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The Ohio House Public Health Policy Committee has passed House Bill 256, a bill that will require the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to inquire about organ donation when individuals register for a hunting or fishing license. The bill, joint sponsored by State Reps. Rodney Creech and Kevin Miller, aims to address the demand for organ transplants in Ohio.

According to the article, Ohio currently has over 2,700 registered individuals waiting for an organ transplant procedure. House Bill 256 seeks to increase the number of potential organ donors by linking the process of registering as an organ donor to hunting and fishing license applications.

State Rep. Rodney Creech emphasizes the importance of this legislation in providing an opportunity for individuals who may not have considered organ donation to register. He states, "This legislation will ensure that potential organ donors who otherwise would have not been prompted to register are presented with the opportunity to become a possible life saver."

State Rep. Kevin Miller highlights the impact of organ donation, stating that it has the potential to save up to eight lives. He believes that expanding the opportunities for individuals to sign up as organ donors will increase the pool of potential donors for the nearly 3,000 Ohioans who are currently waiting for an organ transplant procedure.

The article notes that Ohio has a significant number of individuals applying for hunting and fishing licenses annually, with over 300,000 applicants for hunting licenses and 850,000 applicants for fishing licenses. By incorporating organ donation registration into the process of obtaining these licenses, the state hopes to increase the number of individuals registered as organ donors.

House Bill 256 has passed the House Public Health Policy Committee and now awaits a vote on the House floor. If passed, this bill could have a significant impact on addressing the demand for life-saving organ transplants in Ohio.

Click this link to access more information: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/kevin-d-miller/news/house-committee-passes-bill-to-link-organ-donor-registration-to-hunting-and-fishing-license-applications-117451