Legislative update: Income tax revisions, Roe v Wade and ICE activity
- Savana Capp. In the first two months of 2026, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) has been active in speaking up for her constituents, as well as Americans nationally.
Legislative update
End-of-year legislative updates: Votes on Venezuela military action, Epstein files and more
- Lauren Cohen. In December, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes voted yes and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) voted no on two bills that regarded military actions involving Venezuela.
Legislative update: Redistricting, government shutdown, property tax
- Lauren Cohen. The Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously passed a congressional map on Oct. 31. It gave Republicans the advantage in Ohio, 12-3.
Legislative update: Sykes and Joyce cast opposing votes on government shutdown
- Lauren Cohen.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, who represent Portage County residents, voted against each other on H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026, on Sept. 19. The bill was created to fund the government short-term to prevent a government shutdown.
Portage County legislators condemn Minnesota school shooting
- Staff Report.
Some of Portage County’s legislators responded on social media, expressing sympathy or calling for action to end gun violence, after two children died and 21 people were wounded during a shooting on Aug. 27 in Minnesota.
Legislative update: House Republicans vote to override one of DeWine’s property tax vetoes
- Staff Report.
Ohio House Reps. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) and Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) recently voted with the Republican majority to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of a property tax provision in the state budget.
State passes budget bill, Portage legislators vote with party
- Staff Report.
Ohio now has its fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on July 1. Area representatives in the state House and Senate cast their votes along party lines, with not a single Democrat supporting it in either chamber.
Legislative update: U.S. representatives Sykes, Joyce differ on ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’
- Staff Report.
U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) have taken opposite stances on the Republicans’ federal budget reconciliation bill — dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Legislative update: Politicians talk House GOP budget, Demetriou runs for Ohio Senate
Ohio State Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) is now engaged with a new opportunity, announcing he will run for Ohio Senate in the November 2026 special election.
Legislative update: Roegner continues SB1 support, Sykes brings on the bills
With the passing of Ohio’s controversial Senate Bill 1, President Donald Trump’s continued executive orders and the age-old partisan divide, Portage County politicians didn’t let up in the statehouse or on social media in March.
Legislative update: Partisan issues come up more and more as country divides
Welcome to The Portager’s legislative round-up, which will regularly track what Portage County lawmakers are doing in Washington and in Columbus.
Legislative update: Local politicians hit the ground running as new congressional session starts up
As the new congressional session started Jan. 3, state and federal representatives serving Portage County have begun legislation proposals and community outreach while doubling down on partisan positions in their messaging.
Legislative update: Pavliga uses her lame duck session to target pronouns
Welcome to the Portager’s legislative round-up, which will regularly track what Portage County lawmakers are doing in Washington and in Columbus.
Legislative Update: Locally sponsored bill on spousal rape heads to governor’s desk
A bill that would remove spousal exceptions from Ohio’s laws on rape and other sexual offenses has passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. Mike DeWine.
Legislative Roundup: Aid package signed by Biden finds agreement among local reps, split among senators
Ohio’s U.S. senators split on a foreign aid package that will be key to sending weapons and equipment to war-torn Ukraine this week.
Reps. Joyce, Sykes vote for tax package with child tax credit
Portage County’s representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives joined the majority Jan. 31 in passing a bipartisan tax package that would include a child tax credit expansion.
Legislative update: Ohio Rep. Gail Pavliga votes to override governor’s veto of transgender legislation
Portage County’s state representatives joined their Republican colleagues Jan. 10 in overriding Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of the bill that bans gender-affirming care and restricts transgender students’ participation in sports.
Legislative Update: Marijuana legalization moves toward consensus in Ohio
Voters passed Issue 2 in the general election, so 30 days later — Dec. 7 — it technically became legal to possess, grow and buy recreational marijuana in Ohio.