Louis W. Blessing III | |
|---|---|
| Member of theOhio Senate from the8th district | |
| Assumed office October 9, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Louis Terhar |
| Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 29th district | |
| In office January 7, 2013 – October 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Lou Blessing |
| Succeeded by | Cindy Abrams |
| Chairman Government Accountability and Oversight | |
| In office September 22, 2016 – December 31, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Tim Brown |
| Chairman Primary and Secondary Education | |
| In office February 8, 2019 – October 8, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Andrew Brenner |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1980-11-11)November 11, 1980 (age 45) Cincinnati,Ohio, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Colerain Township, Ohio |
| Alma mater | University of Cincinnati |
| Profession | Electrical engineer |
| Nickname | Bill |
Louis W. Blessing III (born November 11, 1980) is aRepublican member of theOhio Senate for the 8th district,[1] and a former member of theOhio House of Representatives for the 29th District. He is the son ofLou Blessing, who previously served in theOhio Senate and theOhio House of Representatives, before he was forced to step down due toterm limits.
Blessing was born in 1980 inCincinnati, Ohio, the son of Louis William and Linda Ann (née Lameier) Blessing Jr. He graduated fromLa Salle High School in Cincinnati in 1999, and then from theUniversity of Cincinnati in 2003, earning aB.A. inMathematics. He later went on to obtain aB.S. degree inelectrical engineering from theUniversity of Cincinnati in 2007.
As a practicing engineer, Blessing earned his professional engineer's license in 2011.[2]
In 2019, Blessing co-sponsoredOhio Senate Bill 23, commonly known as the "Heartbeat Bill." The law prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. It includes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. GovernorMike DeWine signed the bill into law on April 11, 2019.[3]
Blessing’s support aligned with efforts by Ohio’s Republican lawmakers to significantly curtail abortion access in the state. SB 23 drew national attention and legal challenges upon passage.[4]
In September 2022, a judge in Hamilton County temporarily blocked enforcement of the bill, restoring abortion access in Ohio up to 22 weeks of pregnancy while litigation continued.[5]
In 2017 Blessing introduced H.B. 114,[6] legislation aimed at reducing energy efficiency mandates and eliminating renewable energy mandates in Ohio. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support.[7]
In 2017 Blessing introduced H.B. 199. This legislation created the Ohio Residential Mortgage Lending Act for the purpose of regulating all non-depository lending secured by residential real estate, limited the application of the current Mortgage Loan Law to unsecured loans and loans secured by other than residential real estate, and modified an exemption to the Ohio Consumer Installment Loan Act.[8]
Along with RepresentativeJonathan Dever, Blessing jointly sponsored H.B. 171 in the 131st General Assembly. The legislation sought to get drug dealers off of the streets by decreasing the minimum amount of heroin to be considered a first-degree felony trafficking violation.[9]
In 2015, Representatives Blessing andJeff Rezabek jointly sponsored H.B. 299.[10] The legislation allows children who are with a legal, permanent or temporary custodian to apply for one of the state's Autism Scholarships. A constituent in Blessing's district, who is the legal guardian of a young girl with Autism, had lost the Autism scholarship. The legislation was ultimately passed and signed by governorJohn Kasich.[11]
Blessing, with fellow Cincinnati RepresentativeDenise Driehaus, introduced H.B. 47, which sought to establish "outdoor refreshment areas": areas designated by local governments that allow for open containers.[12][13]
In the 132nd General Assembly, Blessing sponsored H.B. 444, which allowed free sampling of alcohol beverages in restaurants.[14][15]
Blessing entered the Ohio Senate on October 9, 2019, after the retirement of his predecessorLouis Terhar.
During the 14th General Assembly, Blessing was assigned to the following Ohio Senate committees:[16]
| Year | Republican | Votes | Pct | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Green | Votes | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Louis W. Blessing III | 31,427 | 61.27% | Hubert E. Brown | 19,869 | 38.73% | |||
| 2014 | Louis W. Blessing III | 20,746 | 67.34% | Tammy Simendinger | 8,852 | 28.73% | Nathan D. Lane | 1,209 | 3.92% |
| 2016 | Louis W. Blessing III | 37,138 | 100% | ||||||
| 2018 | Louis W. Blessing III | 28,386 | 64.43% | Carrie R. Davis | 15,668 | 35.57% |
Blessing and his wife Heather have two children: Louis William Blessing IV and James Warner Blessing.
Members of theOhio Senate | ||
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136th General Assembly (2025-2027)
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