Rep. Crystal Lett

To amend sections 4109.08, 4109.13, and 4109.99 of the Revised Code to enact the Clock Out Kids Act to require school employees to report certain minor labor law violations, to increase penalties for certain minor labor law violations, and to create the Minor Labor Law Enforcement Fund; and to make an appropriation.

To amend sections 3314.03, 3326.11, and 3328.24 and to enact section 3319.2214 of the Revised Code regarding implicit bias training for licensed educators and to make an appropriation.

To enact section 5101.546 of the Revised Code to establish a supplemental benefit allotment for certain recipients of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits and to make an appropriation.

To enact section 5101.548 of the Revised Code to establish a program to refund SNAP recipients who have been victims of electronic theft or fraud, to name this act the No Hungry Families Act, and to make an appropriation.

To amend sections 323.152, 323.153, 323.158, 4503.06, 4503.066, 4503.067, 4503.068, 4503.069, and 4503.0610 and to enact section 4503.0612 of the Revised Code to authorize a property tax freeze for certain owner-occupied homes.

To amend sections 4112.01 and 4112.05 of the Revised Code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, to add mediation as an informal method that the Ohio Civil Rights Commission may use, and to uphold existing religious exemptions under Ohio's Civil Rights Law.

To amend sections 5747.01, 5747.08, and 5747.98 and to enact section 5747.36 of the Revised Code to authorize the refundable thriving families tax credit for certain income taxpayers with dependents who are minor children.

To amend sections 323.152, 323.153, 4503.065, and 4503.066 of the Revised Code to authorize an enhanced property tax homestead exemption for certain long-term homeowners.

Maddy summaryThis 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.

Maddy summaryHB 34 proposes to increase Ohio's state minimum wage in phases, starting at $15.50 per hour in 2025 and rising to $16.50 per hour by 2027. It requires annual adjustments based on inflation after 2027 and mandates employers to post current wage rates in visible locations. The bill covers most Ohio workers, excluding specific categories like certain independent contractors in transportation (e.g., owner-operators of vehicles) and volunteers. It also clarifies definitions of "employee" and "employer" to align with federal standards under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill is currently pending committee review after its introduction on February 3, 2025.