OECA is actively tracking the following legislation for the current 135th General Assembly. The bills in red are OECA priority bills that we are working hard to enact. Please direct any questions or comments relating to government affairs to Alex Boehnke at AlexB@ohioretailmerchants.com.

HB13 REDEFINE HYBRID MOTOR VEHICLE (MILLER J, WEINSTEIN C)

To redefine “hybrid motor vehicle” under the motor vehicle law for purposes of the additional registration fee applicable to those vehicles and to delay the effect of those changes until January 1, 2024.

RECENT STATUS

2/16/2023 – Referred to Committee House Homeland Security

2/15/2023 – Introduced

HB13 Bill Page

HB23 TRANSPORTATION BUDGET (EDWARDS J)

To make appropriations for programs related to transportation for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of those programs.

RECENT STATUS

3/31/2023 – SIGNED BY GOVERNOR; eff. 3/31/23

3/29/2023 – Consideration of Conference Committee Report; House Accepts Conference Committee Report, Vote 93-2

3/29/2023 – Consideration of Conference Committee Report; Senate Accepts Conference Committee Report, Vote 30-1

HB23 Bill Page

HB33 FY24-25 OPERATING BUDGET (EDWARDS J)

To make operating appropriations for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2025, to levy taxes, and to provide authorization and conditions for the operation of state programs.

RECENT STATUS

6/14/2023 – Senate Finance, (Eleventh Hearing)

6/9/2023 – Senate Finance, (Eleventh Hearing)

6/8/2023 – Senate Finance, (Tenth Hearing)

HB33 Bill Page

HB86 LIQUOR CONTROL LAWS (LARE J)

To revise specified provisions of the liquor control laws.

RECENT STATUS

5/23/2023 – REPORTED OUT AS AMENDED, House Commerce and Labor, (Fourth Hearing)

4/25/2023 – House Commerce and Labor, (Third Hearing)

4/18/2023 – House Commerce and Labor, (Second Hearing)

HB86 Bill Page

HB110 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS (YOUNG B, ROEMER B)

Regarding the sale of used catalytic converters, and to make an appropriation.

RECENT STATUS

5/2/2023 – House Criminal Justice, (Third Hearing)

4/18/2023 – House Criminal Justice, (Second Hearing)

3/28/2023 – House Criminal Justice, (First Hearing)

HB110 Bill Page

HB201 PROHIBIT CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES (HILLYER B, DEMETRIOU S)

To prohibit a state agency, county, or township from restricting the sale or use of a motor vehicle based on the energy source used to power the motor vehicle and to prohibit a state agency from adopting the California emissions standards for motor vehicles.

RECENT STATUS

6/13/2023 – House Transportation, (First Hearing)

6/7/2023 – Referred to Committee House Transportation

6/6/2023 – Introduced

HB201 Bill Page

HB205 HIGH HAZARD TRAINING CERTIFICATION (SWEARINGEN D, PLUMMER P)

To enact the High Hazard Training Certification (HHTC) Act regarding construction services performed under a contract at a stationary source.

RECENT STATUS

6/14/2023 – House Homeland Security, (Second Hearing)

6/7/2023 – Referred to Committee House Homeland Security

6/7/2023 – House Homeland Security, (First Hearing)

HB205 Bill Page

SB13 HOMEMADE SPIRITUOUS LIQUOR (HOAGLAND F)

To allow a person to distill, serve, and ship homemade spirituous liquor without a liquor permit.

RECENT STATUS

3/28/2023 – Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, (First Hearing)

1/17/2023 – Referred to Committee Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources

1/11/2023 – Introduced

SB13 Bill Page

SB30 YOUTH WORKING HOURS (SCHAFFER T)

To allow a person under sixteen years of age to be employed after 7 p.m. during the school year.

RECENT STATUS

5/9/2023 – REPORTED OUT, House Commerce and Labor, (Fourth Hearing)

4/25/2023 – House Commerce and Labor, (Third Hearing)

4/18/2023 – House Commerce and Labor, (Second Hearing)

SB30 Bill Page

SB38 MERCHANT TRANSACTIONS-CASH PAYMENTS (BLESSING III L)

To require retail merchants to give customers the option to pay by cash.

RECENT STATUS

2/22/2023 – Senate Small Business and Economic Opportunity, (First Hearing)

2/8/2023 – Referred to Committee Senate Small Business and Economic Opportunity

1/31/2023 – Introduced

SB38 Bill Page

SB48 TAX REDUCTION-MOTOR FUEL (HUFFMAN S)

To reduce the tax rate on certain motor fuel.

RECENT STATUS

2/28/2023 – Senate Transportation, (First Hearing)

2/8/2023 – Referred to Committee Senate Transportation

2/7/2023 – Introduced

SB48 Bill Page

SB106 WORKERS’ COMPENSATION-CHEMICALS, FLUID EXPOSURE (SCHAFFER T)

Regarding workers’ compensation coverage for testing when certain medical professionals are exposed to chemical substances or bodily fluids in the course of employment.

RECENT STATUS

5/17/2023 – Senate Insurance, (Third Hearing)

5/10/2023 – Senate Insurance, (Second Hearing)

4/26/2023 – Senate Insurance, (First Hearing)

SB106 Bill Page

SB119 WASTE DISPOSAL LAW CHANGES (REINEKE W)

To make changes to the laws governing the transfer and disposal of solid waste and construction and demolition debris, including increasing certain fees.

RECENT STATUS

6/6/2023 – SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, (Fourth Hearing)

5/30/2023 – SUBSTITUTE BILL ACCEPTED, Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, (Third Hearing)

5/23/2023 – Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources, (Second Hearing)

SB119 Bill Page

Recent Statehouse Policy OECA has influenced

  • Defeated efforts to drastically reduce the Business Income Tax Deduction (BID) for independent retailers, bulk fuel dealers and wholesalers
  • Significantly reduced proposed tax hikes on cigarettes and OTP
  • Defended against numerous attempts to thwart the three-tier system of alcohol distribution
  • Defeated efforts to move Ohio’s fuel excise tax to the rack
  • Passed legislation guaranteeing hours of work, benefits and pay exclusively remain under the purview of the employee-employer relationship, not special interests, or bureaucrats
  • Passed legislation to curtail patchwork regulation regarding plastic bags
  • Passed legislation to protect employers from liability related to COVID-19
  • Defeated localized proposals which would have created new regulations on the placement of ATMs
  • Stopped legislation aimed at placing new duties on retailers regarding minimum cigarette pricing