Each Friday, we highlight some of the bills and resolutions introduced in the Ohio Legislature in the past week.
Business
SB 184-Wind Farm Setback Requirements
This bill would reduce the minimum setback requirement (the distance wind turbines have to be from the nearest, habitable, residential structure) that was set in 2014.
SB183-Business Courts Study Committee
SB 183 would form a committee made up of three members of the Senate, three members of the House, three sitting jurists appointed by the chief justice, three senior executives of companies incorporated in Ohio, three other individuals representing commercial interests, three business or law professors from state institutions, and one employee of the secretary of state’s office who works with business filings. They would evaluate the need for a business courts in Ohio, similar to the Delaware Chancery Court, and explore if such a court would draw more businesses to the state. The Columbus Daily Reporter has a good summary.
This consumer protection bill seeks to distinguish direct selling companies from pyramid schemes.
HB331-Accident Report Solicitation
HB 331 would prohibit using accident reports for commercial solicitation purposes. It would set up a hotline at the Attorney General's office for reporting violations.
Health Care
HB332-Organ Transplants and Disability
This bill would ban discrimination against disabled persons in regards to organ transplants. A Washington Post article earlier this year discussed the problems disabled patients in need of transplants face.
Tax
HB 334-Pass Through Business Entities
This bill would specify that wages paid by a professional employer organization to the owner of a pass-through entity that has contracted with the organization may be considered business income.
HB 333-Eliminate Tax Marriage Penalty
HB 333 would eliminate the so-called Ohio "marriage penalty" by allowing spouses to file separately on their Ohio tax forms, even if they filed a joint federal return. You can read more about it in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.