Reps. Weinstein and Smith announce legislation to create an electric vehicle infrastructure study passes out of House Committee, call for floor vote

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Kent Smith (D-Euclid) and Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) today announced that House Bill (HB) 202, their bill to establish an electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure study committee, passed out of the House Transportation and Public Safety Committee with a vote of 9-1.

“Today's near unanimous vote on HB 202 further acknowledges that Ohio's clean energy economy has bipartisan support. The electric vehicle revolution has begun, and Ohio will either be a player in this emerging market that empowers wage growth and job creation or we will be left in the smog age,” said Rep. Smith. “I applaud the work the governor’s Department of Transportation has done to begin analyzing what types of investment and policies will need to be enacted to sustain this sector, but that work must not end now. To that end, Ohio must not hesitate, and I call upon Speaker Cupp to make passing HB 202 a legislative priority during the final days of Ohio's 133rd General Assembly. Action now will create good paying Ohio jobs for future generations.”

“Electric vehicles are not just Ohio's future—they are our present. With companies like Lordstown Motors setting the stage to transform our transportation sector, it is Ohio's time to take the lead,” said Rep. Weinstein. “HB 202 is an essential first step in developing that leadership.”

The proposed study committee created under HB 202 would examine Ohio’s state and local EV charging infrastructure costs and determine the amount of revenue and funding sources needed to make Ohio competitive. The panel would be required to make budget recommendations for implementing electric vehicle charging infrastructure prior to Feb. 1, 2022.