Rep. McNally, American Irish State Legislators' Bill Forming Ohio Ireland Trade Commission Passes House

Senate Bill 195 advances economic, cultural ties between Ohio, Ireland

December 10, 2024

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced the Ohio House of Representatives passed Senate Bill (SB) 195, legislation establishing the Ohio Ireland Trade Commission.

“Ohio imports $18.5B goods from Ireland and sends $5.8B in service exports and an additional $539M in goods exports to Ireland,” said Rep. McNally. “This trade commission will open up new opportunities while also strengthening our current economic relationships.”

Rep. McNally is a co-sponsor of SB 195 and a member of the American Irish State Legislators Caucus (AISLC), a bi-partisan network of current and former American-Irish legislators and legislators who are friends of Ireland across the United States of America at the local and state level of government and their counterparts in Ireland at local and national level.

Rep. McNally attended the AISLC Summit in August of 2023, which was part of the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and includes senators and representatives from all 50 states. At the summit, Rep. McNally met with business and political leaders about trade opportunities and worked alongside AISLC Chair and Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Senator Mark Daly on legislation creating an Ohio Ireland Trade Commission.

“I saw a lot of great opportunities and maintained my relationship with Senator Mark Daly. When I got back home, I helped put this on the radar of my colleagues,” said Rep. McNally. “Now is an excellent time for this as Ireland’s Aer Lingus recently launched new, direct flights from Cleveland to Dublin and the Irish Embassy opened its first Consulate office in Ohio. I’m really proud to have been on the ground floor of expanding this further.”

The Ohio Ireland Trade Commission will:

Consist of nine members, with three members appointed from each chamber of the General Assembly and three members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Study certain economic and policy issues and potential business and academic exchanges.
Set out procedures for the internal operations of the commission.
Issue annual reports of its activities and any findings and recommendations.

The Ohio Ireland Trade Commission will also be permitted to fundraise and accept gifts from private and public entities.

SB 195 must receive a concurrence vote from the Ohio Senate before to the governor’s desk where he has 10 days, Sundays excepted, to sign it into law. If the governor takes no action within 10 days of receiving the act, it becomes law without his signature. Either after the signature date or 10 days of nonaction, SB 195 would become law after 90 days.