Six months after clearing the Ohio House, a bill named for controversial political activist Charlie Kirk has yet to advance in the Ohio Senate.
Introduced by Reps. Gary Click (R‑Vickery) and Mike Dovilla (R‑Berea), Ohio House Bill 486, named the “Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act,” would allow public school and state college teachers to teach about religion’s influence, or “positive impacts,” on American history and culture. It does not mandate religious instruction or create a new required curriculum.
Separately, Republican lawmakers introduced a senate bill to designate a day honoring Kirk, who was assassinated Sept. 10, 2025. That proposal has not advanced since its introduction.
Here’s what to know about where HB 486 stands today.
What is the status of Ohio’s ‘Charlie Kirk’ bill today?
The “Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act” passed the Ohio House in November 2025 and is now pending in the Ohio Senate, where it has not yet received a final vote or been signed into law as of late May 2026, according to the Ohio Legislature.
What is the bill about?
The bill allows teachers in public K–12 schools and state colleges and universities to include instruction on the historical role of religion in America.
The General Assembly notes that the bill is intended to reduce “ignorance of American history” and social division, including allowed topics such as religious aspects of early American history, references to God in the Declaration of Independence and religious influences on historical figures and events.
The bill also updates multiple sections of Ohio education law to apply the policy across different school types, including community (charter) schools, STEM schools and college‑preparatory boarding schools.
The bill emphasizes that instruction should be presented as historical and factual, stating that teaching religion’s role in American history is not “proselytization,” or religious conversion, or a violation of the First Amendment.
What happens if it the bill passes in Ohio?
In Ohio, legislation becomes law only after passing both chambers and being signed by the governor, according to the Ohio Senate.
If enacted, the law would explicitly allow teachers to address religion’s influence, particularly Judeo‑Christian values, on American history and culture, framing the instruction as factual and consistent with the First Amendment.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio’s Charlie Kirk bill passed House, sitting in Senate. Latest progress
Reporting by Alex Perry, USA TODAY NETWORK / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
