ACEC Ohio Legislative Update

Civil Immunity Bill on Governor's Desk:

This week the Ohio House and Ohio Senate were back in session and passed an issue ACEC Ohio has been supporting. HB 606, a proposal granting broad civil immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic was sent to the Governor for signature this week.

The immunity proposal provides protection against lawsuits resulting from the pandemic, general qualified immunity against businesses is included. In conference committee, the bill's expiration date was extended from December 31, 2020 to September 30, 2021.

Senate approves $650 million more aid for local governments:

The Ohio Senate passed, SB 357, appropriating $650 million in federal CARES Act dollars for local governments. These dollars go to COVID 19 related expenses. The money needs to be spent by the end of the year.  Included as part of the bill is a process by which money that goes unspent by a municipality or township is redistributed to other entities within that county.

This bill builds on previous legislation, HB 481, which appropriated $350 million federal CARES Act dollars to counties, townships and municipalities. The dollars from both bills will be distributed with 48.2% to cities, 18.3% to townships and 33.5% will go to counties. Click here for estimated local distributions.

Repeal and Replacement of HB 6

This week Speaker Bob Cupp announced 15 members to the new committee which will lead efforts to repeal and replace House Bill 6.

Chaired by Rep. Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon) the other members are:

• Rep. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison)
• Rep. Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester)
• Rep. Rick Carfagna (R-Genoa Township)
• Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton)
• Rep. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario)
• Rep. Dick Stein (R-Norwalk)
• Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill)
• Rep. Scott Wiggam (R-Wooster)
• Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus)
• Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus)
• Rep. Sedrick Denson (D-Cincinnati)
• Rep. Michael O'Brien (D-Warren)
• Rep. Kent Smith (D-Euclid)
• Rep. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson)

HB 6 has been targeted for repeal following revelations of an alleged $60 million bribery and racketeering scheme involving the former Speaker, Larry Householder.* The Senate began hearings this week on SB 346 which only repeals HB 6 without a replacement option. Both the Ohio House and Senate will continue to have hearings over the month of September, we will keep you updated as both chambers discuss options regarding HB 6.

*Gongwer News