Most nursing home complaints come from understaffed facilities.

In today’s Morning Briefing, we look at how new nursing home minimum staffing mandates might impact the lives of residents. We also look at a new law that aims to better protect children in Ohio.

If you have thoughts or feedback on this newsletter or other news tips, please let me know at Greg.Lynch@coxinc.com.

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The newsletter should take about 4 minutes, 40 seconds to read.

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Local nursing homes face fight to roll back staffing mandates

Local nursing homes face the looming rollout of minimum staffing mandates that industry trade groups have said they aren’t equipped to integrate, while advocates for older people say those mandates would help improve living conditions for nursing home residents.

• Complaints: Most nursing home complaints in the area are related to staffing issues, according to the local Ombudsman Office. The top complaint the Ombudsman Office receives from nursing home residents are “failure to respond to request for assistance” complaints.

• Current requirements: Ohio requires skilled nursing homes to provide at least 2.5 hours of direct care and services to each resident per day.

• Transition timeline: The minimum staffing requirements are not in full effect yet as a transition is meant to take place over the next few years.

— The first phase became effective on Aug. 8, which included nursing homes conducting enhanced facility-wide staffing assessments.

— For urban nursing facilities, the second phase would take effect by May 2026 and include the need to have a registered nurse on duty at all times

— For rural facilities, the second phase will be in place by May 2027.

— The third and final phase would set the number of hours nursing staff and aides would be required to spend with residents. That phase wouldn’t get implemented until May 2027 for urban facilities and May 2029 for rural facilities.

• Possible rollbacks: With President-elect Donald Trump returning to office and a Republican-majority led Congress, health care associations, using lawsuits and the lobbying lawmakers, hope to undo the staffing mandate.

Governor signs bill creating criminal charges for ‘grooming’

Social “grooming” will be illegal in Ohio in three months.

• What is grooming? “The process of grooming is intended to convert an unwilling victim into a compliant victim,” Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson told lawmakers on behalf of the association in a hearing. “Through the process of grooming, a pedophile attempts to normalize aberrant conduct, works to convince the child that this inappropriate attention makes them special or loved, and/or that performing adult acts will make them more mature and adult-like.”

• House Bill 322: The law intends to fill a gap in criminal code, as there are no federal or state laws that could be reliably used to prosecute adults for grooming even when their intention was clear.

• How it would work: The law would allow law enforcement to intervene before grooming relationships become physical in the event that someone reports it.

• The penalty: Breaking the new law comes with misdemeanor charges and a felony charge if the adult has a specific responsibility to care for the minor, including parents, legal custodians, teachers, coaches, mental health professionals and more.

• What they are saying: “Our children are more accessible than ever before, and this gives law enforcement the tools they need to get offending predators away from Ohio children” said Rebecca Surendorff, co-founder of Ohioans for Child Protection.

What to know today

• One big takeaway: A $9 million JobsOhio grant will help GE Aerospace advance its next-generation propulsion systems for commercial aircraft and create more than 200 new engineering jobs by the end of 2028.

• Tip of the day: The Dayton recreation centers will serve as warming centers for those who need to get out of the cold during freezing temperatures this week.

• Person to know today: Lori Kennedy. The newly elected Montgomery County recorder said her focus in the new office is to protect residents and business owners from deed fraud and advocate for those who have fallen victim.

• Big move of the day: A hotel developer has received township approval for a new Staybridge Suites Hotel in Butler Twp.

• Quote of the day: “We’re the longest loop trail in the country. You’re never further than 90 minutes away in the state of Ohio from the Buckeye Trail.” - Buckeye Trail Association Executive Director Andrew Bashaw, who says the trail is one step closer to receiving a National Scenic Trail designation.

• Happening today: Jet’s Pizza is celebrating the grand opening of its newest location in the Dayton region with free pizza today.

• Stat of the day: There were 16,909 cases of infectious diseases in Ohio in 2024. Whooping cough accounted for 1,673 of those cases, or 9.9%.

• Cincinnati Reds: Reds games in 2025 will once again air on the FanDuel Sports Network, which was known as Bally Sports last year.

• Things to do: Dayton Battle of the Bands, a great way to discover up-and-coming musical talent in the area, kicks off this week at the Brightside.

• Photo of the day: Brick Fest Live made a stop at the Dayton Convention Center in downtown Dayton this past weekend. It hopes to inspire, educate and entertain with LEGO bricks. Here’s a look at highlights from Sunday.