LaRe Supports House Budget Bill
COLUMBUS – State Representative Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Township) today voted in support of House Bill 110, the House’s version of Ohio’s two-year budget plan. The bill passed out of the House today. Among various aspects, House Bill 110 establishes the Fair School Funding Plan, provides a two percent income tax cut to Ohioans and supports pro-business initiatives.
“The House’s version of the operating budget is pro-business and pro-Ohio,” said LaRe. “It supports businesses who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, provides a series of initiatives for public safety officers and priorities a fair school funding plan for Ohio’s public schools. Because of these reasons and more, I was proud to vote in support of the bill today.”
House Bill 110 support jobs and Ohio’s economy through targeted investments to support job retention and creation, workforce training and economic development efforts. It allocates $200 million for the House’s broadband expansion package, House Bill 2, which LaRe supported earlier this year. It also creates a 13-member joint legislative committee to study career pathways and workforce training. It also contains a provision that vacates violations of order by businesses for COVID-19. It also requires the Liquor Control Commission to reinstate a liquor permit holder's permit if the permit holder's permit has been revoked as a result of a violation of certain rules governing COVID-19 and the permit holder pays a fine of $2,500.
LaRe has worked to save Ohioans over $1 billion over the past four years through his work on this bill and from the operating budget from the 133rd General Assembly. House Bill 110 includes a two percent income tax rate cut across the board, which will reduce taxes and withholding amounts by approximately $380 million over the course of the biennium. Coupled with recently passed legislation conforming Ohio’s tax code to federal law, the House has provided nearly $500 million in personal income tax cuts this biennium.
House Bill 110 also creates the Fair School Funding plan, a fair plan to all of Ohio’s public schools. The Fair School Funding Plan is the result of more than three years of work by educators and policymakers with a formula that is predictable, sustainable and transparent.
The bill supports law enforcement, firefighters and public safety by funding a series of initiatives to support those who protect and serve Ohioans every day. Some of these initiatives include the following:
- $26 million for Recovery Ohio Law Enforcement to support anti-narcotics efforts
- $24 million for safety grants for schools
- $15 million for a one-year police training pilot program to assist law enforcement agencies with training costs
- $10 million for grants to small fire departments for equipment and training
- $10 million for grants to state and local law enforcement agencies to implement or enhance body-worn camera programs
Sub. House Bill 110 also appropriates $155 million in grants for industries negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including newly formed businesses. Grants from this funding will be available in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The grants include the following:
- $100 million for bars and restaurants
- $25 million for the lodging industry
- $20 million for indoor and outdoor entertainment venues
- $10 million for new businesses
The legislation includes more than $40 million for the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks to provide a variety of services for Ohioans, including to purchase and distribute food products, support Innovative Sumer Meals programs for children and provide capacity building equipment. It also appropriates $100 thousand each fiscal year for domestic violence programs and $25 thousand in FY 22 in grants to Ohio domestic violence shelters to buy transportation vouchers, ridesharing credits or gas cards for eligible clients.
The above are highlights of the very complex bill. More information on House Bill 110 can be found at https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/legislation-summary?id=GA134-HB-110. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.