The following is a list of bills that GOPC is tracking in the Ohio Legislature. Status of bills is updated as warranted. If you have any questions or concerns about a particular bill, please be sure to contact Jason Warner, Manager of Government Affairs at jwarner@greaterohio.org or by calling 614-224-0187, ext. 306.
Housing and Urban Revitalization Issues
HB463 Foreclosure Actions (Dever)
Introduced: February 12, 2016
Current Status: Pending in Senate Civil Justice Committee
Last Update: November 30, 2016
Summary: The bill makes changes to the calculation of the exempt value of improved property subject to a community reinvestment area exemption, and clarifies the calculation of the exempt value of property subject to a brownfield remediation exemption, and authorizes the filing of a complaint with the county auditor challenging the assessed value of fully or partially exempt property. In addition, the bill makes modifications to the Uniform Commercial Code pertaining to the elimination of double payment obligation, unsigned and telephonically authorized checks, electronic records and signatures, and modernized suretyship rules.
Comment: HB482 (see below), which is pending in the House Ways & Means Committee, was amended into HB462 on November 30. The bill is highly likely to be approved during the final week of lame duck session, which wraps up on December 8.
HB482 Exempted Property – Value Calculation (Dever)
Introduced: March 3, 2016
Current Status: Pending in House Ways & Means Committee
Last Update: November 29, 2016
Summary: The bill makes changes to the calculation of the exempt value of improved property subject to a community reinvestment area exemption, and clarifies the calculation of the exempt value of property subject to a brownfield remediation exemption, and authorizes the filing of a complaint with the county auditor challenging the assessed value of fully or partially exempt property.
Comment: The bill, which has also been amended into HB463 (see above), is highly likely to see action during lame duck session.
HB126 Nuisance Law (Kunze)
Introduced: March 18, 2015
Current Status: Pending in House Judiciary Committee
Last Update: December 8, 2015
Summary: This bill expands the definition of "nuisance" for purposes of the state Nuisance Law, as well as in other sections of the Revised Code relating to nuisances including any real property, including vacant land, on which an offense of violence has occurred or is occurring.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session.
SB201 Nuisance – Vacant Property (Hughes, Yuko)
Introduced: August 10, 2015
Current Status: Pending in Senate Civil Justice Committee
Last Update: October 14, 2015
Summary: The bill would expand nuisance laws to apply to any real property, including vacant land, on which an offense of violence has occurred or is occurring. This is a companion bill to HB126 (Kunze) (see above).
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session.
Sewer and Water Infrastructure Issues
HB512 Water System Testing – MBR (Ginter)
Introduced: April 7, 2016
Current Status: Signed by the Governor
Last Updated: September 9, 2016 (Effective Date of Legislation)
Summary: The bill establishes requirements governing lead and copper testing for community and nontransient noncommunity water systems and revises the law governing lead contamination from plumbing fixtures. In addition, it provides funding to the Facilities Construction Commission for purposes of providing grants for lead fixture replacement in eligible schools, and to revise the laws governing the Water Pollution Control Loan and Drinking Water Assistance Funds.
Comment: The bill has already become effective law as of September 9, 2016.
SB333 Water Quality – MBR (Hite)
Introduced: May 18, 2016
Current Status: Pending in Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee
Last Update: November 29, 2016
Summary: The bill would revise specific laws relating to environmental protection.
Comment: The bill is highly likely to see action during lame duck session.
SJR3 Water & Sewer Capital Improvements Fund (Schiavoni)
Introduced: August 31, 2015
Current Status: Pending in Senate Finance Committee
Last Update: February 9, 2016
Summary: This joint resolution would amend the Ohio Constitution to permit the issuance of general obligation bonds to fund sewer and water capital improvements.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.
Taxation Issues
HB418 Senior Housing Tax Certificates (Barnes)
Introduced: December 17, 2015
Current Status: Pending in House Financial Institutions, Housing & Urban Development Committee
Last Update: May 17, 2016
Summary: This bill, entitled the "Senior Housing Relief Act," prohibits county treasurers from selling delinquent real estate tax "certificates" for parcels owned and occupied as a homestead for the preceding 20 years by a person aged 65 or older.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.
HB528 Local Motor Vehicle Permissive License Taxes (Ruhl)
Introduced: April 20, 2016
Current Status: Pending in House Ways & Means Committee
Last Update: May 17, 2016
Summary: The bill would authorize additional permissive local motor vehicle license taxes by as much as $15. The current max rate that can be assessed by counties, townships and municipalities is $20; this would permit each locality to add an additional $5 in fees, for a total of $15.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.
SB41 New Markets Tax Credit Qualifications (Beagle, Tavares)
Introduced: February 10, 2015
Current Status: Pending in Senate Ways & Means Committee
Last Update: June 3, 2015
Summary: The bill would modify the qualifications for the New Market Tax Credit and the schedule for receiving the credit.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.
SB305 Tax Certificate Sale Prohibition (Williams)
Introduced: April 4, 2016
Current Status: Pending in Senate Ways & Means Committee
Last Update: April 12, 2016
Summary: The bill would prohibit the sale of tax certificates for parcels owned by a person sixty-five years of age or older and that include the primary residence of the owner.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.
SB40 Economic Development Tax Credit (Beagle)
Introduced: February 10, 2015
Current Status: Pending in Senate Ways & Means Committee
Last Update: June 10, 2015
Summary: The bill authorizes tax credits for contributions of money to economic and infrastructure development projects undertaken by local governments and non-profit corporations.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.
Miscellaneous Issues
SB232 Death Designation Deeds (Bacon)
Introduced: October 27, 2015
Current Status: Sent to the Governor for Signature
Last Update: December 2, 2016
Summary: The bill would amend the law related and will revoke a transfer on death designation affidavit or transfer on death deed that was executed by an individual who is subsequently divorced, obtains a dissolution of the marriage, or obtains an annulment.
Comment: The bill has been approved by the Ohio Senate (33-0) and the Ohio House (94-1), and will become effective 90 days after the governor approves the law.
HB130 DataOhio Board (C. Hagan, Duffey)
Introduced: March 24, 2015
Current Status: Pending in Senate Finance Committee
Last Update: September 28, 2016
Summary: This bill will create the DataOhio Board, which will be required to make recommendations to the General Assembly regarding online access to public records and data sets of public records, and to recommend other standards for data.
Comment: The bill is unlikely to see additional action during lame duck session following the November election.