From The Statehouse 2007 No. 14
by Jennifer Garrison
Jun. 30, 2007
FROM THE STATEHOUSE – June 28, 2007
This was the last regularly scheduled session week for the Ohio House before summer recess. Every two (2) years, the Legislature must pass the State’s 2 year budget by June 30th or the government could potentially shut down. July 1, 2007, is the first day of this budget. Both the House and Senate voted to accept the conference report on House Bill 119, the state’s 2 year budget bill and it has been sent to the Governor for his signature. The Governor has line item veto authority in Ohio.
The highlights of House bill 119 include significant increases in state funding for our higher education institutions. In exchange there will be a tuition freeze at all state colleges and universities for the next 2 years. Over the last 7 years, tuition has increased an average of 9% a year resulting in Ohio students finding it cheaper to attend schools out of state versus paying tuition at our public universities.
Additionally, this budget included the largest property tax cut in Ohio history. To be exact, this calculates to $257 million property tax relief for senior citizens and disabled Ohioans. One in four Ohio homeowners will receive the expanded homestead exemption.
Children in homes at 200 to 300% of poverty level will now receive health insurance through our state Medicaid program, provided the parents pay a premium to qualify. Today children in homes at 200% and below of the federal poverty limit are eligible. This provision pulls in the children in families that are working and struggling, but do not have access to health insurance.
The bill also included increased funding for our primary and secondary schools and set up STEM programs within our public schools. STEM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering and math. I voted “yes” and the budget passed 98-1.
Last week the Ohio House voted on Amended Substitute House Bill 5 which limited a government’s ability to take property by eminent domain. This week the House took up Senate bill 7, the Senate’s version of restricting eminent domain. The Senate bill requires when property is taken because of an economic benefit to the government or community, the property must be at least 70% blighted. The major difference from the previously passed House eminent domain bill is the percentage of property that must be blighted was increased from 50% to 70%. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
Substitute Senate Bill 24 passed out of the House this week also. This bill requires the Ohio Department of Development to adopt rules to administer the Jobs Ready Site Program’s annual grant process. Most importantly, the bill prohibits the rules from excluding grant applications from any county. Under current law, it is far more difficult for non-glaciated areas, like Appalachia, to compete for these grants because of the hilly terrain. The bill also increased the dollar amount that can be granted to a county under the Industrial Site Improvement Program from $500,000 to $750,000. I voted “yes”.
House Bill 273 is an omnibus bill naming highways in a number of counties for veterans as requested by their county commissioners and local communities. Included in this bill is the naming of state route 66 in Guernsey County as the Major James W. Reed Memorial Highway. I voted “yes”. The bill passed.
You can reach Jennifer Garrison at her Columbus office at 614-644-8728 or in the district at 740-373-2414 or by e-mail at jennifer@jennifergarrison.com. Her website is <a href="/a>