Labor & Employment (Licensing)

To amend section 4740.99 and to enact section 4740.18 of the Revised Code to establish a certification for specialty residential construction contractors.

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 134 creates a registration program allowing home kitchens to legally sell certain homemade foods, like baked goods or jams, directly to customers. It updates state rules to establish a microenterprise home kitchen registration system, replacing the need for a full commercial kitchen license. Home cooks must register under this new program to sell qualifying foods, which are limited to low-risk items meeting specific safety standards. The law directly affects small-scale home food producers seeking to sell their goods without operating a commercial kitchen.