{{Short description|American politician (born 1986)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Brett Hudson Hillyer | image = | state_house1 = Ohio | district1 = 51st | term_start1 = January 3, 2023 | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = Sara Carruthers | successor1 = | state_house2 = Ohio | district2 = 98th | term_start2 = January 7, 2019 | term_end2 = December 31, 2022 | predecessor2 = Al Landis | successor2 = Darrell Kick | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|04|16}} | birth_place = Canton, Ohio | party = Republican | alma_mater = University of Akron, Ohio Northern University | spouse = Anna Hillyer }} '''Brett Hillyer''' (born April 16, 1986) is an American politician from Ohio. Hillyer is a Republican Party member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 51st district since 2019. Hillyer's district includes all of Tuscarawas County and half of Holmes County.
== FirstEnergy scandal ==
Rep. Brett Hudson Hillyer supported House Bill 6 (HB 6), the 2019 energy law later tied to what prosecutors described as the largest corruption scandal in Ohio history. The $60 million bribery and racketeering scheme, centered on former House Speaker Larry Householder, was funded by FirstEnergy Corporation. See Ohio nuclear bribery scandal.
===Association with Team Householder===
During the 2018 Ohio House election cycle, Brett Hillyer was identified in reporting as one of the Republican candidates recruited by then-State Representative Larry Householder as part of an organized effort to regain the speakership of the Ohio House of Representatives. According to an investigation by Cleveland.com, Householder assembled a slate of candidates, commonly referred to as “Team Householder,” who were encouraged to run for office with the expectation that they would support his bid for Speaker if elected. Hillyer was listed among the candidates recruited as part of this strategy.<ref name="Pelzer">{{cite web |last=Pelzer |first=Jeremy |title=Who is Team Householder? The candidates Larry Householder recruited to help him become Ohio House speaker |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2020/07/who-is-team-householder-the-candidates-larry-householder-recruited-to-help-him-become-ohio-house-speaker.html |website=Cleveland.com |date=July 23, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref>
The successful election of multiple Team Householder candidates enabled Householder to secure enough internal support to be elected Speaker at the start of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly.<ref name="Pelzer"/>
According to campaign finance records, Hillyer received $1,500 from the FirstEnergy political action committee in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2020/07/24/list-lawmakers-firstenergy-donations/ |title=List: Lawmakers and FirstEnergy donations |publisher=Ohio Capital Journal |date=July 24, 2020 |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>
===Vote on the Expulsion of Larry Householder===
During the 134th Ohio General Assembly, Brett Hillyer voted against the expulsion of former House Speaker Larry Householder, who had been federally indicted and later convicted in connection with the Ohio nuclear bribery scandal tied to House Bill 6. The Ohio House voted 75–21 to expel Householder, with Brett Hillyer among the 21 Republican members who opposed the resolution. <ref>{{cite news |title=Householder expelled: How local lawmakers voted |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/ohio/householder-expelled-how-local-lawmakers-voted/UDWIJIAVL5BAVLWQOJ4OID5Z3I/ |work=Dayton Daily News |date=June 16, 2021 |access-date=December 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=House Resolution 69 (134th General Assembly) – Votes |url=https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HR-69&tab=votes |website=The Ohio Legislature |access-date=December 31, 2025 }}</ref>
== Career == Hillyer previously served as the city prosecutor and law director for Uhrichsville, Ohio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesreporter.com/news/20180201/uhrichsville-law-director-brett-hillyer-seeks-gop-nomination-for-state-representative|title=Uhrichsville Law Director Brett Hillyer seeks GOP nomination for state representative|last=Baker|first=Jon|website=Times Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> He is a graduate of the University of Akron and Ohio Northern University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-daily-record.com/news/20181106/brett-hillyer-wins-98th-district-in-ohio-house|title=Brett Hillyer wins 98th District in Ohio House|last=Molnar|first=Nancy|website=The Daily Record|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> As a city prosecutor, Hillyer was influential in setting up Land banking in his area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesreporter.com/news/20160610/uhrichsville-looking-to-sell-property|title=Uhrichsville looking to sell property|website=Times Reporter|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>
In 2018, state Representatives Al Landis was unable to run for another term due to term limits, leaving the seat vacant.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180411/brett-hillyer-shane-gunnoe-spar-over-endorsement-from-ohio-house-speaker|title=Brett Hillyer, Shane Gunnoe spar over endorsement from Ohio House speaker|last=Baker|first=Jon|website=The Columbus Dispatch|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> In a crowded Republican primary, Hillyer won the Republican nomination over four other candidates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=845794|title=Our Campaigns - OH State House 98 - R Primary Race - May 08, 2018|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> In November 2018, Hillyer won the election and became a Republican Party member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 98th district.<ref name="votesmart_hillyer">{{cite web |url=https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/179180/brett-hillyer |title=Brett Hillyer's Biography |publisher=Vote Smart |access-date=November 3, 2020}}</ref>
== Personal life == Hillyer's wife is Anna Hillyer. Hillyer and his family live in Uhrichsville, Ohio.<ref name="votesmart_hillyer"/>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.ohiohouse.gov/brett-hudson-hillyer/biography Representative Brett Hudson Hillyer (official site)]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hillyer, Brett}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:Ohio Northern University alumni Category:University of Akron alumni Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly