Rep. Brian Lorenz

Maddy summaryHB 305 amends several Ohio Revised Code sections to update definitions and restrict how public funds can be used by local governments and legal aid organizations. The bill clarifies what constitutes a "political subdivision" and prohibits these entities from using taxpayer money to publish content that supports political candidates, promotes illegal activities, or engages in electioneering. Additionally, it limits legal aid funds to specific services for indigent clients and bars their use in criminal or fee-generating cases. The legislation also introduces new rules for public depositories, requiring them to notify governing boards if they are involved in federal regulatory corrective actions.

Maddy summaryHB 271 changes how ballot questions are numbered and organized on election ballots to ensure they follow a consistent sequence based on previous elections. The bill requires that state-level questions always appear at the top of the ballot, followed by county, municipal, township, and school district questions in a rotating order that shifts down one step each year. Additionally, it mandates that each question be numbered consecutively, starting with "1" for the top question, while resetting the count back to "1" once a state question reaches the number 500. This legislation also clarifies formatting rules, such as prohibiting bold text for property tax proposals and allowing condensed text summaries with full versions posted at polling places.

Maddy summaryHB 347 simplifies the process for farmers in Ohio to prove that certain vehicles and trailers are used for agricultural purposes, thereby exempting them from sales tax. Instead of relying on a generic exemption certificate, eligible farmers can verify their status by submitting copies of their federal Schedule F tax returns for the three most recent years to the tax commissioner. Once the commissioner issues an identification number based on these documents, farmers can present this number to vendors to automatically qualify for the tax exemption without needing additional proof. The bill also clarifies that vendors are generally relieved of tax liability if they accept a valid exemption certificate, except in cases involving fraud or specific misuse of the exemption. This change aims to reduce administrative burdens for agricultural businesses while maintaining oversight to prevent improper tax avoidance.

Maddy summaryHB 264 amends state laws to clarify how steam-producing facilities can recover waste energy for efficiency purposes. The bill primarily affects industrial and commercial entities that operate steam systems by updating the legal framework governing their energy recovery efforts. It achieves this by revising specific sections of the state's energy code to include these facilities within the scope of existing energy efficiency regulations. This change ensures that such facilities are covered under the same rules designed to promote energy conservation and reduce waste.

Maddy summaryHB 546 requires all paper ballots used in Ohio elections to include a unique, invisible watermark that election officials can verify using special light sources or technology. This measure aims to help officials confirm that a ballot is genuine and was issued to the specific voter who cast it, particularly when reviewing absentee ballots. The bill also updates existing election laws by defining terms like "watermark" and clarifying rules for counting ballots, including provisions that prevent rejection based on ink marks other than provided pencils. By establishing these verification standards, the legislation seeks to streamline the process for identifying fraudulent or mismatched ballots without altering how voters mark their choices.

Maddy summaryHB 532 expands the legal definition of "peace officer" to include municipal court bailiffs and probation officers, thereby extending the same legal protections to these roles that currently apply to other law enforcement and public safety workers. The bill also increases penalties for anyone who assaults these newly included officials or other court employees while they are performing their official duties. By categorizing attacks on these individuals as more serious crimes, the legislation aims to strengthen protections for court staff and probation officers against physical harm.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States from possessing, carrying, or using firearms. It expands existing state laws that currently bar specific groups, such as felons and those with certain mental health or substance abuse issues, from owning guns. Violating this prohibition is classified as a third-degree felony. The legislation also outlines a legal process allowing some individuals to petition a court for relief from firearm disabilities if they have led a law-abiding life since their disqualification.

Maddy summaryHB 424 modifies the state's sales and use tax laws to clarify how delivery network services are taxed. The bill updates the legal definition of a "sale" to explicitly include various modern services such as electronic data processing, satellite broadcasting, and specific types of transportation. These changes aim to ensure that businesses providing these services are subject to the same tax rules as those selling physical goods. The legislation applies to a wide range of entities, including corporations, partnerships, and individuals, without changing the overall tax rate.