Ohio House Speaker Announces

Priority Bills for 127^th General Assembly

Emphasis Placed on Reforming Education and Cutting Taxes

COLUMBUS – Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted (R- Kettering) today announced priority legislation for the Ohio House of Representatives in the 127^th Ohio General Assembly, a package of bills ranging in focus from improving education and cutting taxes to helping Ohio’s children and reforming the redistricting process.

“The future of Ohio will be shaped by the success or failure in accomplishing our legislative priorities,” Husted said.  “Education, higher education and cutting taxes are all issues Ohioans have identified as top priorities and we’re responding – working to reform school funding and higher education, cutting taxes for people across the state and helping the children most in need. In doing so, we are answering the call of our constituencies and continuing to work to make Ohio a great place to live, learn, invest and earn.”

Priority legislation introduced today by members of the House includes:

·       House Bill 1: Addressing School Funding

Sponsored by State Representative Arlene Setzer (R-Vandalia), this legislation is placeholder legislation reserved for Governor Strickland’s yet-to-be announced school funding proposal. The governor will have until the end of the 127^th General Assembly to present his proposal.

·       House Bill 2: Reforming Higher Education

Sponsored by State Representative Shawn Webster (R-Hamilton), this bill grants the governor new authority to appoint the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents. Currently the chancellor is appointed by the board. In granting the governor this authority, he may appoint a chancellor who will work with the General Assembly to inject new ideas on how to make Ohio’s higher education system more affordable and responsive, and maximize its potential as a driver of the state economy.

·       House Bill 3: Eliminating the Death Tax

Sponsored by State Representative Bob Latta (R- Bowling Green), the measure eliminates the state portion of the death tax and requires that any municipality wishing to continue levying tax need voter approval in order to renew it locally by 2008. Additionally, the new bill would gradually raise the practical threshold of liability to apply to estates of more than $600,000 by 2010.

·       House Bill 4: Cutting Taxes and Helping Local Governments

Sponsored by State Representative Larry Wolpert (R- Columbus), the legislation gives the state’s portion of the death tax – 20 percent or approximately $60 million – to the local municipality. Also under the plan, a local government may choose to opt out of the death tax either through the legislative authority of the municipality or by citizen initiative.

·       House Bill 5: Addressing Eminent Domain Issues

Sponsored by State Representative Bob Gibbs (R- Lakeville), this bill implements the recommendations made by the Eminent Domain Task Force. The task force was established by House Bill 331, introduced by Gibbs in the 126^th General Assembly.  

·       House Bill 6: Helping Ohio’s Children in Need

Sponsored by State Representative Jimmy Stewart (R- Athens), the proposal increases the coverage under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) from 200 percent of the poverty rate to 300 percent. This increase outreach will allow an additional 32,000 children to be eligible for enrollment into SCHIP and help them receive the care they need.

·       House Bill 7: Promoting Adoption in Ohio

Sponsored by State Representative Tom Brinkman (R- Cincinnati), this measure works to reduce the barriers to adoption in Ohio – including complications and red tape in the legal system and exorbitant costs associated with adopting a child.  Currently, more than 2,780 children are awaiting adoption in the state of Ohio.

·       House Bill 8: Cracking Down on Lawbreakers

Sponsored by State Representative Bob Hagan (D- Youngstown), cracks down on felons taking advantage of Ohio’s five state retirement systems. The legislation would compel a state employee or official, including elected officials, to forfeit the entire amount of employer-paid contributions when the employee pleads guilty to, or is convicted of, a felony related to their official duties. 

·       House Joint Resolution 1: Reforming the Redistricting Process

Sponsored by State Representative Kevin DeWine (R- Fairborn), seeks to modify the Ohio Constitution to create an independent commission comprised of seven individuals to help draw the legislative and congressional disctricts. The resolution adds competition to the list of factors that must be considered during the process, making Ohio a national leader in redistricting reform.