On October 30, the Ohio House Policy and Legislative Oversight Committee passed SB 193, after amending it to make it less restrictive. The bill, as amended, sets the petition to put a newly-qualifying party on the ballot at one-half of 1% of the last vote cast. Existing law requires 1%. For 2014, the amended bill would require almost 28,000 valid signatures, due in July 2014.

Also, the bill, as amended, sets a 2% vote test for the office at the top of the ticket, which would need to be met every four years.

All eight Republicans on the Committee voted for the amended bill; the five Democrats, who favor requiring 5,000 signatures, voted against the bill. Thanks to Bob Bridges for this news. The House will vote on the amended bill in a few hours. UPDATE: here is a news story about the amendments to the bill. UPDATE: here is another story.