New law
Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 26, which permits teachers to deduct from their state income taxes up to $250 for out-of-pocket expenses for classroom supplies and professional development.
House Finance Committee
The committee held a fourth hearing on House Bill (HB) 305, which creates a new school-funding formula. The following school district representatives testified in support of the bill:
• Anthony J. Calderon, superintendent, LaBrae Local (Trumbull);
• Thomas L. Hosler II, superintendent, Perrysburg EV;
• Ryan Pendleton, treasurer, Akron City.
The committee also held its eighth hearing on HB 194, which legalizes and regulates sports gaming and earmarks 98% of the sports gaming profits for education. During the hearing, the committee accepted a nonsubstantive, corrective amendment.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on:
• HB 99, sponsored by Reps. Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) and John M. Rogers (D-Mentor-on-the-Lake), which increases the income eligibility limit for the homestead exemption from $32,800 to $60,000 and increases the associated tax reduction amount from $25,000 to $30,000.
• HB 375, sponsored by Rep. Richard D. Brown (D-Canal Winchester), which permits a refundable income tax credit equal to the amount of an extracurricular activity fee paid by or on behalf of a low-income public school student.
The committee also held a second hearing on HB 135, sponsored by Rep. Niraj J. Antani (R-Miamisburg), which provides a three-day sales tax holiday for purchases of less than $100 on school supplies and school instructional materials and for purchases of less than $2,000 on laptops or tablets.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 212, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton), which provides a full or partial tax exemption to developers and owners of newly constructed homes within specified areas during the construction period and for 10 years after the home is occupied.
The committee also held a second hearing on SB 125, sponsored by Sens. Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) and Andrew O. Brenner (R-Powell), which expands the income tax deduction allowed for contributions to Ohio’s 529 education savings plans to include contributions to 529 plans established by other states.
Senate Finance Committee
The committee amended and passed HB 2 during its fourth hearing. The bill permits a collaboration of school districts, among others, to partner with industry sectors in order to be eligible for state grants to assist with hiring employees, developing curricula and educational resources and marketing workforce partnerships. Click here for a discussion of the changes made to the bill by the committee.
House Commerce and Labor Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on HB 360, sponsored by Reps. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) and Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville), which requires the installation of water bottle filling stations and drinking fountains in new school buildings that are constructed with assistance from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission.
House Health Committee
The committee re-referred HB 321 to the House Rules and Reference Committee. The bill requires age-appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse and sexual violence prevention and in-service staff training in child sexual abuse prevention.
Senate Local Government, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee
The committee held sponsor testimony on SB 147, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which would create the Ohio School Marshal Program.
House Civil Justice Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 370, sponsored by Reps. Brett Hudson Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville) and Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester), which allows the Ohio attorney general to defend school districts, among others, in actions brought against them for maintaining a historical symbol or monument on public property as violating the United States or Ohio Constitution’s guaranty of the free exercise of religion.
Posted by Will Schwartz on 11/8/2019