The Latest Legislative Information
December 28, 2020
LEGISLATURE WRAPS UP TWO-YEAR SESSION

On Tuesday, December 22, both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate adjourned for what will almost certainly be the final time in 2020, bringing an end to the tumultuous two-year session of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly. 2020, in particular, was an unusual year at the Statehouse, marked by the presence of the coronavirus and the fallout from the alleged House Bill 6-centered bribery scandal that resulted in the arrest of then-Speaker of the House Larry Householder. Nonetheless, there were several pro-business bills that got enacted. You can read about two important ones that just got finalized below.
 
With the legislature now adjourned, this will be the last Legislative Update until sometime in the New Year. Lawmakers elected in November will be officially sworn-in on January 4, and legislative activity will resume in late January or early February, at which point we will resume publishing Legislative Update.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION LEGISLATION HEADS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK
On the last day of lame duck session, the Senate concurred with the House’s minor changes to amend Senate Bill 33, which strengthens protections for critical infrastructure.

Read more about SB 33 by clicking here.
LONGSTANDING OHIO CHAMBER PRIORITY BILL AWAITS GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE

In what is likely the final session day of the General Assembly, the Ohio legislature delivered a major victory for Ohio’s business climate by enacting House Bill 352. This legislation is the culmination of the Ohio Chamber’s efforts – which began in 2000 – to enact pro-business reforms to the state’s anti-discrimination statutes following detrimental Ohio Supreme Court decisions during its period of judicial activism.

Click here to read more about House Bill 352.
CONGRESS PASSES NEXT ROUND OF STIMULUS RELIEF
On Monday, December 21, Congress agreed to the next round of stimulus funding in the form of a massive $900 billion relief package. Among other things, the bill includes direct payments to individuals and families, enhanced unemployment benefits, small business aid and funding for distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. President Trump signed the bill on December 27 late in the evening.

To continue reading, click here.
OHIO CHAMBER VOTING RECORD FINALIZED FOR 2019-2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

During the final days of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly, three more votes were included in the Ohio Chamber's Free Enterprise Index, our legislative scorecard that tracks how lawmakers vote on issues that impact your business and Ohio’s business climate. In the House, representatives passed Ohio Chamber-backed SB 33, which strengthens protections for critical infrastructure to better safeguard public safety and the environment. The Senate, meanwhile, voted on two pro-business pieces of legislation: HB 352, which brings Ohio’s workplace discrimination statutes closer in alignment with federal law and the laws of other states, thus improving Ohio’s legal climate, and HB 388, which protects patients from the burden of costly, surprise medical bills without creating a process that will lead to unnecessary health insurance premium increases for employers. Be sure to see how your state lawmakers voted on these bills, as well as how they voted on all key bills impacting employers over the past two years.
As 2020 comes to a close, we just want to say "Thank You" for your continued investment in the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. Watch this video for a special message.
Contact Ohio Chamber Lobbyists

Keith Lake, Vice President, Government Affairs
Kevin Boehner, Director, Small Business & Workforce Policy
Kevin Shimp, Director, Labor & Legal Affairs
Tony Long, Director, Tax & Economic Policy
Stephanie Kromer, Director, Energy & Environmental Policy