House Ways and Means Committee
The committee amended and passed House Bill (HB) 187, sponsored by Reps. Thomas Hall (R-Madison Township) and Adam Bird (R-New Richmond), which modifies the procedures used by the Tax Commissioner to conduct property tax sales-assessment ratio studies. The amendments make the following changes:
- The county auditor’s value is given more deference when there is a disagreement between the county auditor’s value and the tax commissioner’s value. The tax commissioner can appeal the proposed value set by the county auditor.
- Permits a municipality or community improvement corporation (CIC) to apply, within 12 months of the bill's 90-day effective date, for a property tax exemption and abatement of delinquent taxes on certain property owned by the municipality or CIC.
Senate Ways and Means Committee
The committee heard sponsor testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 153, sponsored by Sens. George Lang (R-West Chester) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which would temporarily modify the method for valuing farmland and other real property for tax purposes.
The committee heard sponsor testimony on SB 134, sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction), which would extend the homestead property tax exemption to certain disabled veterans.
The committee also heard sponsor testimony on SB 136, sponsored by Sen. Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus), which would reduce property taxes on qualifying owner-occupied homes and names this act the Property Tax Relief and Local Government Support Act.
House Public Utilities Committee
The committee held a second hearing on HB 197, sponsored by Reps. James Hoops (R-Napoleon) and Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth), which would establish the community solar pilot program and the solar development program.
New bills introduced
HB 274, sponsored by Reps. Adam Matthews (R-Lebanon) and Richard Dell’Aquila (D-Seven Hills), would authorize an enhanced property tax homestead exemption for certain long-term homeowners.
HB 279, sponsored by Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield), requires occupant restraining devices to be installed on all school buses within five years.
State Board of Education
Several members of the state board of education (SBOE) are suing to halt the transition of power from the SBOE to the newly created Department of Education and Workforce (DEW), citing that the provision in HB 33 violates the state constitution. A Franklin County Common Pleas Judge issued a temporary restraining order on Thursday preventing the state from moving forward with the implementation of DEW. A hearing is scheduled for October 2.
Federal update
Please click here to read the weekly Federal Advocacy Education Report which includes education related information.