01/30/2025
An Introduction to Hicks Partners, OAPA's New Lobbying Firm
OAPA is pleased to introduce our members to our new lobbying firm, Hicks Partners. They submitted this article to introduce themselves to you and give a high level overview of the state of play in Ohio politics at the start of this new 136th General Assembly. Enjoy!
Through the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants' recent RFP process, Hicks Partners has been selected to serve as the government relations team to support OAPA’s public policy efforts in Ohio moving forward. We believe the PA profession is key to the future of a changing healthcare landscape in Ohio and nationally, and are excited to play an important role as your profession charts its path ahead in this transformation. It is our distinct honor to represent the OAPA at the Statehouse, and we appreciate the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the membership in this newsletter.
Hicks Partners is a multidisciplinary consulting firm which offers expertise in government affairs, public relations, business development, and grant writing. Our team includes CEO & President Brian Hicks, Partner Zach Holzapfel, Senior Director of State Government Relations Tony Brigano, and Manager of Government Relations Lauren Strope. We excel in helping our clients navigate the complexities of government to achieve meaningful outcomes, and take a proactive approach to legislative matters, identifying key issues, preparing comprehensive supporting materials, recruiting legislative champions, and crafting effective lobbying strategies. Our hands-on approach ensures our clients are fully equipped to engage and shape policy decisions to achieve their objectives.
As we begin our representation of OAPA, the Hicks Partners team had the opportunity to present to the Board of Directors at its January meeting. During the presentation we shared an overview of our firm, and provided an update on Ohio’s political landscape in both the executive and legislative branches as the House and Senate begin the 136th General Assembly (2025-26).
Currently, all of Ohio’s statewide elected officials are Republicans, having been elected in 2018 and are now in their second terms. As these officials near their term limits, significant changes are expected in the 2026 election.
The Ohio General Assembly welcomed new leadership on January 6, 2025, with Rob McColley of Northwest Ohio assuming the role of Senate President and Matt Huffman of Lima becoming Speaker of the House. Huffman’s transition from a termed-out Senate President to Speaker of the House marks a first in Ohio’s history.
The previous General Assembly experienced significant infighting among House Republicans, leading to strained relations between the House and Senate. However, McColley and Huffman’s longstanding working relationship is expected to foster improved collaboration between the two chambers. Despite this, differing legislative priorities between the Senate and House are likely to persist.
As the OAPA makes strategic decisions on its legislative priorities in the new legislative session, Hicks Partners offered a summary of Ohio’s legislative process for the Board to consider — from introduction of a bill to the governor’s final decision. Discussions included an outline of the upcoming state biennial operating budget process for FY26-27 as well, as the first half of the 2025 calendar year the state budget dominates activity at the Statehouse until the next fiscal year begins on July 1st . Furthermore, as the Board designs its future plans for its 2025 lobbying and advocacy day, Hicks Partners will be there to support OAPA throughout the process, including training and preparation for PA member participants, prior to meeting with Senators and Representatives in office visits and a legislative reception.
Your continued engagement with OAPA and in Ohio's policymaking process is critical. We encourage you to stay informed about legislative and policy changes that impact the PA profession and their potential impact on Ohio’s future. We are looking forward to working with you on the work ahead!