Addressing drug addiction

As a freshman member of the General Assembly, Representative Sprague sat on the House Criminal Justice Committee. Feeling there were improvements that needed to be made in the state's criminal justice system, particularly regarding drug offenses, he remarked, “Drug offenders are cycling through the courts, the jails, the prison system, and the mental health system. [And] the state still has not figured out a way to . . . help people get out of a continuing spiral.” ^[2]

At the time, Sprague was recognized for a sincere commitment to addressing the addiction crisis.^[3][4]

During the 130th General Assembly, Representative Sprague chaired a special committee that traveled the state gathering information on the opioid addiction crisis.^[5]

Through legislation he sponsored and supported, he was deeply involved in addressing many addiction related issues, including:

• Adding modules about prescription opioids and heroin addiction to Ohio's health curricula (H.B. 367);^[6]
• Increasing penalties for illegally providing controlled substances to pregnant women (HB 394);^[7]
• Shutting down pill mills through revised pain management, prescribing, and dispensing regulations (H.B. 93);^[8]
• Increasing access to the life-saving overdose reversing medication, naloxone (Narcan) (H.B. 4);^[9]
• Creating Good Samaritan provisions for overdose situations, encouraging individuals to call for help (H.B. 110);^[10]
• Providing the framework and funding to increase prevention efforts and ensure a full continuum of treatment services would be available to every Ohioan (H.B. 483); and^[11]
• Providing the framework and funding to establish and increase the use of specialty drug dockets, which give courts flexibility for drug offenders, allowing them to place people with drug addictions into treatment and rehabilitation (H.B. 59).^[12]

Developmental Disabilities

In the 131st General Assembly, Representative Sprague was chairman of the House Finance Subcommittee on Health and Human Services. That biennium's operating budget, H.B. 64, addressed many DD-related issues.^[13]

As chairman, he had a significant role in guiding these provisions through the legislative process, such as providing more opportunities for individuals with disabilities to live and work in their community, while insuring institutional opportunities remained an option for individuals desiring that setting or requiring a higher level of care.

He also worked to include certain DD-related changes in H.B. 483.^[14] Provisions included:

• Reforming the levy process for county boards of developmental disabilities;
• Designating October as Disability History and Awareness Month;
• Authorizing a personal income tax deduction for STABLE Account contributions;
• Authorizing residents of other states to open accounts under Ohio's STABLE program; and
• Authorizing the Treasurer of state to issue interest payments to beneficiaries.

Representative Sprague co-sponsored H.B. 158, legislation that removed references to “mental retardation” from the Ohio Revised Code.^[15]

Other

In March 2012, the Ohio House passed legislation sponsored by Representative Sprague that would increase the maximum amount that the Ohio Treasurer could invest in agricultural linked deposits from $125 million to $165 million. It also increased the maximum amount that could be loaned to farmers and agri-businesses from $100,000 to $150,000 per application. Governor John Kasich signed the bill on June 26, 2012.^[16]

Legislative Awards

While serving in the General Assembly, Sprague received multiple awards including the:

• Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities (OACBHA) Award for Legislative Excellence (2013);^[17]
• Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities (OACB) Legislator of the Year (2014);^[18]
• Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) Outstanding Legislator of the Year (2015);^[19]
• Center for Community Solutions (CCS) Award for Public Service (2016);^[20]
• Ohio AMVETS Legislator of the Year (2017); and^[21]
• Ohio American Legion Recognition Award (2018).^[22]

Ohio Treasurer

On March 7, 2017, Sprague announced his intention to run for the office of Ohio Treasurer.

During his run for office, Sprague received endorsements from the editorial boards of the Columbus Dispatch, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Akron Beacon Journal, and several other Ohio publications.^[23][24][25]

On November 6, 2018, Sprague was elected as Ohio's 49th Treasurer of State, defeating opponent Rob Richardson (D), 53% to 47%.^[26] He took office on January 11, 2019.^[27]