Steve Demetriou
Steven James Demetriou is an American politician who has served in the Ohio House of Representatives for the 35th district since 2023.Legislative career
During his tenure, Demetriou has focused on legislation related to technology policy, fiscal policy, and regulatory frameworks affecting emerging markets. He has sponsored and supported legislation addressing blockchain and cryptocurrency policy, including proposals related to the management of digital assets and the potential establishment of a state cryptocurrency reserve.
As of the 136th Ohio General Assembly, Demetriou serves on the following committees:
- Development
- Small Business
- Technology and Innovation
- Ways and Means
Policy positions
Education policy
Demetriou has identified school choice as a policy priority. In a November 2022 interview following his election to the Ohio House, he stated that his legislative focus would include expanding school choice options, alongside efforts to reduce taxes.Tax and fiscal policy
Demetriou has supported Republican tax and budget measures in the Ohio House. In 2023, he voted in favor of a state budget plan that included provisions for property tax relief and the implementation of a flat income tax structure, according to an official House statement and local reporting on budget votes by Portage County–area legislators.Cryptocurrency and technology policy
Demetriou has supported legislation addressing cryptocurrency and blockchain regulation in Ohio. In 2025, he participated in House consideration of proposals described as establishing baseline legal provisions for digital currency and blockchain activity, including measures addressing state regulatory treatment of digital assets.Energy and transportation regulation
Demetriou voted in support of House Bill 201 during the 135th General Assembly, legislation that prohibits state agencies and local governments from restricting the sale or use of motor vehicles based on energy source and bars adoption of certain vehicle emissions standards. The bill was considered by the House Energy and Public Utilities Committee before passage.Voting record summaries
Nonpartisan summaries of Demetriou’s voting record indicate alignment with Republican caucus positions on taxation, budgeting, and regulatory policy during his first term in office.Debate over state involvement in cryptocurrency markets
Demetriou’s advocacy for a state-level cryptocurrency reserve and other crypto legislation provokes concern among some economists, watchdogs, and conservative fiscal-policy voices, who argue that public funds exposed to crypto’s volatility could threaten taxpayer security.The 2025 budget proposal backed by Demetriou would slash roughly US$100 million from statewide library funding, a move characterized by library administrators as “a threat to all library programs, materials and services.” Critics argue the cuts disproportionately affect rural and underfunded communities.Criticism over adult-content age-verification requirement
Under the adult-content age verification law passed as part of the 2025 budget, users must submit photo ID or personal data to verify age before viewing pornography online. Civil-liberties groups and some privacy advocates warn this creates potential for intrusive data collection, state surveillance, and inadvertent privacy violations.Demetriou was elected under state legislative maps that the Ohio Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in a series of decisions spanning February to July 2022, finding repeated partisan gerrymandering by the Ohio Redistricting Commission.