Two Ohio House bills, sponsored by the same lawmaker and backed exclusively by Republicans, aim to limit mental health access for teens while expanding its religious scope. House Bill 531 would allow public schools to bring in volunteer chaplains to support students, while House Bill 172 would restrict minors from accessing mental health services without parental consent. The bill defines a chaplain as a religious professional who has received endorsement or certification by a recognized ecclesiastical endorsing agency and provides spiritual programming, support, and counseling outside of a traditional church setting. While the legislation does not mandate chaplain programs, school boards would vote on whether to adopt religious and spiritual counseling. Critics argue that the bill diminishes standards for children's support and suggests that chaplaines are most effective in environments where people are separated from their religious communities.