Your Representatives The Role of a Representative In the Ohio General Assembly, each citizen is represented by a state representative and a state senator. The state is divided into 99 House districts and 33 Senate districts. State representatives listen to the concerns of their constituents and speak for them. They develop solutions to the needs of their districts through legislative action.
State representatives work together, balancing the best interests of each state district.
House members attend many meetings of their local, civic, religious and business groups. Through these contacts and suggestions from individual citizens, state representatives gauge public opinion and develop proposals for changes in the state law. These proposals are prepared in the form of a bill and are then formally considered by the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Governor before becoming law . Each state representative is assigned to several standing committees which meet weekly while the House is in session to closely review each bill. In committee meetings, they hear testimony from individuals interested in specific legislative issues.