From the Statehouse 2007 No. 23
by Jennifer Garrison
Oct. 7, 2007
FROM THE STATEHOUSE- OCTOBER 5, 2007
This week the Ohio House considered legislation dealing with municipal tax returns and trust documents.
Amended House Bill 224 clarifies that municipal income tax return filing dates for individuals can not be earlier than the federal return filing date. Also, this bill allows tax return preparers to use facsimile signatures on tax returns. Further, the bill creates a check off box on the state tax form to authorize tax preparers to communicate directly with the municipal tax administrators with the tax payers consent.
This bill came about because April 15th fell on a Sunday this year. The federal government filing deadline was moved to the following business day, April 16, 2007. However, a few municipalities in the state mandated an earlier filing deadline. This legislation strives for consistency in the filing deadline date for the taxpayer. There was no opposition to this legislation. The bill passed overwhelmingly. I voted “yes”.
The final bill the Ohio House considered this week is Senate bill 134 which provides memorandums of trust be executed and acknowledged only by the trustee of the trust instead of the trustee and settler both. The settler is the person or party creating the trust. Additionally, only the trustee’s name and address must be on the memorandum of trust.
Current law requires that the person creating the trust and the trustee both sign a memorandum of trust if filed with the county recorder. The signing has to be acknowledged before a judge, a clerk of court, a county auditor, county engineer, notary public, or mayor who must certify the acknowledgment.
This bill passed overwhelmingly in the House on Wednesday and passed in the Senate in May. Senate bill 134 will be sent to the Governor for his consideration. I voted “yes”.
Finally, I want to share with you information on the Governor’s Energy, Jobs, and Progress bill which will be debated over the next few months in the General Assembly.
In 1999, the Ohio Legislature deregulated the electric generation industry in Ohio with the hope competition would be created and lower prices would result. However, competition did not result from deregulation as anticipated and the legislature and Governor must act to address this potential problem. Under current law, all but one Ohio electric utility will go to market pricing on January 1, 2009.
Goals of the Governor’s plan include:
Establish a stable balance between the protections of regulation and the opportunities of competitive markets;
Stimulate renewable and advanced energy production and attract investment and jobs in energy fields;
To effect transparency and accountability in government and our public utilities;
Modernize Ohio’s electric infrastructure;
Make energy efficiency a central element in electric regulation.
If you would like to know more about the Governor’s energy plan, mark your calendars for Monday, October 15, 2007 at 1:00 p.m. The Governor’s office energy briefing is scheduled to take place on this date and time at Washington State Community College, Graham Auditorium.
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 Riffe Center | 77 South High Street | Columbus Ohio 43215-6111 | (800) 282-0253 | District93@ohr.state.oh.us
Web Site Design | FireBox Studios