House activity
The Ohio House passed House Bill (HB) 98 by a vote of 89-0. This legislation deals with the presentation of career information to students. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
House Education and Career Readiness Committee
The committee passed HB 21 addressing the verification of community school enrollment. OSBA, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators (BASA) and the Ohio Association of School Administrators (OASBO) offered proponent testimony on the bill. Click here for a copy of the testimony.
The committee also heard proponent and opponent testimony on HB 200. This legislation would eliminate the EdChoice and Cleveland Scholarship programs to create the Opportunity Scholarship Program. The committee also accepted an amendment to make the following changes to the bill:
• lowers eligibility income to 300% of poverty level or below ($73,800 for a family of four);
• removes the education savings accounts from the bill.
The committee also heard a presentation from Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria on the state’s revision process for the academic content standards in the areas of science, social studies and financial literacy.
House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee
The committee heard HB 87, which addresses money returned to the state as a result of a community school audit. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill. The committee did accept an amendment to clarify that the intent of the bill is to deal with findings for recovery related to enrollment.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee heard testimony on HB 343. This bill would require a school board or the legislative authority of a county, municipal corporation or township to pass a resolution approving the complaint or count-complaint at a public meeting before filing a property tax complaint or counter-complaint. OSBA, OASBO and BASA offered opponent testimony on the bill. Click here for a copy of that testimony.
The committee also heard testimony on HB 371. This legislation would exempt from property tax the increased value of unimproved land that has been subdivided for residential development until construction begins or the land is sold. OSBA, BASA and OASBO offered opponent testimony on the bill. Click here for a copy of the testimony.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 226 from Sen. Kevin Bacon (R-Minerva Park). This bill would provide a permanent sales tax holiday each August during which sales of clothing and school supplies are exempt from the sales and use tax.