House Activity
The House voted 75-19 to pass House Bill (HB) 2, sponsored by Reps. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland). This legislation contains some portions of the traditional capital budget as well as $350 million of the $700 million of One Time Strategic Community Investments authorized by HB 33, the biennial budget. HB 2, as passed by the House, contains $600 million for the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to use for school building improvement efforts across the state. This legislation now heads to the Senate.

The House also voted 64-26 to pass Senate Bill (SB) 17, sponsored by Sen. Steve Wilson (R-Mainesville), which would require the State Board to update the standards and model curriculum for financial literacy and entrepreneurship in grades nine-12 to include free market capitalism content. SB 17 now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. 

House Ways & Means Committee
The committee amended HB 344, sponsored by Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would eliminate replacement property tax levies and would make changes to the laws regarding property tax valuation complaints, counter-complaints and appeals. The amendment fixes a technical drafting error.

The committee accepted a substitute version of HB 263, sponsored by Reps. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) and Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township), which would authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes. The substitute version makes the following changes to the bill:

  • The age to qualify is reduced from 70 to at least 65 years old.
  • The continual occupancy requirement is reduced from 10 years to two years.
  • The total annual income to qualify is reduced from $70,000 to $50,000 or less.
  • The home value necessary to qualify is reduced to less than $500,000. The requirement in the previous version was that the home be less than $1 million.

House Public Health Policy Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 356, sponsored by Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton), regarding cardiac monitoring for youth. The bill also names the act the Healthy Cardiac Monitoring Act. 

Joint Committee on Property Tax Review and Reform
The joint committee heard invitation-only testimony from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Ohio Business Roundtable and the Ohio Farm Bureau. The committee is tasked with reviewing Ohio’s current property tax structure and making recommendations on how to proceed with bills related to property tax reform pending in the General Assembly. The committee has not announced how many additional meetings will be held, but they must issue their report and recommendations by the end of the calendar year.

Department of Education and Workforce
The Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) has the following proposed rules open for public comment:

Current rules posted for comment:

  • OAC 3301-2 Personal Information Systems.
  • OAC 3301-3 Data Acquisition Sites.
  • OAC 3301-10-01 School enrollment for victims of domestic violence.
  • OAC 3301-16-08 State seal of biliteracy.
  • OAC 3301-51-09 Delivery of services.

Draft rules posted for comment:

  • OAC 3301-7-01 Standards for the ethical use of tests.
  • OAC 3301-8-01 Payment of debt charges under the state credit enhancement program.
  • OAC Chapter 3301-13 Proficiency Tests.
  • OAC 3301-15-02 Exemptions from state statutory provisions and rules. 
  • OAC 3301-16-04 College and work ready assessment transition. 
  • OAC 3301-17 Reports for Statewide Education Management Information System.
  • OAC 3301-48 Open Enrollment Programs.
  • OAC 3301-51-15 Operating standards for identifying and serving students who are gifted. 
  • OAC 3301-61 Vocational Education.

Click here to view the rules open for public comment.

New Bills Introduced

  • HB 402, sponsored by Rep. Jean Schimdt (R-Miami Township), authorizes a property tax reduction in 2023 for properties with increased tax liability relative to 2022.

Federal update
Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report which includes education related information.

Posted by Scott Palider on 2/9/2024