Keeping it Brief

Local

“Beavercreek and Beavercreek Twp. have placed road levy renewals on the May 4 election ballot that will not increase taxes. Both communities say these levies, if renewed, will help continue current street services.”
The Beavercreek levy “represents approximately 76% of the street levy fund revenue and is the primary funding source for 37 full-time employees, City Manager Pete Landrum said.”
- “The city is asking voters to make the road levy continuous instead of renewed every five years because the city doesn’t want to jeopardize such a big chunk of funding, Landrum said”
- The levy includes snow plowing, street sweeping, pavement repairs, roadside mowing, landscaping, ditching, and tree trimming.
- The levy $4.64 million/year
The levy in Beavercreek Township covers general repairs, resurfacing projects, pothole repairs, and salt snow plow.
- The levy would generate $468,000/year. This money would go towards the township’s road and bridge fund.

State

After SB 22 passed through the Ohio State House, the bill was sent to the Governor’s desk. Gov. DeWine immediately vetoed the bill. Following this, state lawmakers overrode the veto. This means that SB 22 is now on it’s way to become a law.
SB 22 does the following:
- Through passing a concurrent resolution, the legislature can rescind public health orders; state of emergency declarations; and any other executive branch order/rule issued in response to an emergency declaration.
- These orders/declarations can be rescinded as early as the same day they are issued.
- The executive branch cannot reissue a rescinded order for at least 60 days.
- Limits state of emergency declaration to 30 days, requiring legislature approval to extend it.
- Limits local boards of health from issuing widespread quarantine orders or any other orders that generally impact schools and businesses.
- Local boards of health can only issue a quarantine/isolation order to individuals who have been diagnosed with a disease or have come in contact with someone who has.
Gov. DeWine vetoed the bill because he believed it was unconstitutional.

HB 227 was recently introduced by House Republicans. This bill allows for Ohioans aged 21 to carry a concealed weapon without a license. It further:
- Removes the requirement that licensed gun owners “promptly” notify a police officer during a stop that they have a weapon in the car. They would only need to tell the officer about the weapon if asked.
- Creates an expungement system for people previously convicted of concealed weapons offenses.
Currently, Ohioans must receive a license from a local sheriff to be able to carry a gun.

SB 52 states that “if the Ohio Power Siting Board permits a big solar array or wind turbine that is at least partly in an unincorporated part of a township, a petition can be gotten up to call an election on whether to block it. The petition only requires a number of voter signatures equal to at least 8% of the ballots cast in the unincorporated area in the most recent gubernatorial election”.
- Rep. McColley states that “This is not a universal blockage of these projects, but is simply giving the community a voice and ensuring their opinions are heard.”
If SB 52 were to become a law then developers may choose not to begin projects in the communities in which SB 52 applies.

“Ohio lawmakers are considering a pair of bills that would block cities and counties from opting out of pipeline projects or limiting the use of natural gas”.
- “House Bill 192 would prohibit city or county governments from banning the use of ‘any fossil fuel’ for energy generation or the construction of a natural gas pipeline through the jurisdiction”.
- “House Bill 201, similarly, would block local governments from passing any ordinance that ‘limits’ or ‘prevents’ consumer access to natural gas”.
Ohio is also considering banning local governments from banning natural gas.

A bill recently introduced would remove the state mandate that requires all Ohioans who are juniors in high school to take the ACT. The test would be optional and individual school districts would pay for the test, instead of the state.
- Many higher education institutions no longer require the submission of an ACT score and not all students go to college after high school.
“Not only does the test impose additional mental health concerns over the stress of the test for students, the use of the test in determining a school district’s rating on state report cards could negatively affect districts long-term, based on short-term student disinterest”.
- The test requirement impacts economic development as well.

HB 209 would increase the amount of ballot drop boxes available throughout Ohio
- “It would require that each incorporated community, township, census-designated place and college/university campus have a drop box”.
- It also sets a minimum number of drop boxes in each county based on the amount of registered voters.
“State Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Cleveland, and Michele Lepore-Hagan, D-Youngstown, believe the additional drop boxes will make voting more convenient for Ohioans seeking to cast absentee ballots”.

“House Democrats introduced legislation Monday that would force GOP Rep. Larry Householder, currently under indictment in an alleged $61 million bribery scheme, to repay his salary if he’s convicted at trial”.
- The bill is directed towards lawmakers “who are indicted for a felony involving public corruption.”
- “The bill would require any lawmaker to repay both their salary and the cost of medical and retirement benefits from the moment of indictment through the date of conviction.”

“State. Sen. Hearcel Craig and Sen. Cecil Thomas presented the bill in the Senate Workforce and Higher Education recently, proposing increasing wages to $15 an hour by 2025.”
- The current minimum wage is $8.80/hour and $4.40/hour for employees who receive tips.
“The new bill would raise the minimum to $12 on Jan. 1, 2022, and have an annual $1 increase until 2025. Tipped workers would move up to $7.50 hourly by 2025.”
“A study by the Economic Policy Institute showed that having $15 per hour minimum wage by 2025 would impact poverty in terms of tax credits and federal assistance programs. The study estimated a drop in public assistance programs between $13.4 and $31 billion.”
The bill is currently in need of Republican support in order for it to pass the Senate.

Guest UserMarch 28, 2021