Maddy summaryHB 296 increases the mandatory contributions that employers of full-time municipal police officers and members of the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund must make to the pension system. The bill establishes a schedule where employee contributions rise gradually from 12.5% to 15% between 2025 and 2030, while employer contributions increase from 19.5% to 23.25% over the same period. To help fund these higher payments, the legislation requires certain municipalities to levy a new property tax of three-tenths of one mill, with revenues prioritized for the pension fund and related liabilities. Additionally, the bill allows the pension fund board to adjust contribution rates in the future if an actuarial study determines such changes are needed to maintain the fund's financial health.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution honoring the memory of Barbara C. Pringle, a former Cleveland City Council member and long-serving Ohio state representative. It formally acknowledges her contributions to public service and directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the tribute to her family. The measure does not enact new laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial gesture to express sympathy and respect for her life and legacy.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ask residents about their willingness to become organ donors when they apply for hunting or fishing licenses. It expands the ways people can register as donors by allowing them to indicate their choice on driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, or through specific forms and online links for hunting and fishing permits. The legislation also clarifies that a donor's choice remains valid even if their driver's license is revoked or suspended and provides legal protections for state officials who follow these new procedures.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for public-use airports in Ohio to sell aircraft that have been abandoned on their premises. An aircraft is considered abandoned if it has remained on the airport for at least ninety consecutive days without the owner paying any associated fees. The legislation outlines specific steps for airports to identify owners, notify them of accrued costs, and eventually sell the aircraft if those costs are not paid within thirty days. Additionally, the bill clarifies the rights of service providers to place liens on aircraft for unpaid labor, storage, or materials, while ensuring these liens do not hinder the sale of truly abandoned planes.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a commemorative resolution that honors Laura Battocletti on her retirement from her role as executive director of the Ohio Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board. It recognizes her distinguished career in public service, which includes previous leadership positions with the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Casino Control Commission. The text formally commends her dedication and instructs the House Clerk to send an official copy of the resolution to her as a gesture of appreciation.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new specialty license plate for the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, allowing vehicle owners to purchase the plate and contribute money to the state's license plate contribution fund. The legislation outlines how the registrar of motor vehicles must distribute these funds to various designated organizations, including health foundations for breast cancer, sickle cell disease, and childhood cancers, as well as groups focused on autism, multiple sclerosis, and youth development programs. Additionally, the bill directs specific contributions to universities in other states to award scholarships exclusively to Ohio residents who attend those institutions. By establishing these distribution rules, the bill formalizes the process for collecting and allocating money from specialty plates to support charitable, educational, and medical causes throughout Ohio and beyond.
Maddy summaryThis bill restricts state low-income housing tax credits to projects that verify the immigration status of their tenants. To qualify for the credit, property owners must obtain a written declaration confirming they will screen prospective tenants for legal presence in the United States and require proof of status, such as a birth certificate, passport, or driver's license. The owner must keep copies of these documents on file and allow the attorney general to access them for investigation purposes. If a project fails to comply with these verification requirements, the state agency can revoke the tax credit for the non-compliant housing units, though the owner may regain eligibility for those units once they are brought back into compliance.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates specific days and weeks in Ohio to honor agriculture, including Farmer's Day, FFA Week, 4-H Week, and Ohio Soil Health Week. It also updates the rules for deputy apiarists, who inspect bee hives, by clarifying their appointment process, compensation, and reporting requirements to the state director of agriculture. The legislation establishes that these deputies serve at the pleasure of the county board and must submit inspection reports and expense claims for director approval before receiving payment. Additionally, the bill repeals an older, conflicting section of the Revised Code regarding these agricultural designations.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for selecting members of the State Teachers Retirement Board to ensure a mix of expertise and independence. It establishes specific qualifications for board seats, requiring that investment-focused members have direct experience in managing assets while prohibiting them from having worked for the retirement system or related financial firms in the last three years. The legislation also clarifies how these members are appointed, designating roles for the director of education, the state treasurer, and elected officials, while maintaining seats for current and retired teachers. These changes aim to structure the board's composition to better reflect professional investment knowledge and prevent conflicts of interest, without altering the terms of those already serving on the board.
Maddy summaryHB 111 increases the potential prison sentences for individuals convicted of third-degree felony domestic violence and establishes a legal presumption that such offenders should be sentenced to prison rather than probation. This change applies specifically to repeat offenders who have a history of domestic violence convictions or related offenses against family or household members. The bill also mandates minimum prison terms for cases involving pregnant victims, ensuring stricter penalties when the offender knew the victim was pregnant at the time of the crime. Additionally, the legislation expands the ability of corporations and organizations to file for protection orders if they are targeted by domestic violence threats.