The Ohio House of Representatives have failed to elect an interim speaker. Ohio representatives were slated to select someone to serve as the Speaker of the House until the new General Assembly begins in January of 2019. However, disagreements have stalled the vote and resulted in the House cancelling session this week.

According to Governing magazine, Ohio's local governments have experienced budget cuts at three times the national average. Arizona is the only state whose local governments have experienced larger budget cuts than Ohio.
 

Republican Shane Wilkin has been selected as the newest member of the Ohio House of Representatives and will be sworn in the next time the House meets for session. Wilkin will replace Cliff Rosenberger as the representative for the 91 st House district.

HB 654 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING. Sponsored by Rep. Smith (D - Euclid) and Rep. Boggs (D - Columbus), this bill would make a supplemental appropriation under the budget of the Auditor of State to make disbursements to political subdivisions appearing on the Auditor of State's fiscal caution, fiscal watch, or fiscal emergency list during the FY 2018-FY 2019 biennium.

HB 656 - LAW ENFORCEMENT DATABASE. Sponsored by Rep. Sheehy (D - Oregon), this bill would require the Attorney General to create and operate a database of information regarding law enforcement officers who have been terminated from employment, or resigned in lieu of termination, and require law enforcement agencies to access the database for the sole purpose of determining eligibility of those officers for employment. 

HB 133 - DISASTER RELIEF. Sponsored by Rep. Ryan (R - Newark), this bill would 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. During its fifth hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, no testimony was heard on this bill. An amendment was adopted that changes the calculation of interest payments for underpaid estimated taxes so that it mirrors federal law. The bill was then unanimously voted out of committee. That same afternoon, the bill proceeded before the full Senate where it was voted on unanimously once again. The bill will now head to the desk of the Governor for his signature.

SB 268 - THEFT IN OFFICE. Sponsored by Sen. Wilson (R - Maineville), this bill would expand the increased penalties for theft in office based on the amount of property or services stolen and to include as restitution certain audit costs of the entity that suffered the loss involved in the offense. During its fourth hearing before the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee, the bill was voted unanimously out of committee. It then proceeded before the full Senate, where it was unanimously passed again. The League's Executive Director Kent Scarrett offered written testimony in support of the bill, which you can read HERE  .

HB 575 - VOLUNTEER TAX CREDITS. Sponsored by Rep. Keller (R - Middletown) and Rep. Rezabek (R - Clayton), this bill would grant income tax credits to persons who serve as volunteer firefighters or emergency medical service technicians. During sponsor testimony in the House Ways and Means Committee, the representatives sponsoring the bill explained how the legislation allows volunteer firefighters and EMTS to receive a refundable tax credit annually based on their years of service. The bill sponsored say the bill is a means of compensating the time and resources volunteer firefighters spend training and responding to fires. The League is supportive of this legislation.

HB 276 - THREATENING UTILITY WORKERS. Sponsored by Rep. Rezabek (R - Clayton) and Rep. Greenspan (R - Westlake), this bill would expand the offense of aggravated menacing to prohibit threatening a utility worker with intent to obstruct the operation of a utility. During its second hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, proponents from the Utility Workers Union of America, Ohio Municipal Electric Association and the Ohio Gas Association testified in support of the bill, citing the need to protect utility workers who face threats as they respond to emergency situations involving utilities. The League is supportive of this bill.

HB 425 - POLICE BODY CAMERAS. Sponsored by Rep. Antani (R - Miamisburg) and Rep. Craig (D - Columbus), this bill would 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. During its second hearing before the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, a substitute bill was adopted which, among other changes, prohibits disclosing a video depicting or identifying a child, expands the bill to apply to law enforcement dashboard cameras as well and uses language from Ohio's public records laws so the bill also applies to the State Highway Patrol. The ACLU of Ohio and the Columbus Department of Public Safety testified in support of the bill. The League is neutral on this legislation.

SB 296 - LAW ENFORCEMENT BENEFITS. This bill, sponsored by Sen. LaRose (R - Hudson) and Sen. Hottinger (R - Newark), this bill would revise the payments that surviving family members receive from the Ohio Public Safety Officers Death Benefit Fund and permit surviving spouses and children to participate in the health, dental, and vision benefits offered to state employees as if the survivors were employees of this state. During its first hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, the bill's sponsors explained how the bill extends the length of time families of deceased officers' full benefits, as well as increases the length of time they are eligible for healthcare from the state. The League is looking into this bill.  

SB 299 - WATER IMPROVEMENTS. Sponsored by Sen. Gardner (R - Bowling Green) and Sen. O'Brien (D - Bazetta), this bill would allow equipment for the protection and preservation of Lake Erie to be purchased with proceeds from the Parks and Recreation Improvement Fund, and to appropriate funds for projects enhancing water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin. During its first hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, the bill's sponsors explained that the legislation is not a mandate, but rather an authorization allowing General Revenue Funds and capital funding to be spent to reduce phosphorus levels in Lake Erie. Proponents for the bill, including the Oho Environmental Council Action Fund and The Nature Conservancy in Ohio, testified in support of this bill. The League is supportive of this legislation.

HB 263 - OUTDOOR DINING AREAS. Sponsored by Rep. Lanese (R- Grove City), this bill would 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. During its first hearing before the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee, the bill's sponsor explains how the bill allows individual restaurants and bars to decide whether or not to allow dogs on patios, rather than public health offices. The League is neutral on this legislation.

SB 210 - AUXILIARY CONTAINERS. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Coley (R - Liberty Township), would authorize a person to use an auxiliary container for any purpose, to prohibit a municipal corporation from imposing a tax or fee on auxiliary containers, and to clarify that the existing anti-littering law applies to auxiliary containers. During its third hearing before the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee, an amendment was adopted into the bill which extends this ban to charter counties and home rule townships. The amendment was accepted with 7 yes votes, with 2 no votes from the Democratic legislators on the committee. Opponent testimony was heard from members of the Ohio Chapter Sierra club, saying the bill's prevention of allowing local communities to pass laws would threaten "local democracy, silence the voices of the people, and hinder economic growth and development." The Surfrider Foundation also testified in opposition to the bill. The Ohio Manufactures' Association submitted written proponent testimony. The League's Executive Director Kent Scarrett, offered written opponent testimony, which you can read HERE  .
 

HB 228 - STAND-YOUR-GROUND GUN LAWS. Sponsored by Rep. Johnson (R - McDermott) and Rep. LaTourette (R - Chagrin Falls), this bill would assign to the prosecution the burden of disproving a self-defense or related claim, expand the locations at which a person has no duty to retreat before using force under both civil and criminal law, and modify the Concealed Handgun Licensing Law regarding a licensee's duty to keep the licensee's hands in plain sight, the penalties for illegally carrying a concealed firearm or improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, and the posting of warning signs regarding the possession of weapons on specified premises. During its sixth hearing in the House Federalism and Interstate Relations Committee, Buckeye Firearms submitted written proponent testimony while the bill's opponents testified against the bill, including the League of Women Voters of Ohio and the Ohio Municipal League. You can read Executive Director Kent Scarrett's opposition testimony HERE  .
 

HB 543 - COUNTY PROSECUTORS. Sponsored by Rep. Perales (R - Beavercreek) and Rep. Hambley (R - Brunswick), this bill would allow a county prosecuting attorney to enter into a contract with a regional airport authority, port authority, or regional planning commission to be its legal adviser. During its third hearing before the House State and Local Government Committee, no testimony was given. The League is neutral on this legislation.
 

HB 530 - LODGING TAX. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Hambley (R - Brunswick) and Rep. Arndt (R - Port Clinton), would authorize local elected officers that have levied a hotel lodging excise tax, or a designee of such officers to simultaneously hold the position of officer or member of the board of trustees of a convention and visitors' bureau without constituting incompatible offices. During its fourth hearing before the House State and Local Government Committee, written testimony was submitted asking for more oversight of visitors' bureaus. The League is neutral on this legislation.
 

HB 585 - FIREARM LAWS. Sponsored by Rep. Henne (R - Clayton) this bill would expand the definition of dangerous ordnance to include armor piercing ammunition and expand the definition of an automatic firearm to include any device within the federal definition of machine gun; create additional conditions under which an individual may not possess a firearm or dangerous ordnance and eliminate the process by which an individual may apply for relief from a weapons disability; generally prohibit a person from buying, purchasing, obtaining, or furnishing a firearm on behalf of a third party; provide for the entry of protection orders into the federal NCIC database and LEADS; and provide for the issuance by a court of an extreme risk protection order. During its second hearing before the House State and Local Government Committee, the bill was amended to clarify which felonies would result in charges for a resident who owns a firearm while under disability. The amendment also changes the law establishing how residents under disability can apply for relief, as the original bill eliminated that procedure. Proponents testified in support of the bill, including Fred Guttenberg, the father of Jaime Guttenberg, a 14-year-old girl who was one of the 17 people killed during the February 14 th shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Other proponents included the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Ohio, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in American and former Senate President Tom Neihaus, testifying as a member of Governor Kasich's task force on gun violence. The League is neutral on this legislation.
 

HB 343 -PROPERTY VALUES. Sponsored by Rep. Merrin (R - Monclova Township), this bill would require local governments that contest property values to formally pass an authorizing resolution for each contest and to notify property owners. During its first hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, the sponsor explained that the bill's goal is to ensure elected officials authorize property value contests. The League is neutral on this legislation.
 

HB 351 - MILITARY EXEMPTIONS. Sponsored by Rep. Perales (R - Beavercreek) and Rep. Butler (R - Oakwood), this bill would require municipal corporations to exempt from taxation the military pay of members of the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Public Health Service. During its second hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Lt. Brian Beamer of the U.S. Public Health Service testified in support of the bill. The League is neutral on this legislation.
 

SB 288 - FIREARM LAWS. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Eklund (R - Chardon) and Sen. Kunze (R - Hilliard), would expand the definition of dangerous ordnance to include armor piercing ammunition and expand the definition of an automatic firearm to include any device within the federal definition of machine gun; create additional conditions under which an individual may not possess a firearm or dangerous ordnance and eliminate the process by which an individual may apply for relief from a weapons disability; generally prohibit a person from buying, purchasing, obtaining, or furnishing a firearm on behalf of a third party; provide for the entry of protection orders into the federal NCIC database and LEADS; and provide for the issuance by a court of an extreme risk protection order. During its first hearing before the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee, the bill's sponsors spoke to the bill. It is companion legislation to HB 585. The League is neutral on this legislation. 
 
 

HB 34 - PUBLIC NOTICES. Sponsored by Rep. Hambley (R - Brunswick) and Rep. Ryan (R - Newark), this bill would authorize certain state agencies, local governments, and other boards, commissions, and officers to deliver certain notices by ordinary mail and electronically instead of by certified mail. During its third hearing before the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee, no testimony was given on this bill. The League is supportive of this legislation.
 

HB 554 - DESIGN CONTRACTS. Sponsored by Rep. Seitz (R - Cincinnati), this bill would regulate the use of indemnity provisions in professional design contracts related to public improvements. During its second hearing before the House Civil Justice Committee, proponents including a risk manager and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio testified in support of the bill, saying it would benefit not only architectural and engineering firms but also public entities throughout the state a well.  The League is neutral on this legislation.