The Ohio legislature: how it works
What your state legislature controls covers the general powers. This page profiles Ohio's legislature.
The basics
The Ohio General Assembly is bicameral: a 33-member Senate serving 4-year terms, and a 99-member House of Representatives serving 2-year terms, with the entire House up every even-numbered year. A 1992 voter-approved constitutional amendment set term limits: senators may serve no more than two consecutive 4-year terms (8 years), and representatives no more than four consecutive 2-year terms (8 years). By national standards Ohio runs closer to full-time than most states. It is grouped among states, alongside California, Illinois, and Michigan, where lawmakers report spending roughly 80 percent of a full-time job on legislative duties. The current General Assembly, the 136th, convened January 5, 2026 and runs on an annual calendar through December 31, 2026.
Who controls it now
Heading into the 2026 elections, Republicans hold majorities in both chambers: a 23-9 Senate majority (with one vacancy) and a majority in the House, giving Republicans unified control of the legislative branch.
Where to go
- Ohio Legislature, session schedule: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/schedules/session-schedule
- Ohio Senate: https://ohiosenate.gov
- Ohio House of Representatives: https://ohiohouse.gov