The sponsors of a bill indexing the state's homestead exemption to the rate of inflation that was included in the final version of budget bill HB33 (Edwards) said Wednesday that it likely won't be the final say on the homestead exemption this session.

Reps. Steve Demetriou (R-Chagrin Falls) and Thomas Hall (R-Middletown) held a press conference at the Statehouse Wednesday along with Lorain County Auditor Craig Snodgrass and Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas to laud the passage of the legislation, originally introduced earlier this session as HB57 (Demetriou-Hall) before it was wrapped into the budget.

Demetriou said that as rising inflation continues to affect Ohioans, they want to make sure Ohioans don't get priced out of their homes by property taxes, especially seniors and disabled veterans. He said that the discussion around the homestead exemption is part of a larger look at property tax reform by lawmakers, adding that a conversation about property tax reform can't be had unless they are making sure those who already own and live in their homes can continue to do so.

Hall said the bill, which was a reintroduction of 134-HB357 (Stephens-LaRe), is not a new idea. He said he had been approached by his county auditor about doing something similar which led him to work with Demetriou on HB57. He noted that 2007 was the last time there was an increase in the homestead exemption.

However, Hall said the inclusion of HB57 in HB33 isn't the end of the discussion about the homestead exemption, with lawmakers continuing to examine property taxes through this session. He also pointed to the introduction this week of HB254 (Richardson-Holmes) to expand the homestead exemption for disabled veterans.

"We hope this is a step in the right direction," Hall said.

The current exemption in the state is $25,000 for seniors and $50,000 for disabled veterans. The Legislative Service Commission (LSC) estimated the cost of indexing of the exemption to inflation will be $11 million in FY24 and $28 million in FY25.

Snodgrass, who also serves as president of the County Auditors Association of Ohio, said indexing the exemption to inflation is "a step we've needed to take." He said it has not kept up with inflation.

He said county auditors have heard the stories of seniors and disabled veterans who say they are being taxed out of their homes. Some stories involve homeowners’ having to choose between paying their taxes or buying medicines.

Thomas said he was in middle school the last time the homestead exemption was raised.

The goal of the press conference is to let people know about the exemption and that they cannot get it unless they apply to their local county auditors, Thomas said. He also hopes it sparks further discussions around the exemption, adding that they can't wait until 2035 to address it again.

"This can't be our only step," he said.

Before it was included in the budget, HB57 had passed the House unanimously. With the legislation under consideration in the Senate, Demetriou said he hopes that it could become a vehicle for other changes to the exemption, such as addressing issues around pensions’ putting some seniors above the income requirement or expanding it to all veterans, not just disabled veterans.

"As it moves through the Senate, we hope we can make it bigger outside of what made it in the budget," he said.

Hall said he believes now is the time to reform the homestead exemption, adding that is why there has been a number of bills with bipartisan support that have been introduced. He said he believes it is something that affects all lawmakers' districts.