The Attack To Reconfigure Our Pension Board

On June 25, in the early morning hours, Ohio Retirement Study Council Chair Adam Bird slipped an amendment into the Ohio biennial operating budget bill, Ohio House Bill 69. This amendment reportedly bypassed everyone who would vote on the 3,000-page document later in the day. Governor DeWine signed the Bill into law despite the amendment not being vetted by the appropriate legislative bodies. 

The Governor’s action didn’t surprise ORTA, which has been involved in a couple of STRS pension lawsuits, one of which involved Governor DeWine's misapplication of the Ohio Revised Code in removing a board member. ORTA prevailed in this lawsuit. The other lawsuit pertains to defending the integrity of former Board Member Wade Steen and current Board Chair Dr. Rudy Fichtenbaum. This lawsuit was brought by the Ohio Attorney General and was triggered by an “anonymous” letter crafted by STRS staff, which contained innuendos that would prompt an investigation.  

The Governor’s signing into law HB 69, containing the Adam Bird amendment, left unchallenged, would change the composition of the STRS Pension Board from seven elected pension members and four political appointees to three elected pension members and eight political appointees.  This is unacceptable.

The major organizations, OEA, OFT, OC AAUP, and ORTA, communicated with each other and united around a plan of action to oppose this undemocratic amendment. Ultimately, the OFT, OEA, and OC AAUP filed a lawsuit that had two main components.  The first was a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to stop the new board configuration. The second was a Preliminary Injunction that challenged the legality of the process. The lawsuit was filed on September 16, 2025. 

Upon filing the lawsuit, the State of Ohio appealed to the 10th District Court of Appeals in an attempt to block the TRO.  On September 30, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff (our members) and granted the TRO. 

Next, the court will rule on the Preliminary Injunction. Was it legal to slip the amendment into the Ohio biennial operating budget when essentially no legislators were even aware of Representative Adam Bird’s actions? This hearing will be held before the court on October 10, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.

Dean Dennis, ChairORTA

Executive Council

ORTA Pension Defense Fund

The trial of Ohio Attorney General Yost versus Wade Steen and Rudy Fichtenbaum is scheduled to begin in October 2025. When a legal issue involving the STRS Board arises, the only recourse for a board member is to seek defense from the Ohio Attorney General. This doesn’t seem like a reasonable option when it is the Ohio Attorney General himself who is bringing the charges. Bypassing the Ohio Attorney General negates the board members' insurance safety net. Challenging this, of course, would result in yet more legal action.

ORTA needs your help. This is genuinely a truth-to-power issue. It takes money to stand up for what is right. ORTA wants to fight for your right to have a voice.  

We are asking members to make a donation to the Pension Defense Fund to fight current and future lawsuits.