The Ohio Senate’s action last week to pass Sen. Chris Widener’s legislation (SB 232) granting advanced energy developers abatements from the tangible personal property tax sent the issue to the House, which has been considering a separate measure with some notable differences.
Keary McCarthy, spokesman for Speaker Armond Budish (D-Beachwood) said speaker intends to take action on either the Senate or House proposal prior to summer recess.
The House Ways & Means Committee, which has been deliberating on the House’s version (HB 464) sponsored by Rep. Roland Winburn (D-Dayton), is not scheduled to consider the bill this week. The only proposal on the panel’s agenda is a Republican plan to eliminate the personal income tax (HB 400).
Significant differences between the two chambers’ versions involve job-creation requirements and eligible technologies. While the Senate would extend tax breaks to certain forms of advanced coal and nuclear technology, the House measure is limited to wind and solar power.
Ms. Wurst said the governor was pleased that both chambers were working on the issue, and took a pass on specifying which chamber’s version Mr. Strickland preferred.
“The governor hopes that the differences in the bills can be worked out in a bipartisan way and arrive on his desk for signature before the legislature breaks for the summer,” she said.