As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. B. No. 53
2025-2026
Representatives Fischer, Pizzulli
Cosponsors: Representatives Bird, Brennan, Jarrells, Williams, Brewer, Sigrist,
Deeter, Ritter, Dovilla, Odioso, Schmidt
A B I L L
To enact section 5.295 of the Revised Code to
designate February 4th as John Rankin Day, and
to require a statue of John Rankin to be erected
on the statehouse grounds.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 5.295 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 5.295. The fourth day of February is designated as
"John Rankin Day," in honor of the American abolitionist,
minister, and educator who was born that day in 1793. Settling
in Ripley, Ohio, in 1822, he was an early anti-slavery writer, a
conductor on the underground railroad, and a major contributor
to Ohio's legacy of freedom.
Section 2. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in
section 105.41 of the Revised Code or in any rule or procedure
adopted by the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, the
Board shall designate, not later than October 1, 2025, a
prominent place on the lawn or other outside grounds of Capitol
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17 H. B. No. 53 Page 2
As Introduced
Square for the erection of a permanent memorial to John Rankin,
(1793-1886), the abolitionist, minister, and educator who was a
conductor of the underground railroad in Ohio. The Ohio History
Connection and the Board shall work together to invite, accept,
and evaluate proposals for the concept, design, and erection of
such a memorial, and shall jointly select from among the
proposals the memorial to be designed and erected at the place
designated by the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board for
that purpose. Site preparation, utility placement, and other
preliminary construction activities shall be paid for with
public funds. Planning for and designing and erecting the
memorial shall be paid for with only private contributions. The
Capitol Square Foundation shall accept private contributions for
those purposes, and shall deposit the contributions into the
John Rankin Memorial Fund.
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