OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE
Here are the top things you need to know from this past week:
· The League’s next regional meeting is June 10 at the Sheraton Suites in Cuyahoga Falls followed by Mason at the Marriott Northeast on June 24. More information and registration are HERE.
· House Speaker Bob Cupp announced that the House will not reconvene before Lame Duck session starts on November 16th as the August 2nd Primary Election inches closer. Senate President Matt Huffman said that the Senate is not likely to be back in session before that date either, although “if-needed” sessions remain on the calendar if necessary.
· On Wednesday, the Capital Bill (HB 687), containing two-year appropriations, saw funding for statewide & local projects, several tax law changes along with other incentives for the forthcoming Licking County Intel plant. Sub-House Bill 687 was passed by both chambers with support from the Governor. Read more in the article below.
· On Wednesday, the Coronavirus Fiscal Relief bill (HB 377) was passed by the Senate, allocating the second traunche of ARPA money for non-entitlement units of government and established the Appalachian Community Grant Program under the Department of Development. Read more in the article below.
· Late last Friday, a 2-1 decision by a federal district court approved the Republican-made maps, twice-rejected by the Ohio Supreme Court, to be used for the 2022 election. This decision comes almost 9 months after the constitutionally mandated timeline to have maps. The Primary election is slated for August 2nd, followed just three months later by the general election on November 8th.
· House Joint Resolution 4, which passed the House last week, clarifies that municipal home rule authorities do not provide for non-citizens to qualify as an elector in a local election. Two identical resolutions received second hearings last week with the House version taking the lead and being voted out of the lower chamber. On Wednesday, the Senate adopted the resolution by a vote of 32-0. This legislation will go to Secretary of State Frank LaRose to include on the ballot for the November 8 general election.
· On Wednesday, Senate Bill 156, which contains a preemption on local control on knives was passed by the House. The amendment Clarifies that knives, particularly the concealed carrying of knives and the concealment of knives ready at hand, are among the subjects that the General Assembly asserts its right to legislate uniformly across Ohio.
· Sen. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) announced on the Senate floor Wednesday that she is resigning. She is unable to disclose here new employer yet but said her new job involves state & local politics in the private sector. Senator Williams’ resignation from the Ohio Senate effective Wednesday, June 8.
· It’s mowing season and our partners at the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) asked that we share with our members an upcoming webinar the agency is hosting regarding proper training, maintenance, inspection, and safe operation of various off-road equipment such as the operation of grass mowing equipment. Participants will learn how to evaluate work locations to conduct safe work activities. More information on the webinar and registration link is HERE.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
On Wednesday, the Senate passed the 3.5 billion-dollar, two-year capital appropriations bill. House Bill 687 passed the House with a vote of 82-2 followed by the Senate in a unanimous vote. The bill contained more than $1.1 billion in investments and incentives for the major Intel facility development in Licking County. As is always the case, the bill includes funding for local community projects, totaling about $191 million for arts, recreation and others. With record tax revenues, about $600 million was used from ARPA funds as well as a few other sources. Below is a list of some of the major items in the bill:
· $608 million in matching funds for K-12 buildings through the Facilities Construction Commission
· $557 million in PWC money distributed through regional planning districts.
· $515 million for Department of Natural Resources projects.
· $457 million for college and university facilities.
· $353 million for state prisons.
· $179 million for the Department of Administrative Services.
· $103 million for juvenile facilities.
· $86 million for the Department of Agriculture.
House Bill 687, covering fiscal years 2023-2024 will now go to the Governor’s desk for his signature. For a full list of county-by-county breakdown, you can find it HERE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES CORONAVIRUS FISCAL RELIEF BILL
On Wednesday, House Bill 377 was passed by the Senate, granting the second traunche of ARPA money to non-entitlement units of government, to specify certain election workers are excluded from PERS membership, expand the category of first responders of certain townships who are considered part-time for health coverage purposes, convey state-owned land, correct an outdated reference to state treasury warrants, and to make appropriations. By a vote of 30-1, The Local Fiscal Recovery bill will allocate $422 million to NEU’s, as well as establish the Appalachian Community Grant Program, proposed by Governor DeWine, under the Department of Development which will administer the program in consultation with local development districts to invest in sustainable, transformational projects in Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region. Under ARPA, payments from the fund can only be used by NEUs for costs incurred from March 3, 2021 through December 31, 2024. The funding must be used to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects. The bill reappropriates the unexpended, unencumbered portion of the appropriation for use in FY 2023. The complete list can be found HERE.
HISTORIC TAX CREDIT BILL CLEARS LEGISLATURE
Senate Bill 225, would modify the historic rehabilitation and the opportunity zone investment tax credits, adjust the applicability of certain recently enacted provisions related to tax increment financing and downtown redevelopment districts, and authorize the City of Canton to distribute moneys in the Hartford-Houtz Poor Fund to the Canton Ex-Newsboys Association or any other charitable organization. Sponsored by Senator Schuring, in its fifth hearing in the House Ways & Means Committee, the bill was amended to extend a tax credit of up to 35% of the cost for rehabilitation projects in municipalities, counties or townships with fewer than 300,000 people. It also adjusts, by one fiscal year, the bill's temporary $60 million-per-year increase of the overall cap on historic building rehabilitation tax credits from FY 2022 and FY 2023, to FY 2023 and FY 2024 The bill passed the House Floor on Wednesday, followed by the concurrence of House amendments in the Senate, ultimately sending the bill to the Governor’s desk for signature.
EPA TO HOST WEBINARS THIS SUMMER
On June 9th at 2:00p.m., the Ohio EPA will be hosting a webinar offering information on Regulation and Funding of Household Sewage Treatment Systems. CEU’s will be available for this webinar. To learn more & sign up, click the link HERE. On June 21st at 10:00a.m., there will be a webinar about a Stormwater Permitting Requirements for Industrial Activity. To learn more & sign up, click HERE.
Finally, the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation is holding a webinar on July 26 from 11a.m. to 12p.m. It will cover Ohio EPA’s Regulations, and what you need to know to stay out of trouble with environmental regulations. You can learn more and register HERE.
COMMITTEE RECAP- BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST
House Bill 472- Political Subdivisions. Sponsored by Rep. Ingram (D-Cincinnati) would eliminate certain defenses to political subdivision liability for an employee's negligent operation of a motor vehicle and to reduce damages recoverable against a political subdivision in such actions by the contributory fault of the plaintiff or other parties. During its fourth hearing in House Civil Justice Committee, the bill heard opposition testimony. The League is opposed to this legislation. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-HB-472
BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST- PASSED BY THE SENATE
House Bill 687- Sponsored by Rep. Oelslager (R-Canton) would provide authorization and conditions for the operation of certain state programs, to make capital appropriations for the biennium ending June 30, 2024, and to make other appropriations. On Wednesday, the bill was amended and reported out of House Finance Committee and passed the Senate Floor. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-HB-687
House Bill 377- Local Fiscal Recovery. Sponsored by Reps. Hall (Middletown) and Swearingen (R-Huron) establish the Appalachian Community Grant Program, to specify certain election workers are excluded from PERS membership, expand the category of first responders of certain townships who are considered part-time for health coverage purposes, convey state-owned land, correct an outdated reference to state treasury warrants, and to make appropriations. The bill passed the Senate floor on Wednesday. The League is supportive of this legislation. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-HB-377
House Bill 430- Property Development. Sponsored by Rep. Cross (R-Kenton) regarding rent control, added an amendment that would prohibit political subdivisions from enacting rent control or stabilization ordinances. The League is opposed to this amendment. https://bit.ly/3zhftUO
BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST- PASSED BY THE HOUSE
Senate Bill 156- Knife Regulation, Sponsored by Sen. Roegner (R-Hudson) Regards the regulation of knives. The Amendment clarifies that knives, particularly the concealed carrying of knives and the concealment of knives ready at hand, are among the subjects that the General Assembly asserts its right to legislate uniformly across Ohio. https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-documents?id=GA134-SB-156
