While there are still some races still left to be decided, the end of the 2020 election cycle signals the beginning of lame duck session at the Ohio General Assembly, as lawmakers return to Columbus to complete work on outstanding legislation before the 133rd General Assembly draws to a close on December 31.
Among the many issues expected to dominate the remaining time left in this current legislative session includes the ongoing debate regarding the repeal and replacement of House Bill 6, the controversial legislation which is set to provide more than $1 billion to two Ohio nuclear power plants formally owned by FirstEngery. House Bill 6 was the center of a federal corruption investigation that resulting in the criminal indictment of the former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, Larry Householder, who was removed from his post as leader of the House in July. Lawmakers have been considering several bills introduced in the wake of the scandal since August, and debate is expected to continue over the next six weeks.
Also expected to be a priority issue will be legislation to continue to guide the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As cases continue to spike across the state, the legislature is expected to act on another series of steps to guide the state’s response to the pandemic, similar to legislation enacted in March. A number of the provisions included in that legislation will come to an end on December 1 unless the legislature passes an extension. This includes permitting state and local government entities to hold virtual meetings as opposed to meeting in person, to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
There is also discussion ongoing about the possible enactment of a state capital budget. The capital budget provides communities with the opportunity to seek state funding assistance for projects that involve the acquisition, construction, equipment, or renovation of buildings and other facilities that meet a defined “public purpose.” Lawmakers declined to enact a capital budget earlier this year due to uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there is renewed interest among lawmakers and outside interests to seek passage of a capital budget before the end of the year. To learn more about the capital budget and how to formally submit a request of funding, please see the webinar GOPC hosted with Heritage Ohio and the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission last year.
There are a limited number of dates remaining in 2020 for lawmakers to complete their work. While members of the Ohio House of Representatives have 8 session dates scheduled, with 4 additional “if needed” session dates scheduled between now and December 17, the Ohio Senate only has 5 confirmed dates remaining on the calendar, with a further 5 “if needed” sessions scheduled through December 22.
In addition to the issues discussed above, lawmakers will be expected to act on any number of the outstanding legislation that is still pending in the General Assembly. House members have introduced more than 700 bills this session, while Senators have introduced nearly 400 bills. Not all of those bills are anywhere close in the legislative process to being enacted, but many of the concepts and language included in those bills could be added to a so-called Christmas Tree bill (so named because of the holiday season in which it is enacted and also because everyone has an opportunity to hang an “ornament” on the “tree”. Bills that have been approved by one legislative body, but not the other, often make it into the Christmas Tree bill.
We will continue to provide updates as lawmakers continue the important work that lies ahead.
Cover image courtesy of Statehouse News Bureau.