COLUMBUS, Ohio — The governor’s office has a pile of bills ready to sign, but some bills such as SB 326, which regulates Hemp, were defeated in the process.
Bills either got stuck inside a committee or were never introduced on the floor. Regardless of the why, they didn’t make it to the governor’s desk. They may show up again next year.
One of those defeated bills, SB 295, would expand the school closure policy and affect both charter and private schools. Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said there are capital expenses around this bill that could bring it up at the new session.
“I think they’re making some decisions right now in the Columbus Public Schools," he said. "There are a lot of buildings that are open, that it’s not just about underperforming, it’s also about the use of those buildings you got, you have to heat them. We want to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. This goes back to the first question here about why are we collecting these real estate taxes from people? Why are they so high? Well, because in some cases we’re paying to keep buildings open that are only half full.”
Another bill Huffman said is dead right now regards pay raises to statewide officials, legislators and local elected officials.
“I think the only way to drive any potential reform in that area is to talk about some of, you know, talk about he money and what we do with that," he said.
While this bill may show up next year, State Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Lakewood, said it would still face obstacles.
“No legislator ever wants to vote on a pay raise bill,” Antonio said, “because of the fact that we know how people are struggling right now in the state in general, and they make way less than the public officials do, and so I think people had mixed feelings about it.”
Another bill that may show up next year is SB 194, the police and fire pension bill and a bill that would regulate hemp.
Antonio said something that may find more support in the coming year is SB 136, the property tax relief bill.
“I think we need to be thoughtful as well as effective in what kind of tax relief we end up providing for the people of Ohio,” Antonio said. “We absolutely need to get it done next year.”