Spring 2025

Timely workforce thoughts and actions that advance Towards Employment’s Policy Action Plan – to expand opportunities for untapped talent by influencing policy shifts that address barriers and promote investment in skills training, job quality and second chance hiring.

HB29 Follow-up

How will this impact Ohioans?

Licenses can no longer be suspended due to failure to pay a court fee or fine. The legislation is retroactive, which means that it applies to past suspensions for failure to pay court fines and fees. There is no reinstatement fee for restoring licenses suspended for that reason.  
Drug Abuse Offenses can no longer be punished by a suspended driver’s license, unless the offense is associated with dangerous driving.
HB 29 reduces the lookback period for driving without insurance offenses to be considered repeat offenses from five years to one year.
School truancy is no longer a reason for license suspension or denial.

Those whose licenses were suspended for failure to pay child support can now file a motion with the courts for limited driving privileges.

See the whole bill and summary at Ohio Legislative Service Commission’s Bill Analysis here.

Implementation

Towards Employment is committed to ensuring HB29 accomplishes its primary goal: getting Ohioans back on the road. We are working with our local and statewide policy and advocacy partners to monitor effective implementation and will be providing updates in the Policy Pulse.

Questions? See the explainer by The Marshall Project: License Suspended? Help Is Coming in April | The Marshall Project

Has your license been suspended as a result of debt?

TE wants to hear from you!

Share your story!

Budget Season is Upon us!

In February, Governor Mike DeWine submitted the 2026-2027 budget proposal. Currently the Ohio House Finance Committee is working towards a vote. Then it is the Senate’s turn. The finalized budget is due by July 1.

The State Budget is incredibly important – and its investments affect everyone. From education and healthcare to income and sales taxes, the stakes are high. Budget proposals and negotiations greatly influence the social determinants of work - barriers workers face in finding employment. That’s why Towards Employment will follow the budget closely and continue efforts to inform Ohioans about how these decisions will affect workforce development. Stay tuned for TE POLICY ALERTS.

Interviews with Towards Employment staff, participants, partners, and graduates about relevant and timely workforce topics.

Cleveland Housing

Access to housing is a key factor to economic mobility. Without a place to live, the wellbeing and safety of thousands of Clevelanders is compromised. Towards Employment sat down with Austin Cummings, Senior Researcher at the Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research shed light on housing injustices within Cuyahoga County.

Read the Full Story & More Real-Time Takes

Coming Soon

Reentry Month

Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry and partners are celebrating all month with 16 activities and events that build awareness and advocacy around second chances.

We highlight a lunch and learn webinar on April 16. Navigating Supervision, hosted by Ronnie Cannon, Senior Manager of Community Engagement, includes guest panelists Judge Nancy Russo (Common Pleas Court), Tyreek Allen (Federal Probation), India George (Euclid Probation), Robin Tilman (Adult Parole Authority representative) , Rayshun Holt (Cincinnati Works) and Emily Gibbs (Drug Court). Discussion includes how to navigate post-release supervision, understand parole conditions, and build a positive, collaborative relationship with supervising officers.

Learn More or Register HERE

Towards Employment is a member of the Ohio Workforce Coalition, a membership organization that brings stakeholders from around the workforce ecosystem together to promote public policies that build the skills of adult workers, meet the workforce needs of employers, and strengthen workforce systems. The April 24 webinar is a special session on the State Budget – a chance to receive an overview of the state budget process currently underway and to ask questions from an expert.

Learn more and become a member HERE

Contributing Authors:

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Brian Balogh - TE Policy Fellow and retired professor and award-winning cohost of a public radio show - interviews TE graduates and staff about interesting workforce topics. Brian combines written text, live words, his research, and community resources n simple stories for workforce friends and supporters to share.

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Gabrielle Fortin (she/her) is the Policy and Advocacy Associate at Towards Employment, where she began as a Cleveland Foundation Intern in May 2024. She is set to graduate from Case Western Reserve University in 2025 with dual B.A.s in Political Science and International Studies. Gabbi supports the Towards Employment Policy Action Plan, working to advance policies that promote economic mobility and equitable employment opportunities. She is passionate about social justice, community organizing, and loves Cleveland.

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info@towardsemployment.org