Ohio's post-election political period is characterized by a flurry of activity, backroom negotiating and, toward the end, 132 very tired lawmakers.

Driving the news: Both hurried and seemingly endless, this year's lame-duck session culminated in a 16-hour legislative marathon that wrapped up yesterday morning.

• "I rise in opposition to this …," one lawmaker said around 5:15am, "for a lot of reasons which I can't even think of right now."

Why it matters: While you slept, legislators passed laws impacting your voting rights, Columbus' new flavored tobacco ban and safety on the roadways.

What passed:

✅ An election overhaul to:

• Require photo ID to vote.
• Shorten the absentee ballot request period.
• Eliminate early voting the Monday before Election Day.
• End August special elections in most cases.

🏛 Criminal justice reforms, including:

• Decriminalizing fentanyl testing strips.
• Banning cell phone use while driving, except for hands-free or single-swipe actions.

🚬 Eliminating municipal tobacco bans.

• This targets cities like Columbus, which recently banned the sale of flavored tobacco starting in 2024.

🏞 Allowing fracking on public lands.

💵 $6 billion in federal relief funding, including:

• Money for nursing homes, rural hospitals, an adoption grant program and arts programs.

What didn't pass:

❌ Stricter abortion policies.

• Republicans opted against pursuing a total abortion ban this fall, but may do so in 2023.

🗳 Tougher ballot initiative rules.

• Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) sought to raise the voting threshold for constitutional amendments to pass.
• Stewart openly said the proposal was meant to block future ballot attempts protecting abortion access and reforming the redistricting process.

🏫 Major education changes.

• Lawmakers wanted to shift power away from the state school board toward the governor's office.

🏆 Anti-trans laws.

• GOP members wanted to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in high school girls' sports and ban gender-affirming care for minors.

Separately, proposals to legalize recreational marijuana and enact gun control measures failed to gain traction.

What's next: Approved bills head to the governor's desk for a signature, while all other legislative efforts start over next year.

For every major policy proposal is an obscure one that tends to go overlooked.

• Take House Bill 379, which pitched a new "Weirdo Cat Lovers of Cleveland" license plate.

The intrigue: We scoured the Statehouse for the most unusual items proposed this two-year term:

🎞 No love for Ralphie. A bipartisan bill wanted to designate Nov. 18 as "Christmas Story Family Day" for the date in 1983 that the movie was released.

😬 Don't eat Fido. Six lawmakers unsuccessfully tried to ban pet food from containing the remains of dead cats and dogs.

🏈 Go Buckeyes? One resolution promoted former OSU player Dick Schafrath's candidacy to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while another sought to get the program's vacated victories from 2010 reinstated.

• The House passed the latter resolution by a 51-31 vote, but the Senate failed to take it up.

🍪 Lawmakers considered making the humble sugar cookie Ohio's official state cookie.

Yes, but: Sometimes these efforts are successful.

• They designated the All-American Soap Box Derby as Ohio's official gravity racing program.

Hanukkah begins Sunday night and Chabad Columbus has prepared Eight Nights of Fun, with a celebration event each night.

Some highlights:

🚁 Watch a Maccabee hero skydive to light the menorah, followed by a helicopter dreidel drop and a giant candy cannon.

• 2:30pm Sunday, Bevelhymer Park, New Albany. Free! Register here.

🏒 Cheer on the Blue Jackets at Jewish heritage night.

• 7pm Monday at Nationwide Arena. $33 standing room tickets include Kosher food and CBJ hats with Hebrew lettering.

🔥 Light the menorah at the Ohio Statehouse, followed by a party inside the Museum Gallery.

• 6pm Tuesday. Free!

⛸️ Ice skate alongside giant dreidels at Easton and enjoy doughnuts, cider, crafts, music and an ice menorah.

• 6:30pm Wednesday. $10. Register here.

Full list of events from Chabad Columbus

Well, there goes our excuse to be lazy this winter.

Jogging the news: A new report from Fitness Volt ranks Ohio as the second-best state for runners.

What they found: We're complimented for having frequent organized races as well as optimal average temperature and elevation.

• Most days, it's not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light running jacket.

💭 Tyler's thought bubble: That's generally true, but I'm still a total wimp who hates running in the cold.

• With all respect to Fitness Volt's research, this weekend warrior is sticking to the Peloton until the snow melts.

Pro tip: Get a head start on any fitness-related resolutions by connecting with a local running group and registering for an upcoming race.

• Tyler plans to brave the cold by running the 5th Line 5K on Feb. 5, which ends on center ice inside Nationwide Arena.

💼 See who’s hiring around the city.

1. Qualitative Project Director at Ipsos.
2. Product Owner at Quantum Health.
3. Legislative/Admin Associate - Temporary at PoliTemps.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Hiring? Post a job.

🎄 Laugh at cheesy holiday films during the Christmas in December: A Hallmark Parody improv show.

• 9:30pm tonight. The Nest Theatre, 2643 N. High St.

⚽ Check out a new sport and cheer on the Columbus Futsal men's team at their home opener.

• 7pm Saturday. Westwood Fieldhouse, 3932 Brown Park Drive, Hilliard. $7-23.

🤠 Put on your cowboy boots and giddy up to the Dolly Party, a "Dolly Parton-inspired country western diva dance party."

• 9pm Saturday. The Bluestone, 583 E. Broad St. $16.

💡 Reminder: Our guide to the best local holiday light displays.

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