Architypes Winter 2024 – Government Affairs Update

The Ohio General Assembly began its Third Quarter of the biennial session.  The House and Senate are scheduled for only seven floor sessions before adjourning for the summer. Neither chamber will hold a floor session in March. Committees will be active, at the individual discretion of the chair.

The Ohio Primary Election will be held Tuesday, March 19th, when Ohioans will vote for their parties’ nominees for President of the United States.  Also in a contested race this year will be Senator Sherrod Brown’s re-election, along with half of Ohio Senate seats, and all races for State Representative.

The most significant legislation this Spring will be the biennial, statewide Construction Appropriation, passed before July 1st.  For the prior two years, that bill covered all state colleges, universities, and agencies with over $3.5 billion.  Always of concern is what material statutory changes are hidden within the funding items.

HB 203 TIMELY PAY OF CONTRACTORS  (ROEMER B, SWEENEY B)

To require owners of private construction projects to timely pay contractors.

12/13/2023 – Referred to Committee Senate Workforce and Higher Education

12/6/2023 – PASSED BY HOUSE; Vote 76-12

HB 145 POLITICAL SUBDIVISION PURCHASE OF CONSTRUCTION SERVICES  (HALL T, LAMPTON B)

To expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services. (Design Professionals not included).

6/20/2023 – House State and Local Government, (Third Hearing)

SB 23 PURCHASING AUTHORITY-CONSTRUCTION SERVICES  (LANG G)

To expand political subdivision joint purchasing authority to expressly include purchases for construction services. (Design Professionals not included).

4/19/2023 – REPORTED OUT, Senate Government Oversight, (Fourth Hearing)

HB 197 SOLAR PROGRAMS  (HOOPS J, RAY S)

To establish the community solar pilot program and the solar development program.

12/13/2023 – SUB BILL ACCEPTED, House Public Utilities, (Third Hearing)

HB 215 COUNTY ENGINEER QUALIFICATIONS  (JOHNSON M)

To modify the qualifications of county engineers in certain counties.

6/26/2023 – Referred to Committee House State and Local Government

HB 327 REQUIRE CERTAIN CONTRACTORS TO USE E-VERIFY  (WIGGAM S, SWEARINGEN D)

To require government contractors, private nonresidential contractors, and certain employers to use E-verify.

11/14/2023 – Referred to Committee House Commerce and Labor

SB 41 LAW CHANGES-BUILDING INSPECTIONS  (ROEGNER K)

To make changes to the law relating to building inspections (expedited appeals).

10/3/2023 – House Economic and Workforce Development, (Third Hearing)

3/29/2023 – PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 31-0

SB 44 ELECTRONIC LICENSING APPLICATION REQUIREMENT  (BRENNER A)

To require a state occupational licensing agency to accept electronic license applications.

6/20/2023 – Referred to Committee House State and Local Government

6/7/2023 – PASSED BY SENATE; Vote 31-0

SB 76 HIGH-VOLUME LANDLORD TAX  (BLESSING III L, ANTONIO N)

To levy a tax on certain high-volume landlords (to promote affordable housing).

3/22/2023 – Senate Ways and Means, (Second Hearing)

HB 129 LICENSURE OF COMMERCIAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS  (PATTON T)

To require licensure of commercial roofing contractors and to amend the versions of sections 715.27 and 3781.102 of the Revised Code that are scheduled to take effect on December 29, 2023, to continue the change on and after that date.

9/13/2023 – Referred to Committee Senate Government Oversight

6/21/2023 – PASSED BY HOUSE; Vote 63-28

SB 77 ROOFING CONTRACTOR PRACTICES REGULATION  (LANG G)

To regulate the practices of roofing contractors and the terms of their contracts.

3/1/2023 – Referred to Committee Senate General Government

SB 133 STATE VENDORS’ DEBARMENT  (HICKS-HUDSON P, DEMORA B)

Regarding the debarment of state vendors.

12/6/2023 – Senate Judiciary, (First Hearing)