Ohio's Quick Fix Laws Leave Workers and Students Behind

Ohio’s latest legislative moves, signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine, paint a troubling picture of a state grappling with modernization while sidestepping systemic inequities. Senate Bill 33, which permits employers to post labor law notices online, and House Bill 43, which waives instructional hours for a struggling high school, seem like pragmatic steps. On the surface, they adapt to a digital age and address a school’s immediate crisis. Yet, beneath this veneer of progress lies a deeper failure to confront the needs of workers and students who bear the brunt of underfunded systems and half-measures.

For those who believe in fairness and opportunity, these bills raise red flags. They reflect a troubling pattern: prioritizing convenience for businesses and temporary fixes for schools over the hard work of ensuring equitable access to information and education. Workers deserve clear, accessible labor protections, not a system that risks leaving the most vulnerable behind. Students in crumbling schools need more than waivers; they need investment in facilities that don’t force them to learn in chaos. These laws, while practical in intent, expose a state unwilling to tackle the root causes of its challenges.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. As Ohio navigates a rapidly changing economy and an education system strained by decades of neglect, the choices made today will shape the lives of its most vulnerable residents. Digital tools and emergency waivers might sound like solutions, but they risk papering over cracks in a foundation that’s crumbling. Advocates for justice see a clear path forward: prioritize people over profits and demand accountability from leaders who too often settle for the easy fix.

Senate Bill 33, championed by State Senators Steve Wilson and George Lang, allows employers to post labor law notices online instead of in physical workplaces. Proponents argue this modernizes compliance, especially for remote workforces. In a world where hybrid work is the norm, the logic seems sound. Digital platforms like eComply360 streamline access to labor information, and studies show that AI-driven compliance tools can cut administrative costs by 20%. For businesses, it’s a win: less paperwork, fewer fines, and a nod to the digital age.

But this shift isn’t as inclusive as it sounds. Not every worker has reliable internet or the tech savvy to navigate online portals. The U.S. Department of Justice’s 2025 ADA toolkit underscores that digital content must be accessible to people with disabilities, yet only 23% of public internet pages meet Section 508 standards. Ohio’s law doesn’t mandate robust accessibility measures, leaving workers with visual or cognitive impairments at risk of being cut off from critical protections. For low-wage workers, many of whom juggle multiple jobs and lack personal devices, expecting them to track down labor notices online is a burden, not a benefit.

The bill’s supporters claim it’s about efficiency, but efficiency for whom? Businesses save time and money, while workers, especially in marginalized communities, face new barriers. In 2024, construction firms paid $32 million in back wages for wage violations—proof that labor law compliance is already a minefield. Moving notices online without ensuring universal access feels like a step backward, prioritizing corporate convenience over the rights of those who keep Ohio’s economy running. Advocates for workers’ rights argue that true progress would pair digital innovation with mandatory accessibility standards and outreach to ensure no one is left in the dark.

House Bill 43, pushed by State Representatives Sarah Fowler Arthur and David Thomas, waives instructional hours for Ashtabula Lakeside High School, where an unusable building has disrupted learning. This isn’t a one-off; it’s a symptom of a national crisis. U.S. public schools face a $98.6 billion annual funding shortfall for maintenance, with half of all buildings needing major repairs. In Ohio, aging schools with poor ventilation and lead-contaminated water are all too common, hitting low-income districts hardest. Ashtabula’s students, already navigating economic hardship, now face a disrupted education.

Waivers like H.B. 43 are a necessary evil, offering flexibility when disaster strikes. Virginia’s Tazewell County used a similar waiver after Hurricane Helene, ensuring students weren’t penalized for lost time. But these measures don’t fix the problem—they delay it. Research shows that poor facilities lead to higher absenteeism, worse test scores, and even increased illness. Modernized schools, by contrast, see better outcomes, with fewer safety incidents and stronger student engagement. Ashtabula’s students deserve a real solution: a rebuilt school, not a hall pass to skip class hours.

Some argue waivers are enough, claiming they prevent unfair penalties and let schools focus on recovery. But this misses the point. Temporary fixes don’t address the systemic neglect that leaves schools like Ashtabula’s in disrepair. The federal government covers less than 1% of school facility funding, leaving districts to scrape by on local bonds that wealthier communities can more easily pass. For those who value educational equity, this is a call to action: invest in schools as if every child’s future depends on it, because it does.

Ohio’s new laws aren’t isolated decisions; they reflect a broader tension between quick fixes and lasting change. Digital labor notices and school waivers might seem like progress, but they sidestep the harder work of ensuring fairness. Workers need labor protections they can actually access, not a website that’s out of reach. Students need schools that inspire learning, not buildings that endanger their health. Both demand leaders who prioritize equity over expediency, who see investment in people as the foundation of a thriving state.

History offers lessons here. The digital transformation of labor compliance, sparked in the 1980s and accelerated by the internet, promised efficiency but often left vulnerable workers behind. The school infrastructure crisis, rooted in decades of underfunding, has widened gaps that hurt marginalized communities most. Ohio’s legislators have a chance to break this cycle—to pair S.B. 33 with accessibility mandates and H.B. 43 with a bold plan to rebuild schools. Anything less is a betrayal of the public trust.

Those who defend these laws as practical steps miss the human cost. Streamlined compliance means little if it excludes the workers it’s meant to protect. Waived hours mean nothing if students return to a school that’s falling apart. Advocates for justice know that real progress requires courage: the courage to fund schools, to enforce accessibility, to put people first. Ohio’s future depends on it.

Ohio stands at a pivotal moment. Senate Bill 33 and House Bill 43, while addressing immediate needs, expose a deeper reluctance to tackle systemic failures. Workers and students aren’t asking for handouts; they’re demanding what’s owed: fair treatment and a chance to thrive. Policymakers must act, not with half-measures, but with bold investments in digital accessibility and school infrastructure. The cost of inaction is clear: widened inequities, eroded trust, and a state that falls behind.

The path forward is daunting but necessary. Pair digital labor notices with mandatory accessibility training and audits. Fund school repairs with state and federal dollars, not just local bonds. Listen to the voices of workers and students who live the consequences of these policies every day. Ohio can lead the way, but only if its leaders choose justice over convenience. For those who believe in a fairer future, the fight starts now.