HB 291 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Create the Ohio International Trade Commission

HB 291 proposes to create the Ohio International Trade Commission. This bill would establish a new state entity by enacting section 122.97 of the Revised Code. The specific functions or responsibilities of this commission are not detailed in the provided abstract.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 20, 2025 Last action Jun 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the House · 5 edits · Jun 9, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was expanded to include additional cosponsors and now creates a new section (122.671) allowing the commission to purchase bonds to fund its activities. The scope of the commission was broadened to focus on multilateral trade and joint research with up to eight designated regions rather than specific countries like Japan and Israel. Membership requirements were updated to ensure bipartisan representation from the legislature and to replace specific country-based representatives with representatives for the designated regions.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from targeting specific nations (Japan, Ireland, Israel) to a flexible framework allowing the commission to designate up to eight regions for multilateral trade and joint research agreements. A new funding mechanism was added to allow the commission to purchase bonds to finance projects.
FISCAL

Added a new section (122.671) authorizing the Treasurer of State to negotiate and purchase bonds to fund the commission's activities, including financing trade trips and grants.

SCOPE

Changed the commission's focus from specific countries (Japan, Ireland, Israel) to a flexible model of up to eight designated regions for multilateral trade and joint research.

ELIGIBILITY

Replaced specific country-based member representatives (e.g., Japanese-American communities) with members representing the designated regions, ensuring representation aligns with the commission's chosen partners.

REQUIREMENT

Updated legislative member selection to require explicit majority and minority party appointments to ensure bipartisan representation in the commission.

Added a requirement for the commission to issue an annual financial report detailing all gifts, grants, and funding sources to both majority and minority legislative leaders.

Floor votes · House Jun 10, 2026

How they voted

913
Passed
Total votes 94
Jun 10, 2026
D Democratic32
32 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican62
59 Yea 3 Nay
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Jun 11, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Jun 10, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (91-3)
house
Jun 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
May 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
May 20, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
2 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors