November 2024 Update

November 15, 2024

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

 

If you are looking for information about all legislation currently pending in the Ohio General Assembly, please visit the official state website by clicking here.

 

Brownfields

HB519 Brownfield Revitalization

Introduced: May 8, 2024 Sponsor: Thomas Hall, Bride Sweeney Current Status: Pending in the House Finance Committee Last Update: June 20, 2024 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill restores the Clean Ohio Fund to be administered by the Department of Development and the Clean Ohio Council.

Notes: This is a priority bill for Greater Ohio Policy Center who worked with Reps. Hall and Sweeney to develop the legislation. HB519 would provide a dedicated, permanent source of funding for brownfield remediation efforts in the state of Ohio.


Budget & Taxation

HB1 Property, Income Tax Changes

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Sponsor: Adam Matthews Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: April 25, 2023 (Seventh Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would modify the law regarding property taxation and income tax rates.

Notes:

HB33 FY24-25 Operating Budget

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Sponsor: Jay Edwards Current Status: Senate Overrides Veto - Provision takes effect in 90 days Last Update: January 24, 2024 (Consideration of Governor’s Veto) Vote 24-8

Summary: The bill makes appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025, as well as levies taxes, and provides authorization and conditions for the operation of state government programs.

Notes: Governor DeWine signed the budget after issuing 44 line items vetoes to provisions in the budget. Funding in the budget takes effect immediately, while other statutory changes will take effect with 90 days.

The House of Representatives voted to override the Governor’s Veto of a provision which would restrict cites from banning the sale of flavored tobacco products by a vote of 60-31. The Senate agreed to the veto override by a vote of 24-8. This provision will become effective in 90 days (April 23, 2024).

HB57 Homestead Exemption - Inflation Index

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Sponsor: Thomas Hall, Steve Demetriou Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: May 31, 2023 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill indexes the homestead exemption amounts to inflation.

Notes:

HB60 Homestead Exemption - Expand Qualification

Introduced: February 21, 2023 Sponsor: Dan Troy Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: April 18, 2023 (Fourth Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill increases the amount of and expands the income qualifications for the homestead exemption.

Notes:

HB187 Procedures for Property Tax Valuation

Introduced: May 24, 2023 Sponsor: Thomas Hall, Adam Bird Current Status: Passed by the Senate as an Emergency Measure Last Update: December 6, 2023 (Passed by the Senate as an Emergency) Vote 31-0 ( Emergency 29-2)

Summary: The bill, which was significantly modified by the Ohio Senate, makes changes to the law governing real property valuation and tax complaints, to temporarily modify the computation of the homestead exemption, and abates property taxes on certain municipal and community improvement corporation property.

Notes:

HB263 Property Tax Freeze

Introduced: September 12, 2023 Sponsor: Dani Isaacsohn, Thomas Hall Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 6, 2024 (Fourth Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill authorizes a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes.

Notes: A substitute bill was accepted on February 6, 2024 which lowers the age to qualify for the exemption from 70 to 65, reduces the continual occupancy of a homestead from 10 years to 2 years, reduces the total amount of income to qualify from $70,000 or less to $50,000 or less, and reduces the appraised value of the home to qualify from less than $1 million to less than $500,000.

HB274 Homestead Property Tax Exemption

Introduced: September 18, 2023 Sponsor: Adam Matthews, Richard Dell’Aquila Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: December 12, 2023 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill authorizes an enhanced property tax homestead exemption for certain long-term homeowners.

Notes:

HB375 Tax Foreclosures, Land Banks

Introduced: January 8, 2024 Sponsor: Steve Demetriou, Tom Patton Current Status: Pending in the House Economic & Workforce Development Committee Last Update: June 11, 2024 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill makes changes to the law relating to tax foreclosures and county land reutilization corporations.

Notes:

HB386 State Income Tax Phase-Out

Introduced: January 24, 2024 Sponsor: Adam Matthews, Brian Lampton Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: May 14, 2024 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: To phase out the state income tax on nonbusiness income over six years and to repeal the commercial activity tax after 2029.

Notes:

HB496 Property Taxes, County Auditors

Introduced: April 22, 2024 Sponsor: Jim Hoops Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: November 13, 2024 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill makes changes to the law governing property taxes and county auditors.

Notes:

HB543 Tax Delinquent Sale Requirements

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: Willis Blackshear, Bernard Willis Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: May 21, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill requires payment of property taxes and assessments when a lot is split or transferred and generally prohibits tax-delinquent property owners from purchasing tax-foreclosed property.

Notes:

HB548 Real Property Foreclosure Sales Prohibition

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: Beth Lear Current Status: Pending in the House Civil Justice Committee Last Update: May 21, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill prohibits selling officers and online auctions in real property foreclosure sales.

Notes:

HB573 Local Government Fund

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: Phil Robinson, Juanita Brent Current Status: Pending in the House Finance Committee Last Update: May 21, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would increase the proportion of state tax revenue allocated to the Local Government Fund from 1.7% to 3.68% beginning July 1, 2026.

Notes:

HB596 Municipal TIF Incentive Districts

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: Phil Robinson Current Status: Pending in the House Economic & Workforce Development Committee Last Update: May 21, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill requires school board approval of municipal tax increment financing incentive district arrangements.

Notes:

HB630 Car Condominiums

Introduced: June 20, 2024 Sponsor: Brian Lorenz Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would classify car condominiums as residential property for tax purposes.

Notes:

HB632 Real Property Tax Foreclosures

Introduced: June 24, 2024 Sponsor: Jack Daniels Current Status: Pending in the House Civil Justice Committee Last Update: November 12, 2024 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill makes changes to the law related to real property tax foreclosures.

Notes:

HJR6 Limit Property Tax Increases

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Sponsor: Beth Lear, Scott Wiggam Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: May 21, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The joint resolution proposes to amend the Ohio Constitution to limit property tax increases for a property owner to not more than four per cent per year.

Notes: If approved by the General Assembly, the proposed Constitutional Amendment would be placed before Ohio voters for consideration and the next possible date (currently November 5, 2024)

SB2 Local Property Tax Exemptions

Introduced: January 11, 2023 Sponsor: Kirk Schuring Current Status: Referred to the Senate Finance Committee Last Update: January 17, 2023 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill authorizes certain subdivisions to designate areas within which certain residential property is wholly or partially exempted from property taxation.

Notes:

SB3 Community Revitalization Program

Introduced: January 11, 2023 Sponsor: Kirk Schuring Current Status: Referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: January 17, 2023 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill creates the Ohio Community Revitalization Program, authorizing nonrefundable income tax credits for undertaking community projects.

Notes:

SB43 Homestead Exemption - Surviving Spouse

Introduced: January 31, 2023 Sponsor: Andrew Brenner Current Status: Signed by the Governor, effective October 26, 2023 Last Update: July 28, 2023 (Signed by the Governor)

Summary: The bill modifies the homestead exemption for the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran.

Notes:

SB76 High-Volume Landlord Tax

Introduced: February 28, 2023 Sponsor: Louis Blessing III, Nickie Antonio Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: March 22, 2023 (Second Committee Hearing)

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

Notes:

SB136 Property Tax Reduction

Introduced: July 20, 2023 Sponsor: Hearcel Craig Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: September 20, 2023 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would reduce property taxes on qualified owner-occupied homes and to name this act the Property Tax Relief and Local Government Support Act.

Notes:

SB186 Property Tax Requirements

Introduced: November 14, 2023 Sponsor: Louis Blessing III, Catherine Ingram Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: June 18, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would require payment of property taxes and assessments when a lot is split or transferred and to generally prohibit tax-delinquent property owners from purchasing tax foreclosed property.

Notes:

SB216 State Income Tax Phase-Out

Introduced: January 23, 2024 Sponsor: George Lang, Steven Huffman Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: January 24, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would phase out the state income tax on nonbusiness income over six years and to repeal the commercial activity tax after 2029.

Notes:

SB244 Property Taxes - Residential Stability Zones

Introduced: April 17, 2024 Sponsor: Michelle Reynolds, Hearcel Craig Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Second Hearing)

Summary: The bill would authorizes local governments to create residential stability zones where homeowners may qualify for a partial property tax exemption.

Notes:

SB287 Authorize Property Tax Freeze

Introduced: June 10, 2024 Sponsor: Bill DeMora Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: June 11, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes.

Notes:


Capital Investments

HB2 State Capital Budget Appropriations (Cuttrona, Upchurch)

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Current Status: Approved by the General Assembly, Awaiting Governor’s Approval Last Update: June 26, 2024 (Concurrence by House), Vote 92-5 (Emergency Clause Approved 91-5)

Summary: The bill provides for operations of certain state programs and makes capital appropriations and reappropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2026.

Notes:

HB27 College Costs, Capital Appropriations (Matthews, Thomas)

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Current Status: Approved by the Ohio Senate Last Update: February 28, 2024 (Approved by the Senate), Vote 30-2

Summary: The bill requires state institutions of higher education to provide financial cost and aid disclosure forms, to make an appropriation for the Adoption Grant Program, and to make certain capital appropriations and reappropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2026.

Notes: The bill was amended on the Senate floor to appropriate $600 million for public school construction, $575 million for public works, $196 million for state fair improvements, and $38 million for the adoption grant program. There is some overlap in appropriations in the amended bill and in HB2 (see above) but the Senate is still soliciting requests for the capital budget and sought to pass this bill for certain appropriations and re-appropriations for the state of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2024.

HJR8 Public Infrastructure Funding

Introduced: November 12, 2024 Sponsor: Scott Oelslager, Dan Troy Current Status: Introduced in the House of Representatives Last Update: November 12, 2024 (Introduced)

Summary: The joint resolution would place the question before the voters at the next scheduled statewide election whether to enact Section 2t of Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution to permit the issuance of additional general obligation bonds to fund public infrastructure capital improvements.

Notes: HJR 8 is the companion bill to SJR4 (see below). If passed, the ballot measure would be placed before voters on the May 6, 2025 primary election ballot.

SB120 TIF Payments - Land Banks (Schuring)

Introduced: May 11, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: May 17, 2023 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill allows a portion of tax increment financing service payments to be designated for use by a county land reutilization corporation, or land bank.

Notes:

SJR4 Public Infrastructure Funding

Introduced: November 6, 2024 Sponsor: Brian Chavez, Hearcel Craig Current Status: Pending in the Senate Finance Committee Last Update: November 12, 2024 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The joint resolution would place the question before the voters at the next scheduled statewide election whether to enact Section 2t of Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution to permit the issuance of additional general obligation bonds to fund public infrastructure capital improvements.

Notes: SJR 4 is the companion bill to HJR8 (see above). If passed, the ballot measure would be placed before voters on the May 6, 2025 primary election ballot.


Housing

HB3 Affordable Housing Tax Credit (Pavliga, McNally)

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House Economic Development & Workforce Committee Last Update: June 13, 2023 (Fifth Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill authorizes a nonrefundable tax credit for the construction or rehabilitation of certain federally subsidized rental housing and to authorize a uniform method for the tax valuation of most such housing.

Notes: A substitute version of the bill was accepted by the committee on June 13, 2023.

HB85 Land Banks - Delinquent Property (Patton)

Introduced: February 28, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House State & Local Government Committee Last Update: May 14, 2024 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill expands the methods by which land banks can acquire delinquent property.

Notes:

HB212 Ohio Property Protection Act (King, Klopfenstein)

Introduced: June 13, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House Civil Justice Committee Last Update: June 4, 2024 (Fourth Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would prohibit foreign adversaries and certain businesses from owning real property in Ohio. Foreign adversaries as defined in the bill include the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.

Notes:

HB499 Housing Grant; Revise Property Law (Isaacsohn, Mathews)

Introduced: April 22, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the House Government Oversight Committee Last Update: June 11, 2024 (Third Hearing)

Summary: The bill creates a grant program for housing developments near megaprojects and for townships and municipalities that adopt pro-housing polities, and modifies the community reinvestment area law relating to residential property, as well as places limits on the 10% nonbusiness property tax credit.

Notes:

HB547 Low-Income Housing - Immigration Status (Wiggam, Gross)

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the House Economic & Workforce Development Committee Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would limit state low-income housing tax credits to projects that verify tenant immigration status.

Notes:

SB25 Real Property Foreclosures (Hackett)

Introduced: January 23, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee Last Update: June 26, 2024 (Fifth Committee Hearing) BILL AMENDED

Summary: Relating to property tax foreclosures.

Notes:

SB36 Property Foreclosures - Tenant Rights (Blessing)

Introduced: January 31, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Community Revitalization Committee Last Update: March 22, 2023 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: To grant tenants and certain other eligible bidders rights relating to the purchase of residential property sold at foreclosure.

Notes:

SB118 Tax Credits - Single Family Homes (Schuring)

Introduced: May 4, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: May 24, 2023 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: Authorizes a nonrefundable, transferable income tax credit for the construction of new, or conversion of rental housing into, an owner-occupied single-family home.

Notes:

SB241 Expedited Removal - Rental Occupants (S. Huffman, Brenner)

Introduced: April 16, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee Last Update: May 22, 2024 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill provides for the expedited removal of unauthorized occupants of a residential property and prohibits the use and sale of fraudulent deeds.

Notes:

SB243 Intent to Address Zoning Regulations (Reynolds, Craig)

Introduced: April 17, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Select Committee on Housing Last Update: April 24, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: Declares the General Assembly’s intent to enact legislation addressing local zoning regulations that impede the development of housing in this state.

Notes: This is a placeholder bill. A new bill with legislative changes will be introduced as a substitute bill at some point in the near future.

SB245 Revise ORC Housing Laws (Reynolds, Craig)

Introduced: April 17, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Select Committee on Housing Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill revise the law governing eviction, real estate representation agreements, residential building code enforcement, and real property transfers, and to amend the version of section 3781.10 of the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2025, to continue the changes after that date.

Notes:

SB246 Rename the Ohio Department of Development (Reynolds, Craig)

Introduced: April 17, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate General Government Committee Last Update: April 24, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: Renames the Department of Development to the Department of Housing and Development and to otherwise modify the law related to housing, and to amend the versions of sections 3742.32 and 5104.30 of the Revised Code that are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2025, to continue the changes after that date.

Notes:


SB249 Assistance Grants - Housing Costs (Reynolds, Craig)

Introduced: April 23, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate General Government Committee Last Update: April 24, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill provides grants to qualifying applicants for mortgage, property tax, and utility bill assistance.

Notes:


SB271 Tax Credits - Housing Based on Income (Blessing, Craig)

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Second Committee Hearing)

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

Notes:


SB299 Regarding Rentals, Real Estate Licenses (Brenner)

Introduced: June 24, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Select Committee on Housing Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill makes changes to the laws regulating short term rental property and requires real estate licenses be issued in an electronic format.

Notes:


SB300 County Housing Fund (Brenner, Smith)

Introduced: June 24, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Local Government Committee Last Update: November 13, 2024 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill requires any increased county real estate and manufactured home conveyance fees to be allocated for county-specific housing purposes.

Notes:


Transportation

HB23 FY24-25 Transportation Budget (Edwards)

Introduced: February 15, 2023 Current Status: Signed by the Governor Last Update: March 31, 2023 (Signed by the Governor) (Effective July 1, 2023)

Summary: The bill makes appropriations for programs related to transportation for the biennium beginning July 1,2023, and ending June 30, 2025, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of those programs.

Notes:

HB340 Employee Mobility Grant (Peterson, Dobos)

Introduced: November 28, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House Economic & Workforce Development Committee Last Update: June 18, 2024 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill authorize an employee mobility grant to be administered by the Director of Development and to make an appropriation.

Notes:


HB370 State Highways in Villages, Cities (Edwards)

Introduced: January 3, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Transportation Committee Last Update: November 12, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The clarifies and amends the law related to the Director of Transportation’s responsibilities for state highways located in villages and cities.

Notes:


SB48 Tax Reduction - Motor Fuel (S. Huffman)

Introduced: February 7, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Transportation Committee Last Update: February 28, 2023 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: To reduce the tax rate on certain motor fuel.

Notes:

Miscellaneous

HB64 Eminent Domain Law Changes (Kick, Creech)

Introduced: February 21, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House Civil Justice Committee Last Update: February 6, 2024 (Fifth Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill makes changes to state law related to eminent domain.

Notes: A substitute bill was accepted on May 16 that makes changes with regard to recreational trails, compensation offers, compensation awards and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. All changes are included in a Legislative Service Commission (LSC) comparison document.

HB93 Limit Recovery, Lien Imposition (Johnson, McClain)

Introduced: March 7, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the Senate Local Government Committee Last Update: November 13, 2024 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill places limitations on recovery and lien imposition by municipalities against property owners of non-owner-occupied properties for unpaid water, sewer, and disposal services rates and charges.

Notes: A substitute bill was accepted on June 6 that changes the process to hear certain improper billing appeals and all municipal lien appeals from the Environmental Review Appeals Commission to municipal and county courts. It also removes language requiring county treasurers to immediately certify tax amounts to municipalities and to do it on the regular biennial tax remittance schedule. In also removes language on collecting disposal and sewage liens.

HB153 Abandoned Land - Foreclosure Proceedings (Hillyer)

Introduced: April 18, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House State & Local Government Committee Last Update: October 31, 2023 (Third Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill limits which abandoned land may be subject to certain expedited foreclosure proceedings..

Notes:

HB534 Lead Pipe Replacement Programs (Jarrells)

Introduced: May 15, 2024 Current Status: Pending in the House Energy & Natural Resources Committee Last Update: May 21, 2024 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill establishes a program regarding lead service line replacement.

Notes:

SB41 Law Changes - Building Inspections (Roegner)

Introduced: January 31, 2023 Current Status: Pending in the House Economic Development & Workforce Committee Last Update: June 25, 2024 (Fourth Committee Hearing)

Summary: To to make changes to the law relating to building inspections.

Notes: