Office of State Representative Kellie Deeter

Congratulations to the North Point ESC Compass award winning teachers and staff at the member districts! I enjoyed attending and hearing about your accomplishments. Thank you for serving in these important roles and for your dedication to the work you do.

Today, I want to recognize my legislative aide Brett Vike, as he moves on to his next chapter.
When Brett first came to work for me, it was a bit of an experiment for both of us. Brett attended college with and hung out with 3 of my sons. So, in many ways, working with him felt a little like working with one of my own kids, but in a professional capacity, which was pretty cool. Over the last year and a half, I had the opportunity to watch him grow into his independence while trying, in my own way, to help prepare him for that independence, much like a mother does.
Fortunately for me, he met every challenge that came his way. What started as an experiment quickly became a trusted partnership, and my office is better because of it.
Brett is moving on to join McKinley Strategies, where he will continue working in government affairs, with clients in the healthcare space. Given the work he has done in this office, I have no doubt he is ready for that challenge.
Over the past eighteen months, Brett has proven himself invaluable, particularly in the policy arena. He played a significant role in what we jokingly came to call “The Deeter Meter,” our unofficial measure of how many bills we could introduce, move, and get across the finish line.
Most days, Brett managed to match my energy level. Although yesterday morning, at 7:00 a.m., he looked at me and said, “You're at a 9, and I need you to be at like a 3 or 4.” But that’s ok. I gave him that one, and then naturally, I responded by taking it up to a 10. As always, Brett just keeps rolling with it.
What speaks most to Brett's character is not what I have to say about him, but what everyone else says. There isn’t a day that goes by without someone stopping me to say, “Brett is great,” or, “You have a really good aide,” or my favorite, “Brett is very loyal to you.” Brett walks me everywhere I go on the square, he sees me safely to my car, and he willingly carries my purse the entire time, which I have never asked him to do. He just does it. Brett once arm wrestled a sheriff at the Lorain County Fair, to be the one to hold an umbrella over me while we will did a walk about in the rain down the midway. The Sheriffs still talk about it to this day!
So, I do have a really good aide. His replacement has big shoes to fill because I have been spoiled. Brett has a standard of professionalism, dedication, and grit that will be difficult to replicate.
Brett, thank you for your hard work, your loyalty, your patience, and your unwavering commitment. Thank you for helping serve the people of the 54th District and the State of Ohio.
You have a bright future ahead of you, and I have every confidence that you will continue to succeed wherever your career takes you.
Please join me in thanking Brett for his service.

Yesterday, the legislature passed the capital budget, which included the following appropriations for the 54th House District.

Proud to have passed HB 654, Amanda Dean’s Law, which strengthens Ohio law by establishing enhanced penalties for offenders who dismember, mutilate, or intentionally disfigure a human co**se, particularly when those acts are committed to conceal a crime, obstruct justice, or impair a criminal investigation.
Amanda Dean's Law sends a clear message that Ohio will not tolerate conduct that dishonors the deceased or compounds the suffering of surviving family members.

Proud to have also passed HB 593 yesterday which allows for paid family medical leave plans to be written and sold as a product in the state of Ohio. Small policy, big win!

Proud to have passed HB 639 yesterday to support Norwalk’s Summit Motorsports Park, the Performance Racing Industry, and Ohio’s motorsports community. This legislation helps protect the state’s 36 racetracks across 29 counties, which collectively generate more than $5 billion in economic impact, support thousands of jobs, and contribute significantly to local economies throughout Ohio.

Proud to have passed three more bills out of the Ohio House yesterday.

One of those bills, HB 163, will help combat fraud, waste, and abuse in Ohio’s SNAP EBT program by requiring more secure chip-enabled EBT cards. This commonsense reform will better protect benefits from theft and skimming while helping reduce the strain that fraud places on Ohio’s food bank network and other community resources.

Ohio taxpayers and families who rely on these benefits deserve a system that is secure, accountable, and focused on serving those who truly need assistance.

Recently toured the pharmaceutical manufacturer Amgen in New Albany, along with their massive expansion creating, more than 750 good paying jobs.

The site is a “final product assembly and packaging” plant for injectable biologic medicines in vials and syringes, including:

* Injectable biologics
* Prefilled syringes
* Vial-based therapies
* Oncology drugs
* Cardiovascular drugs
* Autoimmune disease therapies
* Osteoporosis medications

Proud to have passed a bill out of the House and another bill out of the Senate this week.

HB 423 establishes minimum standards for professionals assisting surgeons during procedures across Ohio. Surgical technologists and surgical assistants are highly trained professionals, and this legislation helps ensure patients receive safe, qualified surgical care by recognizing and utilizing certified professionals in these critical roles.