January 2025 Update

January 24, 2025

The following are bills that Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is tracking in the Ohio Legislature. The status of bills are updated as warranted. If you have any questions or concerns about a particular bill, please be sure to contact Jason Warner, Director of Strategic Engagement at jwarner@greaterohio.org or by calling 614.224.0187, ext. 311. (Note: inclusion of a bill on this list does not indicate endorsement or support.) 

Click here to download a PDF version of the latest Legislative Report

Brownfields

Budget & Taxation

House Bill 17

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Brian Lorenz Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 23, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would classify certain storage condominium facilities as residential property for tax purposes.

Notes:

Senate Bill 3

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: George Lang, Stephen Huffman Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would phase down the state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75% over two years.

Notes:

Capital Investments

Senate Bill 2

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Reineke Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: This is a placeholder bill expressing the intent of the General Assembly to introduce legislation to increase power generation and improve the affordability and reliability of the state electric grid.

Notes:

Senate Bill 15

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Andrew Brenner, Steve Wilson Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill permits port authorities to establish a Common Bond Fund Program to finance port authority facilities.

Notes:

Housing

Senate Bill 5

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Andrew Brenner, Stephen Huffman Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would provide for the expedited removal of unauthorized occupants from residential property and prohibit the use and sale of fraudulent deeds.

Notes:

Senate Bill 6

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Kristina Roegner Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill makes changes to the law relating to building inspections.

Notes:

Senate Bill 22

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Blessing, Hearcel Craig Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceeds five percent of their income.

Notes:

Senate Bill 28

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Blessing, Nickie Antonio Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would levy a fee on certain high-volume landlords.

Notes:

Transportation

House Bill 9

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Melanie Miller, Sharon Ray Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 23, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would replace requirements that the Department of Transportation construct certain interstate exchanges with a traffic congestion study.

Notes: HB9 is a companion bill to SB31 (Romanchuk) see below

Senate Bill 31

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Mark Romanchuk Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would replace requirements that the Department of Transportation construct certain interstate exchanges with a traffic congestion study.

Notes: SB31 is a companion bill to HB9 (Miller-Ray) see above

Miscellaneous

House Bill 1

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Angela King, Roy Klopfenstein Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 23, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would modify the law that prohibits certain government, businesses, and individuals from acquiring certain real property and to name the act the Ohio Property Protection Act.

Notes:

House Bill 11

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Ron Ferguson, Brian Lorenz Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 23, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill require legislative approval of certain administrative rules and other regulatory actions, permit the chair of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) to request a third-party fiscal analysis of a rule, and to require state agencies to publicly post policy documents.

Notes:

Senate Bill 29

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Blessing, Catherine Ingram Current Status: Introduced Last Update: January 22, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would allow two or more municipalities to create a joint economic development district without involving a township.

Notes: