House Economic and Workforce Development Committee 
The House Economic and Workforce Development Committee met and heard testimony on House Bill (HB) 349, sponsored by Reps. Tim Barhorst (R-Fort Loramie) and Don Jones (R-Freeport). This bill would create several incentives for the development of natural gas pipelines and related infrastructure within locally designated EnergizeOhio zones. HB 349 would also modify the valuation formula for natural gas company personal property that is placed into service in an Energize Ohio zone, with the effect of reducing the property’s taxable value.

House Ways and Means Committee 
The committee held a hearing on HB 344, sponsored by Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would eliminate replacement property tax levies and make changes regarding property tax complaints. The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill that made some clarifying changes before passing the bill by a vote of 10-6.

The committee held a hearing on HB 378, sponsored by Reps. Nick Santucci (R-Howland Twp.) and Brian Lorenz (R-Powell), which would create an enhanced homestead exemption for the surviving spouses of uniformed service members killed in the line of duty equal to all taxes imposed on the homestead. The bill would reimburse local taxing units for the resulting reduction in taxes like other homestead exemptions.

House Higher Education Committee
The House Higher Education Committee met and heard sponsor testimony on HB 219 from Reps. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Sean Brennan (D-Parma). This legislation would revise and make changes to the college credit plus program. OSBA offered proponent testimony alongside the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators and the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. The committee also heard proponent testimony from the Coalition of Rural and Appalachian Schools offered by Marc Kreischer, superintendent of Bloom Vernon Local Schools (Scioto).

Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform 
The Joint Committee met and heard invited testimony focusing on property taxes from the perspective of local government entities. The committee heard testimony from the following associations:

  • Ohio Townships Association;
  • County Commissioners Association of Ohio;
  • Ohio Municipal League;
  • Ohio Mayors Alliance.

New Bills Introduced

  • HB 515, sponsored by Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield), would create the “Norton Music Boosters” license plate

Rules Activity
The Department of Education and Workforce has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

  • OAC Chapter 83 Pupil Transportation
  • OAC 3301-83-01 Calculation of pupil transportation operation payments
  • OAC 3301-83-04 Scope and definition
  • OAC 3301-83-05 Administration
  • OAC 3301-83-06 Personnel qualifications
  • OAC 3301-83-07 School transportation driver physical qualifications rule
  • OAC 3301-83-08 Pupil transportation management policies
  • OAC 3301-83-09 Pupil instruction
  • OAC 3301-83-10 Personnel training program
  • OAC 3301-83-11 School bus inspections
  • OAC 3301-83-12 Safety procedures
  • OAC 3301-83-13 School bus routes and stops
  • OAC 3301-83-14 Records and reports
  • OAC 3301-83-15 Emergency and evacuation procedures
  • OAC 3301-83-16 Non-routine use of school buses
  • OAC 3301-83-17 Authorized and unauthorized passengers
  • OAC 3301-83-18 Passenger capacity
  • OAC 3301-83-19 Authorized vehicles for transportation of pupils to and from school and school-related events
  • OAC 3301-83-20 General rules
  • OAC 3301-83-21 Supplementary provisions for county boards of developmental disabilities
  • OAC 3301-83-22 Vehicle maintenance
  • OAC 3301-83-24 School transportation fees
  • OAC 3301-83-25 Transportation collaboration grant 

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

Posted by Nicole Piscitani on 5/03/2024