Bill Information CREATE NEW SCHOOL FINANCING SYSTEM
(CALLENDER J, SWEENEY B)To create a new school financing system for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter.
CURRENT STATUS 3/1/2021 - House Finance Primary and Secondary Education Subcommittee, (Fourth Hearing)
REGARDS BROADBAND EXPANSION
(CARFAGNA R, STEWART B)Regarding broadband expansion, including access to electric cooperative easements and facilities, to make an appropriation, and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 5/17/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
MODIFY LAWS GOVERNING CERTAIN PROFESSIONS DUE TO COVID-19
(ROEMER B)To amend Section 30 of H.B. 197 of the 133rd General Assembly to modify the laws governing certain health professionals and educator preparation programs due to COVID-19 and other circumstances and to modify the electric utility laws regarding energy efficiency programs; to amend the version of section 4729.92 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect on October 9, 2021, to continue the changes to that section on and after that date; and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 5/14/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. Immediately, Sections 3 and 4 eff. 10/9/21
MODIFY THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW
(GRENDELL D, FRAIZER M)To modify the campaign finance law and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 4/15/2021 - House Government Oversight, (Second Hearing)
HALT DEBT COLLECTION DURING COVID-19
(MIRANDA J, INGRAM C)To halt the collection of all debt owed to any state institution of higher education or hospital operated by a state institution of higher education, to freeze the accrual of interest and collection of fees on all outstanding debt owed to those entities, and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 3/2/2021 - House Civil Justice, (Second Hearing)
STATE PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS
(WEST T, ROEMER B)To amend Sections 265.220, 307.270, 343.30, and 701.70 of H.B. 110 of the 134th General Assembly, Sections 219.10 as subsequently amended, 221.10 as subsequently amended, 221.13 as subsequently amended, and 237.13 as subsequently amended of H.B. 597 of the 134th General Assembly, and Sections 207.15, 221.10, 221.13, 223.10, 223.15, 237.10, and 237.13 of H.B. 687 of the 134th General Assembly and to repeal Section 715.20 of H.B. 110 of the 134th General Assembly to make appropriations and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.
CURRENT STATUS 1/6/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE CHANGES
(ROEMER B, PAVLIGA G)To expressly incorporate changes in the Internal Revenue Code since March 27, 2020, into Ohio law and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 2/9/2021 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
LEGAL MALPRACTICE ACTIONS
(HILLYER B)To shorten the period of limitations for actions upon a contract; to make changes to the borrowing statute pertaining to applicable periods of limitations; and to establish a statute of repose for a legal malpractice action.
CURRENT STATUS 2/4/2021 - Referred to Committee House Civil Justice
REVIEW PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS
(HOOPS J)To amend Section 130.12 of H.B. 110 of the 134th General Assembly and Section 8 of S.B. 18 of the 134th General Assembly as subsequently amended to revise the tax laws and to make certain operating appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2023, and capital appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2024.
CURRENT STATUS 1/2/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
INCREASE STATE MINIMUM WAGE
(KELLY B, JARRELLS D)To increase the state minimum wage.
CURRENT STATUS 11/29/2022 - House Commerce and Labor, (First Hearing)
ENACT FY22-23 TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
(OELSLAGER S)To make appropriations for programs related to transportation and public safety for the biennium beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2023, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of those programs.
CURRENT STATUS 3/31/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
ENACT FY22-23 WORKERS' COMPENSATION BUDGET
(OELSLAGER S)To make appropriations for the Bureau of Workers' Compensation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2023, to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of the Bureau's programs, and to make changes to the Workers' Compensation Law.
CURRENT STATUS 6/29/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 7/1/21
ENACT FY22-23 INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION BUDGET
(OELSLAGER S)To make appropriations for the Industrial Commission for the biennium beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2023, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of Commission programs.
CURRENT STATUS 6/2/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 7/1/21
AUTHORIZE TAX CREDIT FOR CAREGIVER EXPENSES
(RUSSO A, BOYD J)To authorize a refundable tax credit for certain expenses incurred by caregivers.
CURRENT STATUS 5/11/2021 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
BONUS DEPRECIATION ADJUSTMENTS FOR CERTAIN TAXPAYERS
(ROEMER B)To temporarily suspend provisions relating to bonus depreciation adjustments for a taxpayer with a federal net operating loss.
CURRENT STATUS 5/25/2021 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)
TAXES-FARMERS, TIFS, VEHICLE SHOWS
(MANCHESTER S, LIGHTBODY M)To temporarily allow income tax credits for beginning farmers who participate in a financial management program and for businesses that sell or rent agricultural land, livestock, facilities, or equipment to beginning farmers, to modify the law governing certain tax increment financing arrangements, to alter the types of vehicles that may be purchased at a motor vehicle show, and to permit, for a limited time, the abatement of unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest for certain municipal property.
CURRENT STATUS 4/18/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 7/18/22
OPERATING BUDGET
(OELSLAGER S)To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2023, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.
CURRENT STATUS 7/1/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; effective 7/1/21
EQUALIZE PASS-THROUGH ENTITY WITHHOLDING
(ROEMER B, YOUNG B)To equalize the pass-through entity withholding and the business income tax rate.
CURRENT STATUS 2/23/2021 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
REGARDING PROPERTY VALUES
(MERRIN D)To require local governments that contest property values to formally pass an authorizing resolution for each contest and to notify property owners.
CURRENT STATUS 4/21/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 7/21/22
MODIFY MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX RULES - COVID WFH
(JORDAN K, EDWARDS J)To amend Section 29 of H.B. 197 of the 133rd General Assembly to modify municipal income tax employer withholding rules for COVID-19-related work-from-home employees.
CURRENT STATUS 6/2/2021 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
ALLOW TEMPORARY TAX CREDIT FOR SALE OF CERTAIN MOTOR FUEL
(MCCLAIN R)To temporarily authorize a nonrefundable tax credit for the retail sale of high-ethanol blend motor fuel.
CURRENT STATUS 2/15/2022 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
PROVIDE RENT, UTILITY ASSISTANCE
(OELSLAGER S)To provide rent and utility assistance and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 5/11/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
UNEMPLOYMENT DEBT
(FRAIZER M, LOYCHIK M)To remit funds from the State Fiscal Recovery Fund to repay unemployment advances, to provide funds to support improvements at pediatric behavioral health care facilities, to require the Development Services Agency to establish the Water and Sewer Quality Program, and to make appropriations.
CURRENT STATUS 6/29/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
SUPPORT PANDEMIC RECOVERY
(CUTRONA A, SWEARINGEN D)To make appropriations to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
CURRENT STATUS 12/23/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 12/23/21
SCHOOL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
(BIRD A, RICHARDSON T)To provide assistance to schools and other entities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 6/2/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. Immediately
AUTHORIZE INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR CERTAIN CAPITAL GAINS
(CROSS J, LANESE L)To authorize an income tax deduction for capital gains received by investors in certain Ohio-based venture capital operating companies.
CURRENT STATUS 3/24/2021 - House Economic and Workforce Development, (First Hearing)
ALLOW GOVERNMENTS TO USE BLOCKCHAIN
(CARFAGNA R, FRAIZER M)To allow a governmental entity to utilize distributed ledger technology, including blockchain technology.
CURRENT STATUS 12/1/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 3/2/22
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER SAVINGS ACT
(SWEARINGEN D, WILKIN S)To enact the First-time Home Buyer Savings Act, authorizing income tax deductions for contributions to and earnings on savings accounts designated for the purchase of a home.
CURRENT STATUS 12/15/2021 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
EARNINGS, DEDUCTIONS STATEMENTS
(KELLY B, LIPPS S)To require an employer to provide earnings and deductions statements to each of the employer's employees.
CURRENT STATUS 10/27/2021 - Senate Small Business and Economic Opportunity, (First Hearing)
INCOME TAX CREDIT - TRAINING COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR
(STOLTZFUS R, CREECH R)To authorize a temporary income tax credit for an employer's expenses to train a commercial vehicle operator.
CURRENT STATUS 3/15/2022 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
REMOVE CAP FOR NONECONOMIC LOSS - RAPE VICTIMS
(BOGGS K, RUSSO A)To remove the cap on damages for noneconomic loss when a victim of rape or assault brings a tort action.
CURRENT STATUS 4/27/2021 - House Civil Justice, (First Hearing)
OHIO FAIRNESS ACT
(HILLYER B, SKINDELL M)To enact the Ohio Fairness Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, to add mediation as an informal method that the Ohio Civil Rights Commission may use, and to uphold existing religious exemptions under Ohio's Civil Rights Law.
CURRENT STATUS 11/29/2022 - House Commerce and Labor, (First Hearing)
BUSINESS FAIRNESS ACT
(WILKIN S, CROSS J)To enact The Business Fairness Act.
CURRENT STATUS 12/1/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 3/2/22
GRANT INCOME TAX CREDITS TO EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS
(EDWARDS J, HALL T)To grant income tax credits to persons who serve as volunteer peace officers, firefighters, or emergency medical service technicians.
CURRENT STATUS 3/8/2022 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means
STATE-ADMINISTERED MUNICIPAL NET PROFIT TAXES
(ROEMER B)To make changes related to the state administration of municipal net profits taxes and the municipal taxation of retirement benefits.
CURRENT STATUS 11/8/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 2/7/22
REPEAL THE COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY TAX
(GROSS J, MCCLAIN R)To repeal the commercial activity tax with a five-year phase-out.
CURRENT STATUS 5/24/2022 - House Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)
VACCINE CHOICE ACT
(GROSS J)To authorize an individual to decline a vaccination and to name this act the Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act.
CURRENT STATUS 8/24/2021 - House Health, (Sixth Hearing)
TAX CREDIT FOR CERTAIN CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS
(POWELL J, MCCLAIN R)To authorize a nonrefundable income tax credit for contributions to certain charitable organizations.
CURRENT STATUS 5/4/2021 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
REGARDS PROOF OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
(CUTRONA A)Regarding proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.
CURRENT STATUS 5/18/2021 - BILL AMENDED, House Health, (First Hearing)
MODIFY TAX RULE FOR EMPLOYEES OF TEMPORARY WORKSITE
(SMITH M, SOBECKI L)To amend Section 29 of H.B. 197 of the 133rd General Assembly to modify the municipal income tax withholding rule for employees working at a temporary worksite.
CURRENT STATUS 4/22/2021 - Referred to Committee House Ways and Means
OHIO ELECTION SECURITY, MODERNIZATION ACT
(SEITZ B, RAY S)To modify the law governing absent voting, to make other changes to the Election Law, and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 12/12/2022 - REPORTED OUT AS AMENDED, House Government Oversight, (Sixth Hearing)
TAX CREDIT FOR EDUCATION EXPENSES
(FOWLER S)To authorize a personal income tax credit for certain primary and secondary education expenses.
CURRENT STATUS 6/15/2021 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
CHANGE UNCLAIMED FUNDS LAW
(MERRIN D)To make changes to the Unclaimed Funds Law.
CURRENT STATUS 3/29/2022 - Senate Finance, (First Hearing)
INDEX HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AMOUNTS
(STEPHENS J, LARE J)To index the homestead exemption amounts to inflation.
CURRENT STATUS 10/12/2021 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
EMPLOYER-MANDATED COVID VACCINATION INJURY
(EDWARDS J)To exempt an injury or disability caused by an employer-mandated COVID-19 vaccination from the Workers' Compensation Law and to allow the employee to sue the employer for damages.
CURRENT STATUS 8/24/2021 - Introduced
REQUIRE CERTAIN TAX-RELATED ADDRESSES PUBLISHED ONLINE
(STOLTZFUS R, ROEMER B)To require mailing addresses to which certain tax complaints and appeals are filed to be published online.
CURRENT STATUS 10/26/2021 - House Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)
COVID-19 VACCINE - QUALIFIED IMMUNITIES
(KOEHLER K)To prohibit a political subdivision, public official, public school, state agency, or state institution of higher education from taking certain actions related to the COVID-19 vaccine, to codify the qualified civil immunities under H.B. 606 of the 133rd General Assembly permanently, to repeal section 3792.05 of the Revised Code on the date that is two years after the effective date of that section, and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 9/20/2021 - Introduced
VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
(CARFAGNA R, SEITZ B)To address COVID-19 vaccine requirements for employees and students; to extend certain timelines for qualified civil immunity and expand immunity to include hearing aid dealers and hearing aid fitters; to authorize emergency medical technicians to administer COVID-19 tests; to expressly cover COVID-19 vaccine injuries under the workers' compensation system; and to repeal sections 3792.05, 3792.06, 3792.07, and 3792.08 of the Revised Code on June 30, 2023.
CURRENT STATUS 10/13/2021 - Bills for Third Consideration; (Pending Committee Report)
WFH EMPLOYEES
(LAMPTON B)Regarding workers' compensation for employees who work from home and other changes to the Workers' Compensation Law.
CURRENT STATUS 6/24/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; Eff. 9/23/22
ESTABLISH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
(OELSLAGER S)To declare the General Assembly's intent to enact legislation establishing congressional district boundaries for the state based on the 2020 decennial census.
CURRENT STATUS 11/12/2021 - , (Second Hearing)
TAX FRAUD STUDY COMMISSION
(CUTRONA A, EDWARDS J)To create a Tax Fraud Study Commission to study and make recommendations for preventing income tax fraud.
CURRENT STATUS 4/6/2022 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
BAD DEBTS - CIGARETTE, VAPOR PRODUCT TAXES
(CROSS J, ROEMER B)Regarding the deduction and recovery of bad debts for cigarette and tobacco and vapor products taxes, the taxation of certain vapor product manufacturers and importers, and local regulation of tobacco products and alternative nicotine products.
CURRENT STATUS 1/5/2023 - VETOED BY GOVERNOR
HIGHER ED STUDENT FINANCIAL AID, INTERN WAGES
(CROSS J, DENSON S)To authorize tax incentives for higher education intern and graduate wages, to make other changes regarding higher education student financial aid, and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 5/24/2022 - Re-Referred to Committee
TAX EXEMPTION - SALE OF OWNERSHIP INTEREST
(HOOPS J, RIEDEL C)To exempt from income tax certain gains from the sale of an ownership interest in a business.
CURRENT STATUS 6/24/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; Eff. 9/23/22
MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX FILINGS
(ROEMER B, LANESE L)To modify the law regarding extensions for filing municipal income tax returns and to limit penalties for late filings.
CURRENT STATUS 4/6/2022 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
FILING FALSE CLAIMS WITH STATE
(CROSSMAN J, HICKS-HUDSON P)Regarding filing false or fraudulent claims with the state and defrauding the state of money or property.
CURRENT STATUS 11/15/2022 - House Civil Justice, (Second Hearing)
ALLOW VIRTUAL MEETINGS
(KOEHLER K, KELLY B)To provide temporary authority, expiring July 1, 2022, for members of a public body to meet by means of teleconference or video conference, and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 2/15/2022 - Referred to Committee House Government Oversight
NONPROFIT CORPORATION LAW
(SWEARINGEN D)To amend the Nonprofit Corporation Law.
CURRENT STATUS 12/13/2022 - REPORTED OUT AS AMENDED, Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)
TAX CREDIT FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING
(HOOPS J, PAVLIGA G)To authorize a nonrefundable tax credit for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable rental housing.
CURRENT STATUS 12/1/2022 - House Families, Aging and Human Services, (Third Hearing)
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LAW
(FRAIZER M, MERRIN D)To make changes to the Unemployment Compensation Law and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 3/16/2022 - House Finance, (First Hearing)
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TAX DEDUCTION
(MILLER J, SOBECKI L)To allow an income tax deduction for up to $10,200 in unemployment benefits received in 2021.
CURRENT STATUS 11/30/2022 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
CAPITAL REAPPROPRIATIONS
(OELSLAGER S)To revise the law regarding priority for classroom facilities projects for which the prior conditional approval lapsed and to make capital reappropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2024.
CURRENT STATUS 4/1/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 7/1/22
PUBLIC SAFETY FACTOR IN SETTING BAIL
(LARE J, SWEARINGEN D)To add public safety as a factor in setting bail.
CURRENT STATUS 5/31/2022 - Re-Referred to Committee
PERSONAL INCOME TAX JOINT FILER CREDIT
(ROEMER B, YOUNG T)To modify the computation of the personal income tax joint filer credit.
CURRENT STATUS 5/24/2022 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
TAX TRANSPARENCY ACT
(YOUNG T)To require local governments to provide certain information to residents regarding proposed property and income tax levies and to name this act the Tax Transparency Act.
CURRENT STATUS 5/24/2022 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
DECLARE RACISM PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
(HOWSE S, CRAWLEY E)To declare racism a public health crisis and to ask the governor to establish a working group to promote racial equity in Ohio.
CURRENT STATUS 6/23/2021 - House State and Local Government, (First Hearing)
REPEAL STATE INCOME TAX WITHIN A DECADE
(BRINKMAN T)To declare the General Assembly's intention to repeal the state individual income tax within a decade.
CURRENT STATUS 2/15/2022 - House Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
CA: LOCAL ELECTIONS
(EDWARDS J, SEITZ B)Proposing to amend Section 1 of Article V, Section 3 of Article X, and Section 3 of Article XVIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to prohibit local governments from allowing persons who lack the qualifications of an elector to vote in local elections.
CURRENT STATUS 6/1/2022 - ADOPTED BY SENATE; Vote 32-0
FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUATION, SUBSTITUTE TEACHER REQUIREMENTS
(WILSON S, MCCOLLEY R)Relating to teaching financial literacy in high school, to provide discretion regarding educational requirements of substitute teachers for the 2021-2022 school year, and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 10/28/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 10/28/21
REDUCE REGULATIONS, ELECTION FUNDING
(MCCOLLEY R, ROEGNER K)To limit regulatory restrictions in administrative rules, to make various technical and
corrective changes to the liquor laws, to amend the version of section 111.15 of
the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect September 30, 2024, to continue
the limitations on and after that date, and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 3/10/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; Appropriations language eff. 3/10/22, Statutory language eff. 6/8/22
SHORTEN PERIOD OF LIMITATIONS-CONTRACTS
(LANG G)To shorten the period of limitations for actions upon a contract; to make changes to the borrowing statute pertaining to applicable periods of limitations; and to establish a statute of repose for a legal malpractice action.
CURRENT STATUS 3/11/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 6/16/21
FISCAL OFFICERS-LIABILITY
(WILSON S)To change the circumstances in which certain fiscal officers may be held liable for a loss of public funds.
CURRENT STATUS 6/14/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; Eff. 9/13/22
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
(ROEGNER K, SCHAFFER T)To expressly incorporate changes in the Internal Revenue Code since March 27, 2020, into Ohio law, to exclude certain loan amounts forgiven under federal law from the commercial activity tax, to authorize a commercial activity tax exclusion for Bureau of Workers' Compensation dividends paid to employers, and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 3/31/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS
(GAVARONE T, PETERSON B)To enact the First-time Home Buyer Savings Act, authorizing income tax deductions for contributions to and earnings on savings accounts designated for the purchase of a home.
CURRENT STATUS 10/19/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (Fifth Hearing)
529 TAX DEDUCTION
(HOTTINGER J, BRENNER A)To expand the income tax deduction allowed for contributions to Ohio's 529 education savings plans to include contributions to 529 plans established by other states.
CURRENT STATUS 1/2/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 4/3/23
TAX CREDIT-PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(SCHAFFER T)To allow an income tax credit for law enforcement officials and volunteer firefighters who purchase safety or protective items to be used in the course of official law enforcement or firefighting activities.
CURRENT STATUS 10/5/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)
TAX INDUCEMENTS-CERTAIN BUSINESSES
(PETERSON B, KUNZE S)To enhance state and local tax inducements for businesses making substantial fixed asset and employment investments and their suppliers.
CURRENT STATUS 2/23/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)
OVERTIME PAY-EXEMPTIONS
(BRENNER A, PETERSON B)To except traveling to and from a worksite and performing certain routine tasks from the overtime pay requirement and to prohibit opt-out class actions for overtime violations.
CURRENT STATUS 4/6/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 7/6/22
INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE
(THOMAS C, CRAIG H)To increase the state minimum wage and to allow municipalities, townships, and counties to establish higher minimum wage requirements.
CURRENT STATUS 3/10/2021 - Senate Workforce and Higher Education, (First Hearing)
COMMERCE AND TAXATION
(HACKETT R)Relating to commerce and taxation.
CURRENT STATUS 3/23/2021 - Senate Financial Institutions and Technology, (Third Hearing)
PROHIBIT ASKING JOB APPLICANT'S SALARY HISTORY
(MAHARATH T)To prohibit employers from seeking a prospective employee's wage or salary history.
CURRENT STATUS 3/17/2021 - Senate Small Business and Economic Opportunity, (First Hearing)
JUNETEENTH-LEGAL HOLIDAY
(CRAIG H, BRENNER A)To establish the nineteenth of June as Juneteenth, a legal holiday for which government employees receive paid leave.
CURRENT STATUS 2/24/2021 - Referred to Committee Senate Government Oversight and Reform
REQUIRE VOTE-COUNTY SALES TAX INCREASE
(ANTANI N)To require voter approval of any increase in the rate of a county sales tax.
CURRENT STATUS 9/21/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
NON-RECOURSE CIVIL LITIGATION
(WILSON S)To amend the law regarding the non-recourse civil litigation advance business.
CURRENT STATUS 3/1/2022 - Senate Judiciary, (Third Hearing)
MUNICIPAL INCOME TAX-WORK FROM HOME
(ROEGNER K)To modify municipal income tax employer withholding rules for COVID-19-related work-from-home employees
CURRENT STATUS 5/12/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
SALES TAX EXEMPTION
(ANTANI N)To exempt from sales and use tax things used primarily to move completed manufactured products or general merchandise.
CURRENT STATUS 9/21/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
PANDEMIC RELIEF-BARS, RESTAURANTS, LODGING
(HUFFMAN S, ROMANCHUK M)To provide grants to bars and restaurants and the lodging industry and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 5/17/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
PANDEMIC RELIEF-BUSINESS, CHILD CARE, VETERANS
(MANNING N, RULLI M)To provide grants to businesses, local fairs, child care providers, and veterans homes and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 5/17/2021 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. immediately
NURSING FACILITIES
(O'BRIEN S, WILSON S)To establish requirements for the registration and operation of health care staffing agencies, to require the Department of Medicaid to complete a report on the inventory of private rooms in nursing facilities, to provide funds for immediate relief payments to nursing facilities, to amend the version of section 3701.83 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect on September 30, 2024, to continue the change on and after that date, and to make an appropriation.
CURRENT STATUS 12/1/2022 - PASSED BY HOUSE; Vote 63-18
VACCINATIONS, CORONAVIRUS RECOVERY INCLUDING TOWNSHIPS
(BLESSING III L, BRENNER A)To prohibit certain mandatory vaccinations and other activities related to an individual's vaccination status and to make an appropriation related to coronavirus local fiscal recovery.
CURRENT STATUS 6/24/2021 - PASSED BY HOUSE; Amended on Floor, Bill Vote 62-34
PROOF OF IDENTITY-UNEMPLOYMENT
(HACKETT R, REINEKE W)To require a person to provide proof of identity at a local employment office before receiving unemployment compensation or pandemic unemployment assistance and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 3/24/2021 - Senate Insurance, (Second Hearing)
PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION-SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER
(ANTONIO N, RULLI M)To enact the Ohio Fairness Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, to add mediation as an informal method that the Ohio Civil Rights Commission may use, and to uphold existing religious exemptions under Ohio's Civil Rights Law.
CURRENT STATUS 12/7/2022 - Senate Government Oversight and Reform, (First Hearing)
INCOME TAX DEDUCTION-EDUCATOR EXPENSES
(FEDOR T, MANNING N)To increase the personal income tax deduction for qualified educator expenses.
CURRENT STATUS 3/31/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
INCOME TAX CREDIT-TOWNSHIP DONATIONS
(HOAGLAND F)To authorize a refundable income tax credit for donations of cash, property, or services to townships.
CURRENT STATUS 3/31/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
LICENSURE RECIPROCITY
(ROEGNER K, MCCOLLEY R)To require an occupational licensing authority to issue a license or government certification to an applicant who holds a license, government certification, or private certification or has satisfactory work experience in another state under certain circumstances, to specify that individuals may not register as credit services organizations, to specify that individuals may not be licensed as manufacturers or wholesalers of fireworks, to maintain State Teacher Retirement System membership for certain school psychologists, and to revise continuing education requirements for licensed auctioneers.
CURRENT STATUS 1/2/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 4/3/23
REGARDING 'BUSINESS FAIRNESS'
(LANG G)To enact The Business Fairness Act and to declare an emergency.
CURRENT STATUS 6/9/2021 - House Economic and Workforce Development, (First Hearing)
TAX CREDIT-NONRESIDENT TAXPAYERS
(SCHAFFER T)To require municipal corporations with more than $100 million in annual income tax collections to provide a tax credit to nonresident taxpayers.
CURRENT STATUS 5/4/2021 - Introduced
LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING
(ANTANI N, MANNING N)To legalize and regulate sports gaming in this state, to levy a tax on businesses that provide sports gaming, and to make other changes to the Gambling Law.
CURRENT STATUS 6/22/2021 - Referred to Committee House Finance
SALES TAX HOLIDAY EXPANSION
(ANTANI N)To expand the class of products exempt from the sales tax if bought during a sales tax holiday.
CURRENT STATUS 12/14/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
TAX CREDITS - TEMPORARY MODIFICATION
(SCHURING K)To modify the historic rehabilitation and the opportunity zone investment tax credits, to adjust the applicability of certain recently enacted provisions related to tax increment financing and downtown redevelopment districts, and to authorize the City of Canton to distribute moneys in the Hartford-Houtz Poor Fund to the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association or any other charitable organization.
CURRENT STATUS 6/14/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; Eff. 9/13/22
LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT - UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION
(SCHAFFER T)To establish legislative oversight of executive action regarding voluntary federal unemployment compensation programs.
CURRENT STATUS 12/15/2021 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Insurance, (Third Hearing)
TAX REFUNDS AFTER DEATH
(HOTTINGER J)To expressly authorize the issuance of an income tax refund in the name of a deceased taxpayer's fiduciary.
CURRENT STATUS 6/14/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; Eff. 9/13/22
SALES TAX - DOCUMENTARY SERVICE CHARGES
(ROEGNER K)To exempt documentary service charges and income tax electronic filing fees from sales and use taxation.
CURRENT STATUS 12/14/2022 - Bills for Third Consideration
PASS-THROUGH ENTITY TAXES
(RULLI M, LANG G)To levy a tax on a pass-through entity's income apportioned to Ohio and to authorize a refundable income tax credit for an owner for such tax paid.
CURRENT STATUS 6/14/2022 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 6/14/22
TAX EXEMPTION-OWNERSHIP INTERESTS
(LANG G, ROEGNER K)To exempt from income tax certain gains from the sale of an ownership interest in a business.
CURRENT STATUS 12/14/2021 - Senate Ways and Means, (Third Hearing)
FUEL TAXES-TEMPORARY REDUCTION
(HUFFMAN S)To temporarily reduce motor fuel excise tax rates and suspend collection of the additional motor vehicle registration taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles, both for five years, and to amend the version of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2022, to continue the changes to that section on and after that date.
CURRENT STATUS 2/16/2022 - Senate Transportation, (First Hearing)
TAX CREDIT-CHILD CARE CONTRIBUTIONS
(MAHARATH T)To authorize a tax credit for contributions to certain child care programs.
CURRENT STATUS 3/15/2022 - Senate Ways and Means, (First Hearing)
NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT TAX INCENTIVES
(SCHAFFER T)To authorize tax incentives relating to nonprofit management and operations.
CURRENT STATUS 3/15/2022 - Senate Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION LAW CHANGES
(HACKETT R, REINEKE W)To amend Section 8 of S.B. 18 of the 134th General Assembly, as subsequently amended, to make changes to the Unemployment Compensation Law.
CURRENT STATUS 1/2/2023 - SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 4/3/23
NONBUSINESS INCOME TAX REPEAL
(HUFFMAN S)To repeal the state income tax on nonbusiness income with a ten-year phase-out.
CURRENT STATUS 5/18/2022 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
FILM, THEATER TAX CREDITS
(SCHURING K)To modify the film and theater tax credit and to authorize a tax credit for capital improvement projects relating to the film and theater industries.
CURRENT STATUS 5/25/2022 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
FY23-24 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS
(DOLAN M)To declare the General Assembly's intent to enact legislation making capital appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2024.
CURRENT STATUS 5/31/2022 - SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Finance, (Second Hearing)
COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION TAX CREDITS
(SCHURING K)To create the Ohio community revitalization program, authorizing nonrefundable income tax credits for undertaking community projects.
CURRENT STATUS 5/25/2022 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
DECLARE RACISM PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
(CRAIG H, WILLIAMS S)To declare racism a public health crisis and to ask the Governor to establish a working group to promote racial equity in Ohio.
CURRENT STATUS 11/30/2022 - Senate Health, (First Hearing)
DENOUNCE RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION-COVID-19
(MAHARATH T, THOMAS C)To denounce all forms of stigmatization, racism, and discrimination occurring as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CURRENT STATUS 3/24/2021 - Referred to Committee Senate Health
LEGISLATIVE INTENT-INCOME TAX REPEAL
(LANG G)To declare the General Assembly's intention to repeal the state individual income tax within a decade.
CURRENT STATUS 12/15/2021 - Referred to Committee Senate Ways and Means
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE-BAIL DETERMINATIONS
(GAVARONE T)Proposing to amend Section 9 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to eliminate the requirement that the amount and conditions of bail be established pursuant to Section 5(b) of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and instead allow the courts to use factors such as public safety, a person's criminal record, the likelihood a person will return to court, and the seriousness of a person's offense.
CURRENT STATUS 5/31/2022 - Referred to Committee House Rules and Reference
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE-ELECTOR REQUIREMENTS
(BLESSING III L)Proposing to amend Section 1 of Article V, Section 3 of Article X, and Section 3 of Article XVIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to prohibit local governments from allowing persons who lack the qualifications of an elector to vote in local elections.
CURRENT STATUS 5/24/2022 - Senate Local Government and Elections, (Second Hearing)
Week in Review Friday, April 12, 2024
ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Ohio Attorney General's Office is making
$2.45 million in funding available to courts to help improve the system of
criminal background checks and the accuracy and completeness of the state's
criminal records database, the Ohio Supreme Court announced. Ohio Supreme Court
Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy has been working with Attorney General Dave Yost
on database improvements, the Court said. The funding is allocated in the
following three parts:
- There is $1.2 million to pay for LiveScan
devices, which are real-time digital fingerprint capturing machines. Courts can
use the devices to take fingerprints onsite and transmit the prints to the Ohio
Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI).
- There is $750,000 available for juvenile
court projects that make it easier for those courts or clerks of courts to
electronically report adjudication information.
- A total of $500,000 is available for common
pleas, municipal or county courts and clerks of courts to defray the cost of
projects to recover case dispositions not previously reported to BCI.
AUDITOR OF STATE
Auditor of State Keith Faber Friday placed the
Mt. Healthy City School District in Hamilton County in a state of fiscal
emergency as a result of a projected operating fund deficit of $10,758,000,
representing 26 percent of the district's general revenue funds for the fiscal
year that ends June 30, 2024. The district has not passed a levy to eliminate
that deficit. Under state law, the Auditor of State's Office declares a school
district to be in fiscal emergency under the following conditions:
- An operating deficit has been certified for
the current fiscal year by the auditor of state, and the certified operating
deficit exceeds 15 percent of the district's general fund revenue for the
preceding fiscal year;
- A levy has not been passed by the voting
electors that will raise enough additional revenue in the succeeding fiscal
year so that the first condition will not apply to the district in the next
succeeding year.
CORRECTIONS
State and U.S. flags flew half-staff at Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) facilities in memory of late
officer Lt. Rodney Osborne Wednesday as Gov. Mike DeWine delivered his sixth “State
of the State” address in Columbus. A 13-year veteran of DRC, Osborne died in an
apparent “tragic accident” at the department's tactical firing range in Orient
in Pickaway County, according to the agency. “It is with great sadness and a
heavy heart that I confirm that one of our staff, Lt. Rodney Osborne from the
Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF), was fatally shot during a training
exercise at our Corrections Training Academy,” DRC Director Annette
Chambers-Smith said in a statement.
DEATH PENALTY
In sponsor testimony, Reps. Brian Stewart
(R-Ashville) and Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) urged the resumption of capital
punishment for Death Row prisoners in Ohio following the recent use of nitrogen
hypoxia in an execution in Alabama. Rep. Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) asked if
the lack of language in HB392 about the method of execution was intentional.
Stewart said that the bill was not designed to micromanage the method used to
administer the execution. Stewart added that other states that use nitrogen hypoxia
as an execution method have used a mask fitted over the inmate's face, and it
is not the bill's intention to allow for gas chambers to be used in executions.
Humphrey said that a witness present at the execution in Alabama using nitrogen
hypoxia said they had to sign a waiver to be present because of the possible
presence of nitrogen gas in the air, and asked Stewart if that was a concern.
Stewart answered that they had no concern that the Ohio Department of
Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) would be able to carry out an execution
successfully as Alabama has recently done.
DISABILITIES
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
(OOD) recently revamped its Deaf Services webpage for greater inclusivity and
accessibility. The update includes a wide range of American Sign Language (ASL)
videos. "At OOD, we understand the unique needs of the deaf and
hard-of-hearing community, and this update is part of our ongoing commitment to
enhance accessibility. Discover a wealth of ASL videos that explain the diverse
range of services available to you," the agency said. The updated website,
which includes answers to common questions through ASL videos, can be found at https://tinyurl.com/ypbxw64b.
EAST PALESTINE DERAILMENT
Norfolk Southern said Tuesday that it has
reached a $600 million agreement in principle to resolve a consolidated class
action lawsuit by East Palestine residents stemming from the 2023 train
derailment. The rail company said that if approved by the court, the agreement
would resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the
derailment, and for residents who choose to participate in the settlement,
personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment. The lawsuit
was filed in the wake of the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train with
hazardous chemicals in February 2023. Residents had been evacuated and a
controlled release of vinyl chloride was made by burning the chemicals. Some
residents following the derailment complained of health problems including
headaches. Norfolk Southern said the agreement will give finality and
flexibility for settlement class members.
ECONOMY
The national unemployment rate trended down
slightly in March to 3.8 percent from February's 3.9 percent as total nonfarm
payroll employment rose by 303,000 jobs in March, according to the U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS). President Joe Biden, facing a tough re-election
battle, touted the numbers in a statement, saying it passes a milestone of 15
million new jobs since he took office. He also
called for corporations to pass "their record profits to consumers."
BLS said other numbers, including the number of unemployed people, at 6.4
million, and the number of long-term unemployed, at 1.2 million, were little
changed in March. The federal unemployment rate has ranged from 3.7 percent to
3.9 percent since August 2023.
EDUCATION
Superintendent Paul Craft told the State Board
of Education (SBOE) Tuesday he's now optimistic lawmakers will come through with money
to address a looming budget shortfall resulting from the new K-12 governance
structure enacted in the biennial budget. Craft said he'd met recently with
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima), House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts
Hill) and Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) to discuss the
budget problem.
The SBOE discussed Tuesday
the implications of budget bill law changes that flattened the grade band
licensure structure for teachers to two bands from three. They also heard about
an expected interruption in services for students in the state's Autism and Jon
Peterson scholarships because of expired authority to serve them remotely, as
well as a plea for the board to take a tougher approach to teachers who break
their contracts. Under HB33 (Edwards), the grade bands are changing from preK-5,
4-9 and 7-12, to preK-8 and 7-12. Witnesses who spoke during the board's public
participation session said this change diminishes the value of specialized
training and knowledge teachers have to focus on middle-grades students and
will disrupt the efforts of teacher training programs.
The SBOE officially
moved to its new home in the William Green Building in downtown Columbus during
the week of Monday, April 1, SBOE President Paul LaRue told Hannah News. It's located at 30 W.
Spring St., which is about four blocks north of the board's current meeting
place at the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) office, 25 S. Front
St. The board's April meeting was its last at the DEW office as it transitions
to the new location.
Violence against teachers is likely to be
higher in schools that focus on grades and test scores than in schools that
emphasize student learning, a new study from researchers at Ohio State
University (OSU) found. Researchers surveyed over 9,000 U.S. teachers shortly
before and during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic about their perception of
the instructional emphasis in their schools. Participants also reported whether
they had been subjected to physical, verbal or property violence -- by
students, parents, colleagues and/or administrators. Results showed that a
school culture focused on performance was associated with higher levels of all
types of teacher-directed violence before and during COVID-19, while school
emphasis on mastery of material was related to lower levels of violence aimed
at educators.
Gov. Mike DeWine and DEW Director Stephen
Dackin Thursday announced that 171 Ohio schools are receiving the Purple Star
designation as members of the Purple Star Class of 2024. The designation is
given to schools that show a significant commitment to serving students and
families connected to the armed forces. Ninety-seven new Ohio schools received
the award for the first time, and 74 schools earned a renewal after three years
as Purple Star schools. Ohio has 600 active Purple Star schools. To qualify, schools
choose a school-based staff person to serve as a liaison between military
families and the school. These liaisons complete professional development,
identify military-connected students, and facilitate supports throughout the
school community for identified students and families. Purple Star schools also
participate in at least one supportive activity each year.
ELECTIONS 2024
A conflict between Ohio law and the timing of
the Democratic National Convention (DNC) could affect whether President Joe
Biden appears on Ohio's presidential ballot unless the convention is moved up
or Ohio lawmakers act. Secretary of State Frank LaRose's office sent a letter
to Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters Friday seeking a clarification on
the apparent conflict, which occurs because Ohio law requires a political party
to submit the names of their presidential and vice presidential nominees by the
90th day before the general election. That day falls this cycle on Wednesday,
Aug. 7. However, the Democratic National Convention is not set to convene until
Monday, Aug. 19, after the deadline. The letter, authored by Secretary of State
Chief Legal Counsel Paul Disantis, said that in order to avoid the conflict,
the Democratic National Committee must either move up its nominating
convention, or the Ohio General Assembly must pass a law creating an exception
to the requirement by Thursday, May 9.
An Ohio House primary race for a Franklin
County district is headed for an automatic recount after official primary
results separated the two candidates by just 20 votes. Tuesday was the deadline
for county boards of elections to complete their official canvass of the March
19 presidential primary. According to official results from the Franklin County
Board of Elections, Mark Sigrist won the Democratic primary for the 10th House
District over Sarah Pomeroy by just 20 votes. However, because the differential
between the two candidates is less than half of a percent, state law requires
an automatic recount of the results. A spokesman for the board of elections
said the recount began on Friday, April 12 and will be concluded by Monday,
April 14.
Meanwhile, results from the Cuyahoga County
Board of Elections show Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) will move on to
the November ballot in his bid for re-election after petition issues caused him
to run in the primary as a write-in candidate.
The Ohio Elections Commission, among other
action Thursday, fined the campaign for Gordon Short, who lost a Republican
primary for the 17th House District in March, $50 for filing a late report.
Americans for Prosperity (AFP) Action announced
this week that it was launching a new $1 million campaign in Ohio in support of
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Bernie Moreno. The ads argue that Moreno
"will fight to bring down costs, grow jobs, and secure the border to
protect Americans."
The following endorsements were made over the
week:
- The re-election campaign of U.S. Sen. Sherrod
Brown (D-OH) announced the endorsements of Laborers' International Union of
North America (LIUNA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), American
Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
ENERGY/UTILITIES
Chairwoman Jenifer French of the Public
Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) told senators Tuesday she works every day
to restore Ohioans' trust in the executive agency but could shed no light on
purported members of "DeWine world" who an indicted FirstEnergy
official says knew of the utility's bribery scheme with prominent Cap-Square
figures including former commission Chairman Sam Randazzo. French addressed the
Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee as part of her reconfirmation
process less than two hours before Randazzo was found dead by apparent suicide
at a warehouse he owned in downtown Columbus.
ETHICS
Nearly 70 percent of advisory requests to the
Ohio Ethics Commission (OEC) on Ohio Ethics Law came from local governments in
2023, according to the OEC's Annual Report. That number includes guidance
requests coming from counties, cities, townships, villages and public schools
located throughout Ohio. Susan Willeke, education and communications
administrator at OEC, said she has expanded statewide ethics law training
opportunities during her almost two decades at the commission with the growth
of online learning vehicles. The 2023 annual report says that for the year, OEC
reached approximately 55,000 public employees and officials throughout the
state with its e-course offerings, in addition to over 160 in-person
educational offerings throughout the year delivered to nearly 15,000 people
across Ohio.
GAMING/GAMBLING
The Study Commission on the Future of Gaming in
Ohio held its final meeting on Thursday, hearing from a wide range of witnesses
on a variety of gambling-related issues. According to budget law HB33
(Edwards), the study commission is required to submit a report of its findings
by Sunday, June 30. The commission is abolished after the report is submitted.
Commission Co-Chairs Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) and Sen. Nathan Manning
(R-North Ridgeville) told reporters after the meeting that they will begin working
on the report soon. Thursday's meeting was scheduled to focus on racinos and
charitable gaming, but the commission also heard testimony on iGaming, iLottery
and sports betting.
Gambling revenues were fairly stable in
February 2024, according to data provided by the Ohio Casino Control Commission
(OCCC) and Ohio Lottery Commission (OLC). The state's four casinos reported
$83.5 million in revenue in February 2024, up from $82.6 million in February
2023. Ohio's seven racinos reported $113.7 million in revenue in February 2024,
down from $114.4 million in February 2023. Traditional Ohio Lottery ticket
sales were $359.6 million in February 2024, up from $359.5 million in February
2023. The largest variation occurred in sports betting revenue. Ohio's
operators reported $67.6 million in taxable revenue in February 2024, down from
$81.4 million in February 2023. The revenue was down despite the fact that
sports betting operators reported more total gross receipts (handle) in
February 2024 than February 2023 -- $671.1 million compared to $639 million.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
In his response to the governor's “State of the
State” speech, House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said his chamber and
the governor share many of the same goals. Specifically, Stephens pointed to
HB7 (White-Humphrey), the Strong Foundations Act, which addresses maternal and
infant mortality. "HB7 ... will work in concert with the governor's goals
to serve a strong foundation for babies and moms throughout the state by
investing in their future," he said. "Additionally, we can attract
major economic drivers so that our families can prosper." Asked about
Delta-8 hemp, Stephens said there is agreement among lawmakers that it should
be illegal for children to buy and use. He suggested language addressing that
issue could be amended into HB258 (Carruthers), which increases fines for
repeatedly selling tobacco products to minors. "Hopefully the Senate will
use that bill as a vehicle for the Delta-8 provisions that the governor was
talking about," he said. "That'll be something we can do rather
quickly, I would think."
After session, Senate President Matt Huffman
(R-Lima) weighed in on Gov. Mike DeWine's "State of the State"
address delivered earlier in the day. He said DeWine was "spot on" on
his comments about the science of reading. He said he was happy to hear DeWine
talk about making sure institutions of higher education change the way teachers
are taught about how to educate kids to read. On child care, Huffman said the
part of the discussion that has been missing is capacity. "It's one thing
to say you're eligible for funds and we're going to pay more money. But if
there's no place to go, it doesn't help the working parents. I think capacity
has to be part of the discussion," Huffman said. Huffman praised the
governor's comments on vision screening, noting Treasurer Robert Sprague had an
initiative a couple of budget cycles ago that lawmakers funded regarding the
use of vision vehicles that went around the state to do vision screenings on
students. Huffman also addressed the potential conflict of the Democratic National
Convention being held past Ohio's deadline for submitting a presidential
candidate name to the Ohio ballot. He praised Secretary of State Frank LaRose's
staff for identifying the issue. He said he's not sure there needs to be a
legislative change and that he is waiting to hear from Democrats if anything
needs to be done.
After Gov. DeWine's "State of the
State," House and Senate Democrats said they liked that DeWine centered
his address on Ohio's children and families, but also said they were
disappointed that many of the topics that affect children and families weren't
discussed enough or at all. Democrats applauded Gov. DeWine's message of
increasing merit scholarships for high school and college students to further
their education in Ohio's higher education institutions. DeWine talked about
affordable and available child care, which Senate Minority Leader Nickie
Antonio (D-Lakewood) called "awesome," but she said they need to be
able to raise the eligibility threshold so more people can access this service.
Discussing public and private education in Ohio, Antonio said that Ohio's
investments in private schools have led to increasing disparity among
institutions.
The Senate unanimously passed legislation that
would grant an exemption for mothers who are breastfeeding from jury duty. HB34
(Klopfenstein-King) now heads to the governor for his signature after the
Senate passed it 30-0 during its post "State of the State" Wednesday
session. The Senate also unanimously passed all other bills on its agenda,
including the following:
- HCR6
(King), urging Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision, which
senators said punished those who take on a public service job.
- SCR8
(Schaffer), urging the president, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and
Congress to take prompt action to reduce the processing time for veterans'
disability benefit claims.
- SCR9
(Schaffer), urging Congress to support the provision of prompt and
comprehensive mental health treatment to military personnel and veterans who
are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-related
stress disorders.
- SB163
(Kunze), creating the Dublin City Schools licensed plate, which Kunze said
would benefit the Dublin food bank and put more of a spotlight on suburban
poverty.
Rep. Jessica Miranda (D-Cincinnati) stepped
down as House minority whip Wednesday, though she has not yet been appointed as
Hamilton County auditor. Rep. Dani Issacsohn (D-Cincinnati) is succeeding
Miranda as minority whip. House Insurance Committee Chair Rep. Brian Lampton
(R-Beavercreek) Wednesday had seemingly broken the news when he congratulated
Miranda, the committee's ranking member, on becoming the new Hamilton County
auditor at Wednesday’s hearing. However, a House Democratic Caucus spokesman said
the appointment has not yet occurred, though it could occur as soon as this
weekend.
Discrimination is continuing to prevent many
families from buying a house in their ideal community, Reps. Josh Williams
(R-Oregon) and Dontavious Jarrells (D-Columbus) told the House Civil Justice
Committee on Tuesday. "Current real estate procedure requires buyers to
disclose their name and address to the seller when making a real estate
transaction. Using this information, sellers can easily identify buyers online
on social media -- uncovering their race, religion or political beliefs,"
Williams said during sponsor testimony on HB438. "As our country and our
state grow increasingly polarized, we see sellers refuse to sell to buyers
based on these criteria," he continued. "While I had heard of this
occurring anecdotally from my wife Neaira, who works in Toledo as a realtor,
conversations with trade groups confirmed that such discrimination is a problem
in the home buying process. The goal of this legislation is to prevent
discrimination from occurring in the residential real estate market and the
solution is simple -- redact the names and address of the buyer until the
property is under contract." Under the process outlined in the bill, the
seller will have to evaluate an offer solely on its financial merit, he said.
Republicans' Senate energy priorities seemed at
cross purposes Tuesday as members urged both compliance and pushback on Biden
administration mandates for greenhouse gas (GHG) cuts in the Inflation
Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Sens. Tim Schaffer
(R-Lancaster) and Al Landis (R-Dover) advocated new state regulation qualifying
Ohio companies for carbon capture funding under the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (USEPA) rule, while Sens. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) and Rob
McColley (R-Napoleon) pushed a resolution petitioning USEPA to withdraw the
same rule.
In other legislative action, the House Aviation
and Aerospace Committee reported out HB77 (Willis) which governs the operation
of unmanned aerial vehicles; the House Civil Justice Committee reported out
HB265 (Wiggam-Hall) which deals with public records exemptions; and HB338
(White-Sweeney) which addresses child support orders for disabled children; the
House Government Oversight Committee reported out HB360 (Seitz-Brennan) which
designates Aug. 24 as “Ukraine Independence Day”; and the House Transportation
Committee reported out highway naming bills HB317 (Stoltzfus) and HB350
(Callender).
GOVERNOR
Approximately 8,000 children will receive
financial support through the new "Child Care Choice Voucher Program"
Gov. Mike DeWine announced during his "State of the State" address on
Wednesday. The program will be available to Ohio families that earn up to 200
percent of the federal poverty level, or $60,000 for a family of four, the
governor said. "From April 29, 2024 through June 30, 2025 we anticipate
serving 8,000 children totaling about a maximum of $140 million," DeWine
spokesperson Dan Tierney told Hannah News.
"The payments will range depending on the child's age. The funding comes
from the child care discretionary ARPA funds, and underspent in the
publicly-funded child care space as a result of lower caseloads
post-pandemic." Additionally, the governor announced his administration
will be re-allocating $85 million in federal funding to create new "Child
Care Access Grants." These grants will provide resources to improve and
expand existing child care facilities, DeWine said. Those programs were two of
many children's initiatives announced or proposed by DeWine during his
"State of the State" speech, which was heard by lawmakers, statewide
elected officials and others during a joint legislative session held in the
House Chamber.
GREAT LAKES
Fish Ohio records from Lake Erie show 3,916
catches of trophy fish from 17 different species were submitted in 2023,
according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of
Wildlife. The Fish Ohio program celebrates "amazing catches" of 25
species of fish, ODNR said. Popular species sought by anglers include walleye,
yellow perch, smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Those who reel in a
qualifying catch receive the commemorative Fish Ohio pin for their first entry
and a "Master Angler" pin for catching qualifiers of four different
species in the same year. Applications for a Fish Ohio pin and minimum length
requirements can be found at fishohio.gov.
GUNS
"It appears that this trial court is the
only court in the nation that has allowed fictitious litigants to bring a claim
without first disclosing their actual identities." Columbus makes this
extraordinary charge against nearby Delaware County in the city's successful
bid for the Ohio Supreme Court to hear its complaint against the lower court
for blocking its 2022 ordinance banning "high-capacity" gun clips and
"negligent storage of a firearm" -- even if only temporarily. The
preliminary nature of the Delaware County Common Pleas Court ruling and the
subsequent 5th District decision upholding the injunction against the capital
city's gun laws is now at the heart of John
Doe et al v. City of Columbus, as justices have refused to consider whether
six plaintiffs represented by the Buckeye Institute can adopt pseudonyms
without the judiciary's permission, without filing real names under seal, and
without appearing in court.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Central
Ohio warned consumers that scammers may be targeting parents seeking SAT and
ACT test prep resources. "Con artists take advantage of easy access to
kids' names and school information to trick parents into paying for bogus SAT
and ACT materials," the group said. "A parent or guardian gets an
unsolicited call from a person claiming to be from the College Board, the
company responsible for the PSAT, SAT, and AP tests, or another educational
organization. The caller claims to be confirming the home address, so they can
send test prep materials, such as books, CDs, or videos, that their child
requested at school," BBB continued. Callers may ask parents to pay a
deposit for materials, claiming it will be refunded. Several people have
reported to the BBB Scam Tracker that callers had their child's name, phone
number, address, school information, and/or the date and location of their
child's scheduled test, the nonprofit said.
The Senate Workforce and Higher Education
Committee Tuesday heard capital budget presentations from the leaders of three
public universities: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), the University
of Akron (UA), and Wright State University (WSU). The committee meeting was the
first of six hearings that will cover capital budget requests from all 14 of
Ohio's public universities, Chair Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) said. In total, the
14 universities requested $300 million in capital funding through the Inter-University
Council (IUC) of Ohio, he added. Cirino earlier this year sent a letter to
university presidents instructing them to bring data and other information to
back up their requests. He told universities to present information about the
need for the proposed projects, any "cost avoidance data" and how the
project will "impact the future delivery of instruction." On Tuesday,
the university presidents presented that information and more. Both UA
President Gary Miller and Wright State President Susan Edwards told the
committee they had taken pains to turn the financial outlooks of their
universities around. At NEOMED, President John Langel said enrollment is on the
rise. Nearly 6,000 students have graduated from the university since 1981.
About 90 percent of pharmacists and 65 percent of physicians stay in the state.
About one in 13 licensed physicians in Ohio are NEOMED graduates, he said. The
number of NEOMED employees is down compared to FY17, he noted.
On Wednesday, the committee heard from Kent
State President Todd Diacon and the University of Cincinnati (UC) President
Neville Pinto. The two offered contrasting pictures, with Kent State facing
steep budget cuts while UC's enrollment continues to grow.
The House Higher Education Committee Wednesday
reported out along party lines legislation to require single-sex restrooms and
other facilities at primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher
education. In addition, the committee heard sponsor testimony on a bill to
prohibit colleges from "requiring individuals to commit to specific
beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles." Committee Chair Tom Young
(R-Dayton) also made a statement about universities' progress on implementing science
of reading curriculum.
INSURANCE
Gains in individual health care coverage
nationwide that have followed the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are
in danger of backtracking unless Congress acts before the end of 2025,
according to research from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)
released recently. According to CBPP, the passage of the ACA has brought down
the number of people without health insurance in the United States from 45.2
million in 2013 to 26.4 million in 2022. The report shows that 21.3 million
people nationwide have an ACA marketplace plan for the year 2024 after 40
states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid under ACA and the
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). CBPP points out that the increase in the
number of insured people nationwide following ACA has been particularly
significant for people of color who have historically experienced higher
uninsured rates due to racism, discrimination in employment and education and
other factors that diminish income and access to employer-based health insurance.
The report says that from 2013-2022 the uninsured rate fell from 23.8 percent
to 14.1 percent for people under age 65 among American Indian and Alaska Native
people, from 29.7 percent to 17.8 percent among Latino people and from 18.7
percent to 9.9 percent among Black people.
JUDICIAL
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is
asking Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page to stay her ruling that
permits plaintiffs in the EdChoice litigation to pose questions to him in
writing, saying he will soon take his case to the Ohio Supreme Court after
losing his first appeal. School districts suing over the constitutionality of
EdChoice have sought to depose Huffman, a longtime supporter of vouchers, as
part of their lawsuit. He asked Page to quash the subpoena, citing legislative
privilege established in the Ohio Constitution. She responded by blocking the
deposition but allowing plaintiffs to pose up to 20 questions to him in
writing.
LOBBYISTS
Hicks Partners Friday announced the appointment
of Ann Hamilton as senior advisor. According to the firm, "Ann brings to
the team a wealth of experience from her roles in government, top-ranked
universities, and health care, underscoring the firm's commitment to providing
top-tier advisory services." Notably, Hamilton was one of the first
employees of Hicks Partners as vice president when the company was established
more than 20 years ago in 2003. Most recently Hamilton served as the chief of government
relations for the Cleveland Clinic.
Ohio Kids First, a group that calls itself
"a leading voice in the fight for supporting Ohio kids and families with
young children," announced a new executive director and a website that
lays out its priorities, mission and vision. Rachel Selby is joining the
organization as its executive director. Her background includes philanthropy
and talent management for Dayton Children's Hospital and assisting in the
official launch of the Youth and Family Ombudsman Office of Ohio as their state
liaison. Her personal role as a foster parent for nearly a decade provided
"a front row seat" to the cost of adverse child experiences on all of
society, the group said. Ohio Kids First said in addition to the launch of its
website at www.ohiokidsfirst.org, it is elevating its current campaign to
support policies, lawmakers and candidates who are committed to solving Ohio's
child care crisis that is negatively affecting children, families, and
businesses.
MARIJUANA/HEMP
Adults age 21 and older might be able to
legally purchase marijuana in Ohio much earlier than September, according to
Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord). Speaking with reporters at the Statehouse,
Callender said adult use cannabis sales could begin in the middle of June.
Callender said the Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Cannabis
Control (DCC) has been working quickly, and that many adult use marijuana rules
are already in the jurisdiction of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review
(JCARR), which he currently chairs.
There is no free ride when it comes to the
opening of legalized marijuana markets, including Ohio's market following the
passage of Issue 2 by voters in 2023. That was the message from Dr. Lynn Silver
of the group Getting It Right From The Start, which advocates for reducing
harms, youth use and problem use while promoting social justice and equity as
more states legalize marijuana and cannabis use. Thoughtful marijuana and
tobacco regulation were major themes of a discussion of the Health Policy
Institute of Ohio's 2024 Health Value Dashboard, released this week, which
lists tobacco and cannabis prevention among four main policy priorities to
improve health value in Ohio. Other policy priorities included mental
well-being, health care affordability and creating opportunities to thrive.
Silver said that as Ohio crafts its legislation surrounding legalized
marijuana, the General Assembly should take into consideration legalization's
public health impacts.
The Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program has
awarded dispensary certificates of operation to Parkland Ventures LLC, located
at 2765 Gender Rd. in Columbus and to Ohio Holistic Health LLC, located at 215
W. 5th St. in Delphos, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Cannabis
Control announced this week. The state has now issued 122 medical marijuana
dispensary certificates of operation.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The 2024 Ohio
Wildlife Legacy Stamp, featuring a pair of cedar waxwings, is on sale now, the
Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife announced.
Each year, the legacy stamp showcases a photograph of Ohio's native wildlife
species, selected through an annual contest. This year’s photo was captured by
Roni Leatherman of Rittman. Cedar waxwings are a migratory bird known for their
affinity for berries and their high-pitched call. For $15, Ohio Wildlife Legacy
Stamp purchasers receive a collectible stamp, sticker, and commemorative card.
Stamp holders can also receive a discount on stays at nine of Ohio's state park
lodges. All of the stamp's proceeds go to wildlife conservation, with most
benefitting species of greatest conservation need through the Wildlife
Diversity Fund. New this year, $1 from every stamp sold will go to the Southern
Wings program, which protects the overwintering habitats of neotropical
migratory birds that pass through Ohio.
ODNR reopened
the Maumee Bay State Park Trautman Nature Center after a nearly
half-million-dollar renovation project. The nature center has provided
environmental education and appreciation for the last three decades. It has
reopened to the community with a more immersive visitor experience.
Ohio eclipsed
its all-time high for shale oil production to close 2023, surpassing the
state's 2019 zenith. Oil from Utica and Marcellus formations trumped Ohio's
previous record by more than 8 percent to reach 7.8 million barrels (bbls) in
the recent fourth quarter. That figure is up by a third year-over-year,
moreover, also beating Q3 by 20 percent. Gas from horizontal wells continued to
fall in October-December to 537 billion cubic feet (cf), however; down a
fraction from second- and third-quarters of 2023 and trailing 552 billion cf in
Q1. Belmont, Jefferson and Monroe counties recapped natural gas output from Q3
to place first, second and third, respectively, in the last three months of
2023.
PENSIONS
The State
Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Board of Trustees will see a new
representative of contributing members this fall, as the incumbent, board Chair
Dale Price, declined to seek re-election. The two candidates vying to replace
Price both have the backing of a major teachers' group. The Ohio Education
Association, the largest teachers’ union in the state, is endorsing Sandy Smith
Fischer, a teacher in Streetsboro City Schools. The Ohio Federation of Teachers
is endorsing Michelle Flanigan, a teacher at Brunswick City Schools. Ohio
Retirement for Teachers Association (ORTA) also is endorsing Flanigan.
Trustee powers
to modify retirement plan qualifications and benefits should be standardized
across public employee pension funds, and the systems should be held to a more
stringent standard for paying down unfunded liabilities, a staff report from
the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) recommends. Council staff Thursday
delivered on a request from council members to compile an overview of funding
trends and past reforms as they consider requests from multiple systems for
employers to contribute more funding. The report looks back to 1998, when
lawmakers granted the pension funds broad authority to make investment
decisions and set the 30-year standard for the funds to pay down their unfunded
liabilities. At that time, all systems were well funded, with an
asset-to-liability ratio of at least 90 percent for each of them. The report
acknowledges some important history that precedes 1998, but said policies since
had a "clearly dominant role" in determining their health today.
PEOPLE
Former Public
Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Chair Sam Randazzo has died by suicide,
according to the Franklin County Coroner's Office. "Mr. Randazzo was found
by Columbus Police unresponsive ... at 492 E. Mound St., Columbus, OH on April
9, 2024 at approximately 1145 hours," Franklin County Coroner's Office
Public Affairs Director Jeremy Blake told Hannah
News. Randazzo was facing federal and state charges related to his role in
the 133-HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) bribery scandal. Randazzo is the second
individual involved in the scandal to die by suicide, following Statehouse
lobbyist Neil Clark.
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Ohio parks in
the path of totality during Monday's eclipse reported filling up quickly as the
state saw mostly clear skies. Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, who watched the eclipse from
Wright Patterson Air Force Base, estimated a crowd at about 15,000 in a post on
X/Twitter, adding that he met visitors from Alabama, Colorado, and Canada who
came there for the experience. Gov. Mike DeWine watched the eclipse with
members of his extended family at the Indian Lake home of First Lady Fran
DeWine's sister. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) reported parks
at capacity throughout the afternoon leading up to the full eclipse, with Lake
Loramie State Park, Lawrence Woods Nature Preserve, Sheldon Marsh State Nature
Preserve, Mt. Gilead State Park, Van Buren State Park and Daughmer Prairie
Savannah State Nature Preserve among the first parks to fill up. Others
reporting at capacity included Mary Jane Thurston State Park, Magee Marsh,
Indian Lake State Park, Maumee Bay State Park and Mosquito Lake State Park.
The Ohio
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated ahead of the solar eclipse on
Monday, April 8, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday. Beginning on Sunday, April
7, staff members from a number of state agencies assembled at the EOC in
Columbus to organize resources for local partners who request support, DeWine
said during a press conference at the EOC. "There is certainly no better
place to experience the eclipse than in the birthplace of aviation, home of
Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the moon. ... We anticipate a
large number of people are going to come to Ohio," DeWine said. The state
could see as many as 500,000 out-of-state visitors for the eclipse, Ohio
Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) Director Sima Merick said.
TAXATION
Rep. Adam
Mathews (R-Lebanon) Tuesday gave sponsor testimony to the House Ways and Means
Committee on his legislation that he said would "once-and-for-all
eliminate Ohio's state income tax and Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) by
2030." Mathews said HB386 (Mathews-Lampton) would establish a six-year
gradual phase-down of the state income tax through the remainder of the decade.
He said it would ensure that Ohio remains a destination for businesses to grow
and attract people who want to work, raise a family and thrive. Repealing the
CAT "demonstrates our commitment to the mission of ensuring that Ohio is
the ideal place to start and run a business, to be a place where every
entrepreneur's dreams can be realized."
TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE
Gov. Mike
DeWine, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Ohio Traffic
Safety Office (OTSO), said they are encouraged that Ohio's distracted driving
law is working after a new report from Cambridge Mobile Telematics (CMT) showed
a continued decrease in distracted driving since Ohio adopted a law making it a
primary traffic offense. Provisions of 134-SB288 (Manning) took effect last
year that allowed law enforcement to make traffic stops over the use of cell
phones or other electronic devices, after it had previously been a secondary
offense requiring law enforcement to witness another violation first. CMT, a
telematics service provider, released its annual report, analyzing data from
more than one billion car trips by millions of U.S. drivers. Overall, CMT said
distracted driving decreased nationally by 4.5 percent in 2023, the first
decrease since 2020.
VETERANS
Terry Holecek
officially began his duties Monday as the new superintendent at Ohio Veterans
Homes, located in Sandusky and Georgetown, according to the Ohio Department of
Veterans Services (ODVS). Holecek is an Ohio-licensed nursing home
administrator (LNHA) and health services executive (HSE), serving in top roles
for national long-term care, senior living, and home care organizations. He has
successfully led multi-facility operations and has been recognized for his
achievements in improving resident experience, quality outcomes, and employee
satisfaction. He holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in gerontology and
health care administration from Kent State University as well as a Core of
Knowledge Certification in Long-Term Care Administration from Ohio State
University.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Sandi
Golden-Vest is the new superintendent of the Ohio Bureau of Workers'
Compensation (BWC) Division of Safety & Hygiene, the agency announced. In
this role, Golden-Vest will lead the division's efforts to help Ohio's
employers reduce the risk of workplace injuries and illness, BWC said.
"This includes loss prevention consulting, education and training, the
Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, safety councils, safety grants, research, and
other outreach," BWC said. Golden-Vest's appointment will go before the
BWC Board of Directors for final approval.
WORKFORCE
The state's
In-Demand Jobs Week this year will run from Monday, May 6 through Friday, May
10 with the theme of "Ohio, the Heart of Opportunity," according to a
recent announcement by the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation. This
year is the seventh time the week has been held to promote Ohio's in-demand and
fastest-growing industries with statewide hiring, education and training
events. The "Heart of Opportunity" theme focuses on opportunities
available now and in the future including internships and apprenticeships. A
map of already-scheduled events across Ohio is available at https://topjobs.ohio.gov/week. Individuals who need help planning an event or have other questions
can email In-DemandJobs@jfs.ohio.gov. Types
of events can also include facility tours, roundtable discussions and
networking events. More information on job opportunities and career services is
available at https://ohiomeansjobs.ohio.gov/.