As mentioned in last week's Legislative Bulletin, this week's Bulletin is rather light due to the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. A few bills of municipal interest were introduced this week which are highlighted below. Also, the General Assembly has scheduled a full slate of committees for next week which will be reported on in the Legislative Bulletin next week.

 

Again, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

 

MUNICIPAL BILLS OF INTEREST INTRODUCED THIS WEEK:

 

          HB419               EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIGHTS AND SIRENS (Rep. Michael Henne) To modify the defense to the liability of a member of a police or fire department or emergency medical service of a political subdivision for the negligent operation of a motor vehicle in response to an emergency by requiring that the vehicle has its lights and sirens simultaneously activated.

          HB422               MUNICIPAL WATER-WORKS ACQUISITIONS (Rep. Tim Ginter, Rep. John Rogers) To govern acquisitions of municipal water-works and sewage disposal system companies by certain larger nonmunicipal water-works or sewage disposal system companies.

          HB425               POLICE BODY CAMERAS-PUBLIC RECORDS (Rep. Niraj Antani, Rep. Hearcel Craig) To provide that specified portions of peace officers' body-worn camera recordings and the infrastructure record of a public school are not public records for purposes of the Public Records Law.

 

Tuesday, November 28, 2017
	HOUSE FINANCE
	Tue., Nov. 28, 2017, 9:00 AM, Hearing Room 313
	Rep. Smith: 614-466-1366
HB281**	BROADBAND EXPANSION PROGRAM (CARFAGNA R) To establish the residential broadband expansion program within the Development Services Agency to award matching grants for last mile broadband expansion in municipal corporations and townships and to make an appropriation.
	Second Hearing, All Testimony
HB3**	DATAOHIO BOARD CREATION (DUFFEY M, HAGAN C) To create the DataOhio Board, to specify requirements for posting public records online, to require the Auditor of State to adopt rules regarding a uniform accounting system for public offices, to establish an online catalog of public data at data.Ohio.gov, to establish the Local Government Information Exchange Grant Program, and to make appropriations.
	Second Hearing, All Testimony, AMENDMENTS/POSSIBLE VOTE
HB378**	OHIO BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT (SMITH R, CERA J) To create the Ohio Broadband Development Grant Program and to make an appropriation.
	First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
	HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
	Tue., Nov. 28, 2017, 9:00 AM, Hearing Room 121
	Rep. Schaffer: 614-466-8100
HB343**	PROPERTY VALUE CONTEST-RESOLUTIONS (MERRIN D) To require local governments that contest property values to formally pass an authorizing resolution for each contest and to notify property owners.
	Third Hearing, All Testimony
HB371**	TAXES ON UNSOLD PROPERTY (MERRIN D) To exempt from property taxation the increased value of land subdivided for residential development until construction commences or the land is sold.
	Third Hearing, All Testimony
	HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COMMERCE AND LABOR
	Tue., Nov. 28, 2017, 1:30 PM, Hearing Room 113
	Rep. Young: 614-644-6074
HB263**	OUTDOOR DINING-DOGS (LANESE L) To generally allow an owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog to take the dog in an outdoor dining area of a retail food establishment or food service operation.
	Fifth Hearing, All Testimony, SUBSTITUTE BILL
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
	SENATE WAYS AND MEANS
	Wed., Nov. 29, 2017, 9:00 AM, South Hearing Room
	Sen. Eklund: 614-644-7718
HB69**	LEVY REVENUE REIMBURSEMENT (CUPP B) To require reimbursement of certain township fire and emergency medical service levy revenue forgone because of the creation of a municipal tax increment financing district.
	Sixth Hearing, All Testimony, AMENDMENTS/POSSIBLE VOTE
HB133**	DISASTER RELIEF ACT (RYAN S) To create the Disaster Relief Act to exempt out-of-state disaster businesses and qualifying out-of-state employees from certain taxes and laws with respect to disaster work on critical infrastructure performed in this state during a declared disaster.
	First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
SB181**	UNPAID MUNICIPAL GARBAGE FEES (O'BRIEN S, YUKO K) To authorize all municipal corporations that charge a garbage collection fee to certify unpaid amounts to the county auditor, who must enter the fees on the property tax list to be collected in the same manner as real property taxes.
	Third Hearing, All Testimony
	HOUSE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
	Wed., Nov. 29, 2017, 3:30 PM, Hearing Room 017
	Rep. Anielski: 614-644-6041
SENATE GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT AND REFORM Wed., Nov. 29, 2017, 9:45 AM, Senate Finance Hearing Room Sen. Coley: 614-466-8072   HB226** FIREWORKS STUDY GROUP AND EXPANSION (SEITZ B, SWEENEY M) To establish a fireworks study group to review and make recommendations regarding the Fireworks Law, to extend to July 1, 2020, the moratorium on issuing fireworks manufacturer and wholesaler licenses, to eliminate, beginning January 1, 2021, the moratorium on geographic transfer of fireworks manufacturer and wholesaler licenses, and, beginning July 1, 2020, to impose a fee on the retail sale of consumer grade fireworks in this state and to expand the ability of individuals to obtain 1.3G display fireworks and obtain and use 1.4G consumer fireworks.    First Hearing, Sponsor Testimony
HB291**	EMPLOYEE DISHONESTY INSURANCE (WIGGAM S) To authorize counties, townships, and municipal corporations to purchase an employee dishonesty and faithful performance of duty insurance policy, instead of a bond, for protection from loss due to the fraudulent or dishonest actions of, and the failure to perform a duty prescribed by law by, an officer, official, employee, or appointee for which a bond is required by law.
	Fourth Hearing, All Testimony, POSSIBLE VOTE
HB323**	GARBAGE COLLECTION FEES (PATTERSON J) To authorize all municipal corporations that charge a garbage collection fee to certify unpaid amounts to the county auditor, who must enter the fees on the property tax list to be collected in the same manner as real property taxes.
	Second Hearing, All Testimony