To amend sections 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24 and to enact section 3313.8110 of the Revised Code to require public schools to provide meals and related services to students.
HB 120 exempts the sale of firearm safety devices (such as trigger locks or gun safes) from Ohio's sales and use tax. This change directly affects consumers purchasing these devices and retailers selling them, removing the tax obligation on these specific products. The bill amends Ohio Revised Code sections 5739.01-5739.17 to create this tax exemption, making it a concrete policy change for firearm safety device transactions. The legislation does not alter tax treatment for other firearm-related items or general sales.
HB 110 amends Ohio law to increase penalties for repeat voyeurism offenses. It raises penalties for individuals with two or more prior convictions of secretly recording others in private spaces (e.g., bathrooms, changing rooms) or undergarments, upgrading violations from misdemeanors to third-degree felonies. The bill specifically targets repeat offenders who previously violated laws against surreptitiously videotaping, photographing, or broadcasting private areas without consent. It does not change penalties for first-time offenses but strengthens consequences for repeat violations across all scenarios described in the law.
This bill increases Ohio's homestead property tax exemption amount from $25,000 to $50,000 and raises the income limit for eligibility from $34,500 to $50,000 (adjusted annually for inflation). It directly affects seniors (65+), permanently disabled residents, and surviving spouses of disabled seniors, disabled veterans, or public safety officers killed in duty. The exemption reduces property tax bills for qualifying homeowners who own and occupy their primary residence, with the new amounts automatically adjusted each year based on economic data. This change modifies existing tax relief provisions under sections 323.152 and 4503.065 of the Revised Code.
HB 101 establishes a pilot program to provide $4,000 annual scholarships to underrepresented Ohio undergraduate students planning to attend law school. The Ohio State Bar Association will manage the program, selecting 10-20 Ohio resident students from underrepresented groups for academic scholarships, free LSAT test preparation, mentoring, and law school career guidance. The program, funded by state appropriations, requires the Bar Association to report annually on outcomes, expenses, and use of funds to the Chancellor of Higher Education and legislative committees. This is a temporary initiative with no specified end date beyond the pilot phase.
HB 111 amends Ohio's speed limit law to impose an additional fine on drivers who exceed the speed limit by 30 miles per hour or more. This change directly affects drivers convicted of high-speed violations, adding a supplemental penalty to existing fines. The bill modifies Section 4511.21 of the Revised Code to specify this extra charge without altering existing speed limits or zone definitions. It does not change current speed restrictions (like 20 mph in school zones) but adds a financial consequence for the most severe speeding offenses. The bill is currently in the introduction phase, having been referred to committee on February 26, 2025.
SB 121 designates April as "Counseling Awareness Month" in Ohio state law. This procedural bill adds a formal designation to the Revised Code, encouraging public awareness efforts related to counseling services. It directly affects Ohio residents by promoting recognition of counseling resources during April, though it does not create new programs or funding. The bill is currently pending in committee after being introduced on February 25, 2025.
SB 116 reduces the tangible personal property tax rate for pipeline companies in Ohio from 88% to 25% of true value. This directly affects pipeline companies operating in Ohio, lowering their property tax burden on taxable assets like pipelines and related equipment. The bill amends Revised Code section 5727.111 to implement this rate change for all pipeline company property first taxed in Ohio after the effective date. The key provision is the uniform 25% tax rate, replacing the previous 88% rate for this specific industry.
HB 99 removes specific nonprofit agricultural membership organizations from Ohio's insurance regulations. It defines these organizations as state-incorporated entities serving farmers' interests and providing healthcare coverage exclusively to members and their families. The bill clarifies that such healthcare coverage is not considered "insurance" under state law, exempting these organizations from Title XXXIX regulations and the superintendent of insurance's jurisdiction. This allows the organizations to provide healthcare benefits without insurance licensing while permitting reinsuring of related risks through authorized insurers.
HB 121 defines "renewable natural gas" as biologically derived methane meeting pipeline standards and specifies that producers without on-site pipeline injection capability are not considered public utilities. This directly affects certain renewable natural gas producers who lack the infrastructure to connect directly to gas pipelines. The bill’s key mechanism reclassifies these producers out of the public utility regulatory framework by removing them from the definition of "public utility" under Ohio law. The change would exempt them from utility-specific regulations, such as rate oversight or service requirements, without altering their operational standards. The bill is currently in committee after introduction on February 24, 2025.
To enact sections 3523.13, 3523.14, 3523.15, 3523.16, 3523.17, 3523.18, and 3523.99 of the Revised Code to establish procedures for appointing delegates to a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution.
To amend sections 3.02, 302.09, 305.02, 503.24, and 733.31 of the Revised Code to modify the procedures for filling vacancies in certain local elected offices.
