COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio lawmakers are considering a resolution encouraging students statewide to read the Declaration of Independence in classrooms this school year, ahead of the document’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
House Concurrent Resolution 22, sponsored by Reps. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin), received its first hearing on Wednesday in the House Education Committee. The nonbinding measure urges schools to set aside time for students in grades one through 12 to read and discuss the Declaration of Independence during the 2025-26 academic year.
The resolution states that reading the document would allow students to join in “the national celebration of the 250th anniversary of Declaration of Independence” and recognizes the importance of understanding the country’s founding documents.
Roemer delivered sponsor testimony alongside Daniels, describing the proposal as a way to to promote civic literacy.
“This resolution is about more than just marking a historical milestone,” Roemer said. “It’s about ensuring that the next generation of Ohioans understands the foundational principles of our constitutional republic, the ideas that have shaped our nation and continue to guide us today.”
In their testimony, the lawmakers recalled community readings of the Declaration of Independence on Independence Day in Twinsburg, including events with Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), as well as a recent reading organized by Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma).
“These meaningful traditions honor our nation’s founding and invite reflection on the sacrifices and aspirations that defined that moment in history, and still define us today,” he said.
Roemer noted that engaging directly with the document’s language, including with words like “usurpations,” “despotism” and “unalienable rights,” deepened his own understanding of its meaning.
“I believe our students deserve that same opportunity to engage deeply with the words and ideas of the Declaration,” he said.
The resolution highlights national efforts to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, including Task Force 250, a federal initiative established under President Donald Trump to coordinate semi-quincentennial celebrations. Roemer emphasized that H.C.R. 22 does not create a requirement for schools, but rather a recommendation.
“This resolution doesn’t impose a mandate,” he said. “It simply encourages schools to make space during the school year for this powerful document, to read it, discuss it and learn from it.”