05-20
Create the Blackout license plate (Senate Passed)
SB281 · 2026-05-20
Allow county comm to award a franchise for public transit system (Senate Passed)
Complete voting record from LegiScan (showing the 60 most recent of 268 total roll-call votes this session).
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