Budget & Taxes (Fees & Licensing)

HB 59 requires all occupational licensing boards (like those for nurses, electricians, or contractors) to undergo regular reviews to determine if they still serve a public need. Each board must submit detailed reports on their purpose, costs, staffing, and effectiveness, and then prove to legislative committees that their regulation is necessary for public safety, not duplicative, and not unduly restrictive. Committees must evaluate boards using 23 specific criteria, including whether less restrictive alternatives exist or if the board serves private interests. This law directly affects every state occupational licensing board by shifting the burden to demonstrate continued necessity, rather than assuming boards should remain in place. The goal is to eliminate unnecessary regulations that could increase costs or hinder economic activity.

HB 389 eliminates an extra registration fee currently charged for hybrid motor vehicles in Ohio. It directly affects owners of hybrid cars and light trucks who would no longer pay this additional cost on top of standard vehicle registration. The bill amends specific sections of Ohio's Revised Code to remove this fee requirement from the registration process. This change simplifies registration costs for hybrid vehicle owners without altering other registration rules.