Legislative update: Income tax revisions, Roe v Wade and ICE activity

In the first two months of 2026, U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) has been active in speaking out on a wide variety of issues, from reproductive rights to ICE activity. 

On the anniversary of Roe V. Wade, she released a statement reaffirming the fight for reproductive freedom.

“Roe v. Wade protected generations of women's right to make personal medical decisions for nearly 50 years,” she said in a press release. “When it was overturned in 2022, fundamental rights were stripped away, and nearly four years later, women in Ohio and across the country are still under attack.”

Sykes said she will continue to stand up for reproductive rights. 

She also voted against two Republican-backed bills that would undermine reproductive freedoms further and divert public resources from families and students who need them.  

One would increase the use of federal anti-poverty funds for crisis pregnancy centers, which are not required to provide comprehensive or medically accurate reproductive health care. The second bill targets college campuses with pregnancy-related requirements, despite federal protections against pregnancy discrimination. 

In January, Sykes also spoke out against multiple ICE actions. On Jan. 8, she released a statement urging for a full investigation, demanding accountability after the death of Renee Good.

“The video of the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good is devastating to watch and raises questions about the use of deadly force,” said Sykes in a press release. "This event must be treated professionally and with a full investigation and complete transparency. As ICE agents have been deployed across the country, the administration must ensure they are adequately trained to de-escalate tense situations and maintain the safety of the American people. I will work with my colleagues to ensure accountability and safety.”

After another fatal shooting, Sykes released another statement on Jan. 24, saying the event was a result of dangerous tactics ordered by President Donald Trump, enabled by Kristi Noem. 

“Their approach is escalating chaos, putting innocent lives at risk, and shredding public trust. Communities deserve protection, not lawlessness,” she said in a press release.

Bills brought forth from Jan. 1 - Feb. 15

State Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) introduced one new bill so far in 2026, H.B. 642. Introduced on Jan. 12, the bill would revise Ohio’s income tax laws. Ohio’s current law has a standardized five-year limit for municipal income taxes. This requires all municipalities to allow a five-year carryforward period for net operating losses in the tax year. If passed, the bill would remove the state-imposed time limit, allowing the Ohio municipal income tax policy to align more closely with the federal tax treatment of business losses. 

“Ohio’s current five-year limit on municipal net operating loss carryforwards can penalize businesses that experience economic downturns or uneven revenue cycles,” said Demetriou in a press release. “This is a commonsense update that reflects how businesses actually operate. Aligning municipal income tax law with federal standards helps ensure Ohio remains competitive, predictable, and fair for job creators across the state.”

As of Feb. 4, the bill was referred to the Ways and Means Committee. 

So far in 2026, State Rep. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) introduced one new bill, H.B. 650 to establish the Frontier Technologies and Quantum Computing Commission. Introduced to the House Jan. 20, the bill looks to prepare Ohio for technology advancements bringing together technical experts appointed by the governor and members of the House and Senate, ensuring a balanced perspective. 

The commission would study frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, cybersecurity and more. 

“As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, Ohio has a responsibility to be proactive, informed, and forward-looking,” said Workman in a press release. “This commission will allow policymakers to better understand both the opportunities and challenges these technologies present, so we can position Ohio as a leader in innovation while protecting the public interest.”

As co-chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, Congressman Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Twp.) reintroduced bipartisan resolution H.Res.1019 with Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) recognizing National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Week in January. 

“As the husband of a nurse, I see firsthand the hard work and long hours healthcare professionals put into their jobs every day. CRNAs are vital to our healthcare system, and they deserve to be recognized,” said Joyce in a press release. 

In addition, Joyce, along with Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14), introduced H.B. 7279 Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act Jan 30. This bill would address the nursing faculty shortage by providing financial assistance to new and early-career faculty, as well as recruiting and retaining qualified educators. Specifically, it would create a grant program to close the gap between clinical nursing and nurse faculty roles. 

Joyce also introduced a bicameral resolution on Feb. 12, H.J.Res.149, which honors and celebrates the 125 Anniversary of the United States Army Nurse Corps. The resolution marks the entry of the first nurses and first women into the U.S. military, as it commemorates the anniversary of the creation of the Army Nurse Corps in 1901. 

“For 125 years, the Army Nurse Corps has provided invaluable care to our men and women in uniform. Whether it was the beaches of Normandy or the jungles of Vietnam, Army Nurses answered the call to serve and have since saved countless lives in the process,” Joyce said in a press release. 

Sykes was one of a number of cosponsors of the reintroduced End Prison Gerrymandering Act Feb. 4. H.R. 7375 would require the U.S. Census Bureau to count individuals who are incarcerated from their last place of residence, not the prison they are held at the time of the Census. 

People who are incarcerated are currently counted as residents of correctional facilities, often located in rural areas, instead of the communities they lived and worked in. This practice is known as prison gerrymandering and gives political power to some districts at the expense of communities of color and urban communities. 

“All Americans have a constitutional right to equal representation in their government,” Sykes said in a press release. “This legislation will allow fair and accurate representation for all communities — rural, urban, and suburban — to create a stronger, more representative democracy.”

The bill was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) was not the primary sponsor of any bills. 

How they’ve voted  

Sykes and Joyce voted yes on H.R. 980, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, which would remove the requirement that academic and vocational counseling services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs on campus at higher learning institutions be given by VA counselors. 

The bill was passed by the House Feb. 2, 402-2. 

They both also voted yes on H.R. 3123, the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, which would establish procedures for the VA to issue a pension that was due but unpaid at the time of a veteran’s death. The pension must be paid to first available recipient on the list: 

• The veteran’s living spouse;
• The veteran’s living children;
• The veteran’s living dependent parents; or
• The estate of the veteran, unless the estate will escheat (i.e., transfer to the state).

The bill passed the House Feb. 2, 405-1. 
 
Sykes voted in support of two more veteran-related legislations: H.R. 658, which would set qualifications for marriage and family therapists in the Veterans Health Administration and H.R. 1458, the VETS Opportunity Act of 2025. 

“These bills reflect a simple promise that when our veterans serve our country, our country must serve them back,” Sykes said in a press release. 

Joyce also voted yes on H.R. 6644, Housing for the 21st Century Act, to increase the supply of housing in America by amending federal housing programs and expanding financing for affordable housing. 

The bill passed the House Feb. 9, 390-9. 

Social media and other community activities

In collaboration with the New Democrat Coalition, Sykes on Feb. 11 released the Affordability Agenda, a roadmap to making life more affordable. The policies focus on lowering five core costs: health care, housing, energy, family care and household essentials, such as groceries.

“Every day I hear from my constituents that the cost of living is too high and only getting worse. Our economy is unaffordable for working people, and it's putting the American dream out of reach. I know folks in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District are looking for real solutions, not lip service from politicians in Washington,” Sykes said in a press release.

Sykes posted against the SAVE America Act, saying it’s “not about election integrity. It’s about voter suppression.” 

The act would require voters to have an ID and proof of citizenship with matching names, so married women who have taken their spouse's last name would have to jump through “additional, burdensome hoops” to vote, she said. 

As vice chair of the The Democratic Women’s Caucus, Sykes posted about fighting for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein to get justice. 

“A system that protects perpetrators and exposes victims is not a just one,” Sykes said in a post. 

Roegner posted about her sponsor testimony in Columbus Feb. 10 and 11 for S.B. 300, as well as for S.B. 320. 

Joyce posted about Trump’s endorsement for his reelection. On Truth Social, Trump posted, “Congressman Dave Joyce is doing an incredible job of representing the wonderful people of Ohio’s 14th Congressional District! … Dave Joyce has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”    

He also posted a thank you to Trump for taking action for the people in East Palestine, Ohio. 

“Since the derailment, I have stood by the people of East Palestine, delivering accountability and prioritizing their health and wellness. I am proud to continue this work in tandem with President Trump to make certain East Palestine is not forgotten,” Joyce said in the post.