Ohio House Finance Committee Adopts Substitute Bill
Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio House Finance Committee adopted substitute House Bill 33 this morning, announced Representative Callender (R-Concord). This adoption comes after three months of hearings, both by the full finance committee and sub committees focused on individual sections of the 4311 page bill. While no earmarks or district projects where included in the substitute bill, several projects impacting Lake County and North East Ohio where included in the legislation.
Some of these projects include:
- $3.5 million for the Mentor Harbor Erosion Mitigation Project
- $5 million for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
- $160 million in grant funding for water and sewer improvements
“We are honored to be included in the Ohio House of Representative’s FY2024 General Revenue Fund Budget. This critical support and public investment will fund much needed updates to improve public access to Lake Erie and accessibility to North Coast Harbor. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will create new outdoor community spaces and provide important public access to the lakefront in Downtown Cleveland,” said Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “These spaces will host active programs with our community partners and also allow for free public use by Ohio residents. As an added benefit, our outdoor spaces will help improve storm water management while promoting green spaces. We look forward to the rest of the budget process and appreciate the support demonstrated by the Ohio House for this important project as we prepare to welcome our next 14 million visitors and continue to generate over $225 million per year in economic impact.”
The funding for the Mentor Harbor Erosion Mitigation Project is in addition to the $3.5 million Representative Callender was able to secure for the project as part of HB 45 (134th General Assembly), bringing the State’s commitment to the project to $7 million.
Other appropriations advocated for by Representative Callender and included in the Substitute bill are:
- Increased the base cost of the fair school funding formula from 2018 to 2022 numbers, resulting in over a billion in extra funding for K-12 education across the biennium which will continue to lessen the reliance on local property tax.
- $2 million over the biennium for the ALS foundation to support those living with disease
“State Representative Jamie Callender has been a longtime supporter of the Ohio ALS community. We value his leadership in the House and hope the Senate will keep this budget appropriation in the operating budget. These funds will help many people living with ALS in Ohio with catastrophic medical cost,” said Lisa Bruening, Director of Care Services – ALS Association Servicing Northern Ohio.
As well as appropriations, Substitute House Bill 33 included several permanent law changes. While appropriations are only temporary law and will expire at the end of fiscal year 2025, any permanent law changes made as part of the budget process remain as part of the Ohio Revised Code. Some of the permanent law changes successfully advocated by Representative Callender include:
- Requiring the State Fire Marshal, in coordination with the board of building standards and local representatives, to develop guidelines for the enforcement of the Ohio Building Code and Fire Code in a coordinated manner. It also excludes patio spaces that are open on 3 sides with means of egress compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act to not count against building occupancy.
- Establishes licensure and an advisory board for Doula services across Ohio
- Creates art therapy licensure across Ohio
“The members of the Ohio wine community are very appreciative of the efforts of Representative Jamie Callender to address an ongoing issue which balances public safety with the need to protect the several hundred Ohio family- owned wineries’ financial viability. Ohio’s $6.6 billion dollar industry, with over 300 wineries in every corner of the state, is ever-more important to the rural economies in many Ohio communities. His work will allow them to continue to invest in their vineyards and fine wines as well as to add local jobs as they support tourism efforts, their lodgers, eateries, livery services and more," said Donniella Winchell, Executive Director, Ohio Wine Producers Association.
“While the budget process is far from complete, I am proud of the work we have done so far,” said Callender. “Continuing to lower our taxes while ensuring that Ohioans are not only ready to enter the workforce by providing quality educational opportunities but are inspired to continue exploring the world class cultural, musical, and natural resources we have in North East Ohio is key to maintaining Lake County as the best place in the county to work and live.”
With the adoption of the substitute house bill, the budget process will continue as representatives offer further amendments as part of the omnibus package.