Important business information
March 30, 2020
TAX UPDATE – HOUSE BILL 197 SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
The governor signed House Bill (HB) 197 on Friday, March 27 during his 2 pm COVID-19 press conference. The governor did use his veto pen for one item, to clarify that the statute of limitations provisions do not apply to tax due dates which are dealt with in other provisions of HB 197. 

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PASSAGE OF CARES ACT MEANS RELIEF FOR BUSINESS ON ITS WAY FROM WASHINGTON
On Friday, Congress passed, and Pres. Donald Trump signed, the $2.1 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ( “CARES” Act). 

To continue reading about what this means for business, click here .
OHIO'S PRIMARY ELECTION EXTENDED

Am. HB 197, which was unanimously passed by the Ohio House and Senate on Wednesday, March 25 and signed into law by Gov. DeWine on Friday, March 27, extended Ohio’s Primary Election to Tuesday, April 28.

Learn how you can still cast your ballot by clicking here .
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR RELEASES POSTERS THAT MEET NOTICE REQUIREMENTS UNDER NEW PAID LEAVE LAW
Last week, Congress enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The law, amongst other major provisions, requires employers of less than 500 employees to provide two weeks of paid sick leave and paid family medical leave.  

Learn more about the new requirements, click here .
OHIO SEES UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION CLAIMS GROW BY MORE THAN 180,000 IN ONE WEEK
In one of the first signs of the coronaviruses’ affect on Ohio’s economy, over 187,000 Ohioans filed for unemployment compensation benefits during the week ending on March 21 according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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DEWINE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE CHANGES TO UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION SYSTEM AS PART OF CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
At his Sunday, March 15 press conference, Gov. Mike DeWine announced he will soon sign an executive order that will make substantial changes to Ohio's unemployment compensation system.

Click here to read about the changes.
PJM ISSUES COMPLIANCE FILING WITH FERC ON MINIMUM PRICE RULE
In response to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s controversial Minimum Offer Price Rule order in December, PJM submitted a 536-page compliance filing last week in an effort to address some stakeholder concerns. 

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GOV. DEWINE MOVES TO PROTECT STATE FINANCES
During the governor’s press conference on March 23, he discussed the fact that the COVID-19 public health emergency will impact state revenues. 

Read more about the impact on the state's budget by clicking here .
ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS POSTPONED; HOUSE CANCELS MORE SESSIONS

With the coronarvirus pandemic not yet at its expected peak in Ohio and the state under a stay at home order until at least April 6, operations of the legislative branch of government have justifiably been curtailed, as well.

Both the House and Senate held voting sessions last Wednesday – albeit while observing social distancing safeguards and other precautions to limit members’ interaction and protect their health – but only to pass a package of emergency measures related to the pandemic.

It was only the second voting session the Senate conducted in March, and the sole voting session held by the House this month. The next day, Speaker of the House Larry Householder cancelled scheduled sessions for this week, and the Senate is expected to do the same. According to the original schedule, that means the Senate won’t return to Columbus again until at least April 22; the House until April 28.

Similarly, on Thursday Gov. Mike DeWine and legislative leaders announced the governor’s State of the State Address will be postponed indefinitely. It was originally scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, March 31.
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