Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026 Info Page

This is the information page for all things Student Pharmacist Legislative Day 2026! This page displays meeting times and locations with legislators, OPA legislative priorities, location info for the Statehouse and Riffe Center, links to the training videos provided, and other helpful information at the bottom. 

Basic agenda for the day is:

Day-of Announcements

Any announcements made the day of the event will be displayed here. Please try to check this section throughout the day.

Meeting Time and Locations with Legislators

The list for attendee meeting time with legislators. Learn more about the legislators you are meeting with by reading their bios linked!

Attendees listed in alphabetical order by last name. On-site registrations are listed at the end. Please ensure to check back into this section throughout the day to ensure meetings have not changed or been cancelled. 

 OPA 2025-2026 Legislative Priorities (136th General Assembly)

Expanding Pharmacist Authority – SB 230 (Sponsor: Sen. Romanchuk)

Status: Senate Health – First Hearing on 11/12/25

Goal: Empower pharmacists to provide timely, accessible care.

• Authorizes pharmacists to screen, test, and treat common respiratory illnesses—such as flu, strep, RSV, and COVID-19.
• Builds on pharmacists’ proven track record in administering vaccines and delivering point-of-care services.
• Requires training and reporting standards to ensure safe, high-quality care.

Why It Matters:
SB 230 expands access to care, reduces unnecessary urgent-care visits, and allows patients to receive treatment quickly at their local pharmacy.

340B Protections – HB 276 & SB 198 (Sponsors: Rep. John, Rep. Holmes and Sen. Koehler)

Status: HB276 (House Insurance – Fourth Hearing on 11/04/25; SB198 (Senate Health – Third Hearing on 11/12/25)

Goal: Preserve access to affordable medications for Ohio’s most vulnerable patients.

• Stops manufacturers from restricting reimbursements to 340B providers.
• Ensures patients maintain the freedom to fill prescriptions at their pharmacy of choice, including contract pharmacies.

Why It Matters:
These bills protect essential healthcare access points and preserve a federal program that returns critical savings to patients most in need.

PBM Regulation – HB 229 & SB 210 (Sponsors: Rep. Deeter and Sen. Blessing)

Status: HB229 (Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology – Third Hearing on 11/18/25); SB210 (Referred to Senate Health on 06/04/25)

Goal: Oversight, accountability, and transparency for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

• Established a stand-alone licensing process for PBMs under the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI).
• Requires transparent contracts with pharmacies and plan sponsors.
• Grants ODI clear enforcement authority.

Why It Matters:
Unchecked PBM practices drive pharmacy closures and increase costs for patients and taxpayers. HB 229 and SB 210 create the same regulatory safeguards applied to other insurance entities, restoring fairness and patient choice in pharmacy care.

Community Pharmacy Protection Act – HB 192 (Sponsors: Rep. Barhorst and Rep. Fischer)

Status: House Insurance – Fifth Hearing on 11/18/25

Goal: Safeguard patient access and promote fair network participation.

• Prevents health plans and PBMs from imposing unnecessary accreditation or certification requirements beyond what Ohio law requires.
• Requires PBMs to report drug cost data, providing transparency for plan sponsors and pharmacies.
• Protects pharmacies from retaliation or exclusion for reporting violations advocating for fair practices.

Why It Matters:
Local pharmacies are cornerstones of care, especially in rural and underserved areas. HB 192 ensures a level playing field, fair network access, and accountability in PBM-pharmacy relationships.

Pharmacist Prescribing Authority Act - HB 629 (Sponsors: Rep. Barhorst and Rep. Gross)

Status: Introduced - 12/11/25

Goal: Expand patient access to timely care by allowing pharmacists to practice at the top of their license.

• Authorizes pharmacists to prescribe for select minor and self-limiting health conditions.
• Builds on pharmacists’ extensive education, clinical training, and medication expertise.
• Establishes clear parameters to ensure safe and appropriate patient care.

Why It Matters:
HB 629 improves access to care, particularly in healthcare shortage areas, reduces unnecessary delays in treatment, and allows physicians to focus on more complex patient needs while maintaining high standards of safety and quality.

Statehouse/Riffe Center Location Info

Statehouse Map

Other Helpful Info

Meetings at the Riffe Center

• Please enter through the revolving doors on S. High Street and show your ID to the security desk before walking through the metal detectors. Go up two sets of escalators and turn left before walking through the security gates to the second set of elevators (the security desk on this floor can open the gate and assist you with any questions).
• Take the elevator to the floor of your appointment and enter through the doors showing a receptionist desk. Please tell the receptionist the member you’re there to meet and time of your meeting.

Free Guided Tours Daily

• Guided tours are available every day, except on state holidays. On weekdays, walk-in tours start from the Map Room on the hour, every hour, starting at 10 a.m. with the last tour starting at 3 p.m. During the weekends, walk-in tours start at noon, 1p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.
• Tours depart from the Map Room easily accessible from the Third Street entrance. Visitors are welcome to drop in at least five minutes before the hour.

Committee Hearings - Tuesday, February 17

Training Videos

• Training Video 1: The Basics
• Training Video 2: A Deeper Dive
• Training Video 3: Mock Legislative Meetings
• And this video just for fun

Local Food Options

• Downtown Columbus list
• North Market
• Short North
• Nearby Restaurants
  • Soul 2 Go Cafe
    
  • Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace
  • The Walrus
  • Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails
  • Tiger + Lily
  • 4th & State

Before You Leave!

Thank You Cards!

Make sure to stop back by the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel to write a quick thank you card to the legislators you met with! A large part of effective advocacy is relationship-building and taking the time to write and send a thank you card helps strengthen those connections with your state legislators.

Complete Our Feedback Survey!

Please complete our feedback survey for the event today so we can learn what went well, what could have gone better, and what we can do to improve the event next year! Complete the survey here.

Sign Up to Volunteer at OPA 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show!

Join us for the OPA 2026 Annual Conference & Trade Show at no cost! Students who volunteer for at least one four-hour shift at our Annual Conference will receive free registration for the day they volunteer!

Sign up to be a student volunteer at the Annual Conference here or with the QR code below.