Architypes Summer 2024 – Government Affairs Update

The Ohio General Assembly left Columbus to return to their home districts, to campaign for the November 5th General Election.

Before departing, the legislature sent the Capital Appropriation bill to the Governor who signed it the next day, effective immediately.  Known as a “clean bill” without partisan substantive law changes, the Governor did not make any line-item vetoes.

House Bill 2 sends $4.2 billion to localities for the next biennium, in the largest such appropriation in Ohio history.  Both Republicans and Democrats voted for the bill, with at least one construction project designated in each legislator’s district. 

Senate President Matt Huffman (R, Lima) secured $10 million for the Lima Veterans Memorial Hall.  $20 million will go to the Cuyahoga County Northcoast Connector, and another $20 million to the Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies in Franklin County.

The Senate released its second half schedule of only 5 voting sessions, with Committee meetings Tuesdays and sessions Wednesdays from the week after the November election to the week before Christmas, skipping Thanksgiving week.

Other pending bills which affect the Construction Industry include House Bill 203, establishing “prompt payment” penalties for the untimely payment of contractors in the private sector.  The legislation passed the House by a wide margin, but may run out of time in the Senate after only one hearing.

After a decade of attempts, House Bill 129 also passed the House by a significant margin, but awaits two more Senate hearings to require a commercial roofing contractor to hold a state license. 

Senate Bill 41 passed the Senate unanimously to provide for expedited appeals to the Ohio Board of Building Appeals, and has received four hearings in the House Economic and Workforce Development Committee, with no testimony most recently.  Its status is unclear for the remainder of the session.

House Bill 327 passed the House with significant opposition from the Construction Industry, to require persons holding public contracts in construction to register employees for immigration purposes.  It appears likely to stall before further Senate action.

House Bill 497 passed unanimously to exempt county improvement projects for minor repairs from the requirement to obtain detailed plans, specifications, and cost estimates from an architect or engineer. The legislation also raises the exemption from $50,000 to $75,000 related to the county notice requirement for purchases, leases, and construction contracts.  The bill has yet to be assigned for consideration by a Senate Committee.