Two legislative bills were introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives that would encourage certain types of education to be provided by public schools.
House Concurrent Resolution 22, sponsored by Ohio Republican Reps. Bill Roemer and Jack Daniels, is a legislative bill that encourages students in grades 1-12 to read the Declaration of Independence in the classroom during the 2025–26 school year.
The legislation aims to improve civic literacy and commemorate the document's 250-year anniversary. The resolution is not a mandate and is simply designed to encourage schools to have students read and understand the Declaration of Independence.
“While the 250th anniversary provides a timely opportunity to reflect on our nation’s founding ideals, this resolution also responds to broader concerns about declining civic understanding,” Daniels wrote in an email. “It aims to strengthen long-term civic literacy and engagement beyond the anniversary itself.”
Sammy Sherman, a freshman studying political science, is a registered Democrat and believes the legislation is beneficial and necessary for children across the country.
“I actually do think reading the Declaration of Independence is a good idea,” Sherman said. “I think civic literacy is at an all-time low in the U.S., so I do think there should be mandated civics classes, whether it's high school or college, you need to read the Constitution.”
Daniels said the implementation of the resolution would be left completely up to local teachers and schools. Each school district will find the best way to include the Declaration of Independence in the curriculum.
The resolution was officially adopted by the State House and is now in the Senate Education Committee, according to the committee activity.
Not only do Ohio House republicans want to introduce civic literacy to classrooms, but they also want to introduce the history of Christianity in the U.S.
HB 486 is legislation sponsored by Ohio Republican Reps. Gary Click and Michael Dovilla, which would permit Ohio teachers to inform students of the influence Christianity has had on the history and culture of the U.S.
Click said the bill is important to ensure U.S. history is being taught.
“It's very important to me, because I think that some of our history is not being told,” Click said. “And I think those who forget history are doomed to repeat it … I’m not saying that it's maliciously not being told, I think it's just being forgotten sometimes.”
The bill is titled “Enact the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act,” named in remembrance of the political commentator Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10. Kirk was a Christian who wanted to be remembered for his faith and Christian beliefs, according to Click.
The bill does not enact a mandate and would reiterate that instructors in public schools and state institutions of higher education are allowed to discuss the positive impacts Christianity has had on U.S. history, Click said.
“What we are doing is saying you are not violating the First Amendment by teaching these things,” Click said. “And the reason we only mention the positive is because the negative is already out there; nobody's afraid to teach the negative, they're doing a good job at that. We are saying it's okay to teach the positive influences of Christianity.”
Click said the lack of education on Christianity’s impact on history comes as a result of a variety of reasons. He claimed that for some, it is an intentional decision to distance themselves from Christianity, whereas others may not care or simply do not find it important to learn about.
Critics of the bill have stated that it is a violation of the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. Sherman echoed these statements.
“The freedom of religion is also the freedom to not practice a religion,” Sherman said. “There have been many Supreme Court cases about this. I think learning about religion is fine, if you learn about all of them.”
Click responded to these claims by stating that while all religions are equally free, not all religions have contributed to U.S. history equally. He said that because the nation is historically Christian, the influence it has had is much greater and holds a larger space in history.
HB 486 is currently in the House Education Committee.
