February 2025 Update

February 21, 2025

The following are bills that Greater Ohio Policy Center (GOPC) is tracking in the Ohio Legislature. The status of bills are updated as warranted. If you have any questions or concerns about a particular bill, please be sure to contact Jason Warner, Director of Strategic Engagement at jwarner@greaterohio.org or by calling 614.224.0187, ext. 311. (Note: inclusion of a bill on this list does not indicate endorsement or support.) 

Click here to download a PDF version of the latest Legislative Report

Brownfields

House Bill 93

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Thomas Hall, Bride Sweeney Current Status: Pending in the House Finance Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill restores the Clean Ohio Fund to be administered by the Ohio Department of Development and the Clean Ohio Council.

Notes: This is Priority Legislation for GOPC.

Budget & Taxation

House Bill 17

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Brian Lorenz Current Status: Pending in the House Development Committee Last Update: January 28, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would classify certain storage condominium facilities as residential property for tax purposes.

Notes:

House Bill 22

Introduced: January 27, 2025 Sponsor: Brian Lorenz, David Thomas Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 11, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would classify certain storage condominium facilities as residential property for tax purposes.

Notes:

House Bill 28

Introduced: January 28, 2025 Sponsor: Adam Mathews, Thomas Hall Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 5, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would classify certain storage condominium facilities as residential property for tax purposes.

Notes:

House Bill 30

Introduced: February 3, 2025 Sponsor: Adam Mathews, Brian Lampton Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 5, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would phase down the state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75% over two years.

Notes: This is a companion bill to Senate Bill 3 (see below).

House Bill 40

Introduced: February 3, 2025 Sponsor: Tracy Richardson, Mike Dovilla Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 5, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would increase and enhance the homestead exemption for certain disabled veterans.

Notes:

House Bill 54

Introduced: February 4, 2025 Sponsor: Brian Stewart Current Status: Pending in the House Finance Committee Last Update: February 19, 2025 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill makes appropriations for the Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Public Safety, and other state agencies related to transportation funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Notes: A substitute bill was accepted by the House Finance Committee on February 18, 2025.

House Bill 61

Introduced: February 5, 2025 Sponsor: David Thomas, Jack Daniels Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 19, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill modifies the amount of the homestead exemption and owner-occupancy property tax credit.

Notes:

House Bill 89

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Jean Schmidt Current Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would authorize a temporary property tax reduction.

Notes:

House Bill 96

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Brian Stewart Current Status: Pending in the House Finance Committee (with additional hearings in various Standing Housing Committees) Last Update: February 20, 2025 (Various Committee Hearings)

Summary: The bill makes operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2027, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

Notes:

House Bill 103

Introduced: February 18, 2025 Sponsor: Dan Troy, Thomas Hall Current Status: Introduced Last Update: February 18, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill increases the homestead exemption amount and income limit.

Notes:

Senate Bill 3

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: George Lang, Stephen Huffman Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: January 29, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would phase down the state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75% over two years.

Notes: This is a companion bill to House Bill 30 (see above).

Senate Bill 42

Introduced: January 28, 2025 Sponsor: Michelle Reynolds, Hearcel Craig Current Status: Pending in the Senate Local Government Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would authorize local governments to create residential stability zones where homeowners may qualify for a partial property tax exemption.

Notes:

Senate Bill 81

Introduced: February 4, 2025 Sponsor: Tom Patton Current Status: Pending in the Senate Ways & Means Committee Last Update: February 18, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied property.

Notes:

Capital Investments

Senate Bill 2

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Reineke Current Status: Pending in the Senate Energy Committee Last Update: February 18, 2025 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: This is a placeholder bill expressing the intent of the General Assembly to introduce legislation to increase power generation and improve the affordability and reliability of the state electric grid.

Notes:

Senate Bill 15

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Andrew Brenner, Steve Wilson Current Status: Pending in the Senate Finance Committee Last Update: January 29, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill permits port authorities to establish a Common Bond Fund Program to finance port authority facilities.

Notes:

Housing

House Bill 109

Introduced: February 18, 2025 Sponsor: Justin Pizzulli Current Status: Introduced Last Update: February 18, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill would limit authority of local governments to regulate short-term rental properties, and to subject them to local lodging taxes.

Notes:

Senate Bill 5

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Andrew Brenner, Stephen Huffman Current Status: Pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would provide for the expedited removal of unauthorized occupants from residential property and prohibit the use and sale of fraudulent deeds.

Notes:

Senate Bill 6

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Kristina Roegner Current Status: Passed the Senate Last Update: February 19, 2025 (Passed the Senate - Vote 32-0)

Summary: The bill makes changes to the law relating to building inspections.

Notes:

Senate Bill 22

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Blessing, Hearcel Craig Current Status: Pending in the Senate Finance Committee Last Update: January 29, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceeds five percent of their income.

Notes:

Senate Bill 28

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Blessing, Nickie Antonio Current Status: Pending in the Senate Housing Committee Last Update: February 18, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would levy a fee on certain high-volume landlords.

Notes:

Senate Bill 54

Introduced: January 28, 2025 Sponsor: Tim Schaffer Current Status: Pending in the Senate Workforce Development Committee Last Update: February 18, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would establish a certification for specialty residential construction contractors.

Notes:

Senate Bill 83

Introduced: February 4, 2025 Sponsor: Michelle Reynolds, Hearcel Craig Current Status: Pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill revises the law governing evictions, residential building code enforcement, and real property transfers.

Notes:

Transportation

House Bill 9

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Melanie Miller, Sharon Ray Current Status: Pending in the House Transportation Committee Last Update: January 28, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would replace requirements that the Department of Transportation construct certain interstate exchanges with a traffic congestion study.

Notes: HB9 is a companion bill to SB31 (see below)

House Bill 83

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Ron Ferguson, Riordan McClain Current Status: Pending in the House Transportation Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would clarify and amend the law related to the Director of Transportarion’s responsibilities for state highways located in cities and villages.

Notes:

Senate Bill 31

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Mark Romanchuk Current Status: Pending in the Senate Government Oversight & Reform Committee Last Update: January 29, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would replace requirements that the Department of Transportation construct certain interstate exchanges with a traffic congestion study.

Notes: SB31 is a companion bill to HB9 (see above)

Miscellaneous

House Bill 1

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Angela King, Roy Klopfenstein Current Status: Pending in the House Pubic Safety Committee Last Update: January 28, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would modify the law that prohibits certain government, businesses, and individuals from acquiring certain real property and to name the act the Ohio Property Protection Act.

Notes: HB1 is a companion bill to SB88 (see below)

House Bill 11

Introduced: January 23, 2025 Sponsor: Ron Ferguson, Brian Lorenz Current Status: Pending in the House Government Oversight Committee Last Update: February 11, 2025 (First Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill require legislative approval of certain administrative rules and other regulatory actions, permit the chair of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) to request a third-party fiscal analysis of a rule, and to require state agencies to publicly post policy documents.

Notes:

House Bill 49

Introduced: February 4, 2025 Sponsor: Thad Claggett Current Status: Pending in the House Natural Resources Committee Last Update: February 5, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would allow for the creation of water improvement districts.

Notes:

House Bill 85

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Steve Demetriou Current Status: Pending in the House Government Oversight Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would require the Department of Administrative Services to conduct a biennial comprehensive study of the state’s real property holdings.

Notes:

House Bill 86

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Steve Demetriou Current Status: Pending in the House Development Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill make changes to the law relating to tax foreclosures and county land reutilization corporations and names the bill the Gus Frangos Act.

Notes: HB86 is a companion bill to SB102 (see below)

House Bill 113

Introduced: February 18, 2025 Sponsor: Adam Bird, Jonathan Newman Current Status: Introduced Last Update: February 18, 2025 (Introduced)

Summary: The bill modifies the law regarding annexation and financial disclosure forms, and requires school districts approve a residential community reinvestment area property tax exemption.

Notes:

Senate Bill 29

Introduced: January 22, 2025 Sponsor: Bill Blessing, Catherine Ingram Current Status: Pending in the Senate Local Government Committee Last Update: February 19, 2025 (Second Committee Hearing)

Summary: The bill would allow two or more municipalities to create a joint economic development district without involving a township.

Notes:

Senate Bill 88

Introduced: February 10, 2025 Sponsor: Terry Johnson Current Status: Pending in the Senate General Government Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill would modify the law that prohibits certain government, businesses, and individuals from acquiring certain real property and to name the act the Ohio Property Protection Act.

Notes: SB88 is a companion bill to HB1 (see above)

Senate Bill 102

Introduced: February 11, 2025 Sponsor: Tom Patton Current Status: Pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee Last Update: February 12, 2025 (Referred to Committee)

Summary: The bill make changes to the law relating to tax foreclosures and county land reutilization corporations and names the bill the Gus Frangos Act.

Notes: SB102 is a companion bill to HB86 (see above)