OH HB 304 updates Ohio law so that more student physical activity “counts” and all K–8 students get substantial daily recess. The bill expands the existing high school physical education waiver so students can use club sports and other instructor‑led athletic activities outside school—if they total at least 120 hours and are verified by a coach/instructor and a parent—to satisfy the one‑half unit PE graduation requirement, similar to school‑sponsored sports waivers. It also requires public districts, community schools, STEM schools, and college‑prep boarding schools to provide at least 30 minutes of recess in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon each school day for students in grades K–8, with an exception on days when students attend a PE class; those recess blocks count toward required instructional hours.
Why It Matter to MAHA
The Make America Healthy Again Movement supports OH HB 304 because it significantly increases guaranteed daily movement for K–8 students while recognizing intensive, structured athletics as legitimate physical activity for high school graduation purposes. Mandating a full hour of daily recess (split between morning and afternoon) advances MAHA’s focus on reducing sedentary time and supporting children’s metabolic, mental, and behavioral health, especially when paired with better food standards. Allowing serious club and travel athletes to meet PE requirements through documented, high‑volume activity respects real‑world training loads and keeps the policy centered on meaningful movement, which is consistent with MAHA’s emphasis on practical, life‑integrated physical activity.