Representatives LaRe and Swearingen's Business Expansion and Safety Act Passes Ohio House

COLUMBUS – As joint sponsors, State Representatives Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Township) and D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) today voted to support their bill that will bring revenue and safety to businesses. The legislation passed in the Ohio House with a vote of 84-8.

The Business Expansion and Safety Act will allow bars, restaurants, breweries and wineries to have greater flexibility to bring in more revenue and assist them in moving forward with a safer and more socially distanced friendly environment.

“This pandemic has hit main street businesses and workers especially hard as it is a social work environment. The industry runs on human interaction and customer personalization, which has been severely restricted for two months and counting,” said Swearingen. “I am talking about the tourist industry, which has a large presence in my district and many other districts along Lake Erie.”

The Business Expansion and Safety Act would do the following:

• Allows for retail permit holders to utilize more outside space on private or public property with approval from the local township or municipality while serving customers;
• Codify into permanent law the “carry-out” drinks allowance by the Ohio Liquor Control Commission; and
• Allows for third party delivery for carryout alcohol for those over the age of 21.

Even with reopenings beginning, businesses revenue is limited due to social distancing requirements. Ohio saw the difficulties in this over the weekend when several establishments were issued citations for violating the Ohio Administrative Code of social distancing.

“This legislation gives our dining industry the opportunity to rise to the occasion,” said LaRe. “The creative approaches outlined in the bill allow for more Ohioans to frequent our bars and restaurants while safely abiding by social distancing requirements. It is my hope that House Bill 669 will not only allow businesses across the state to re-coup lost profit, but to also maximize their revenue generation.”

The bill has received support from several groups throughout the committee process including the Ohio Restaurant Association, Ohio Licensed Beverage Association, the Greater Ohio Policy Center the Buckeye Institution and others.

Due to the coronavirus, all Ohioans have had to adapt and change certain aspects of how they operate. The Business Expansion and Safety Act is adapting to what Ohio’s business climates have faced in order to continue to operate, try their best to draw in revenue and still keep Ohioans safe moving forward.

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For more information, contact Rep. LaRe’s office at (614) 466-8100 or rep77@ohiohouse.gov or Rep. Swearingen’s office at (614) 644-6011 or rep89@ohiohouse.gov.