HB 503 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Regards voter approval of municipal income tax reciprocity credit

Summary
To amend section 718.04 and to enact section 718.041 of the Revised Code to require voter approval to modify a municipal income tax reciprocity credit and to allow a voter initiative to authorize, modify, or repeal such a credit.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Oct 7, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the House · 6 edits · Feb 25, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand voter initiative powers, clarify tax credit rules, and add a required study on municipal income tax uniformity. Key changes include allowing voters to initiate new tax credits or increases (not just repeals), requiring separate ballot questions for credit modifications versus tax rate changes, and mandating a comprehensive study by the Department of Taxation by December 2026.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include voter initiatives to enact or increase municipal income tax credits, whereas the original version only allowed voter initiatives to authorize, modify, or repeal such credits. Additionally, new provisions were added regarding school district income tax agreements and a mandatory study requirement.
REQUIREMENT

Changed voter initiative language from allowing only authorization, modification, or repeal of tax credits to explicitly allowing voters to initiate questions to enact new credits or increase existing credit amounts, percentages, or rate limits.

Added requirement that modifications to tax credits must be submitted as separate ballot questions and cannot be combined with tax rate questions on the same ballot.

Added new Section 718.041 establishing voter initiative procedures for municipal income tax credits, including petition requirements and election notice procedures.

Added new Section 718.04(G) creating provisions for municipal income taxes that provide financial assistance to school districts, including requirements for written agreements and specific tax purposes.

TIMELINE

Added requirement for the Department of Taxation to conduct a study on municipal income tax uniformity and issue a report to the General Assembly by December 31, 2026.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified ballot language for tax credit modifications to clarify that modifications must state the new amount, percentage, or rate limit compared to the current credit.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

6526
Passed
Total votes 91
Feb 26, 2026
D Democratic28
3 Yea 25 Nay
89% Nay
R Republican63
62 Yea 1 Nay
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Mar 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Feb 26, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (65-26)
house
Feb 26, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Oct 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Oct 7, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
2 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors