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Reps. Miranda, McNally Introduce HB 444, to Prohibit Public Utilities from Recovering Political Expenditure Costs

March 8, 2024
Lauren McNally News

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Jessica E. Miranda (D-Forest Park) and Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today introduced House Bill (HB) 444, legislation to ensure that ratepayers are not burdened with the cost of their public utility provider's lobbying expenses by enacting substantial penalties should a utility violate the law and requiring robust disclosure of political spending.

“We are introducing this legislation to protect consumers from unfair and extreme utility bills. The citizens of Ohio are essentially paying a corruption tax every month and it is unacceptable for the hard-working families of Ohio to have to shoulder these costs. In the aftermath of the House Bill 6 Scandal, we must pass legislation that protects consumers and ensures that corruption ends in Ohio,” said Rep. Miranda. 

“The work we do at the Statehouse impacts real people, and the cost of corruption is felt in real ways. When it comes to Ohioans, it is literally our electric bills and it is adding up,” said Rep. McNally. “We have an obligation to work for the people of this state, not special interests, and make sure that what is charged to consumers actually benefits consumers, not politicians.” 

Modeled after Senate Bill (SB) 149, legislation introduced by State Senator Kent Smith (D-Euclid), HB 444 will prohibit “public utilities” (gas, natural gas, and electric light companies that are public utilities under Ohio law and their affiliates or subsidiaries) from recovering from their customers the costs of “political expenditures” which include, for example, lobbying expenditures, contributions to a political candidate, party, or committee, and contributions to certain tax-exempt organizations. It will authorize the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to order a public utility to refund, with interest, customers charges that have been imposed in violation of the prohibition and subjects any utility that violates the prohibition to a fine equal to 20 times the amount that the public utility charged to customers.

“I am an elected official. I hold myself accountable to the people of Forest Park, District 28, and all Ohioans. When there is a scandal and obvious corruption, we need to make changes. We need to build back the trust that the people of Ohio put in us. HB 444 is one of many steps that Ohio House Democrats are taking to build back the trust that Ohioans have put in their elected officials,” said Rep. Miranda.

“HB 444 is one of many ways we are making clear that Ohio’s government should belong to its people, not to corporations,” said Rep. McNally. “I am proud to be a joint sponsor of this legislation and support work that puts the focus of government where it belongs.”

HB 444 was announced during a February 22, 2024 press conference with Statehouse Democrats, highlighting anti-corruption measures stemming from the HB 6 scandal that now plagues the DeWine-Husted Administration with questions of their potential involvement. Despite convictions and indictments of conspirators in what was deemed by U.S. Attorney David M. DeVillers as “likely the largest bribery, money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people of the state of Ohio,” Ohioans are still paying $500k a day, over one-billion dollars, through increased electric bills and fee hikes.

As part of its People First agenda, House Democrats have introduced several pieces of legislation this General Assembly aimed at weeding out corruption, strengthening ethics and protecting consumers.

  • HB 120 (Reps. Brennan/Weinstein) would fully repeal and refund subsidies established in HB 6 during the 133rd General Assembly that are still being paid by Ohioans to bail out two Ohio Valley Electric Corp. (OVEC) coal-fired power plants—one of which is located in Indiana. 
  • HB 112 (Reps. Miranda/Sweeney) would require dark money groups to identify their contributors and disclose their spending. 
  • HB 363 (Rep. Troy) would toughen requirements to serve on the PUCO Nominating Council and to serve as a PUCO Commissioner.
  • HB 393 (Rep. Baker) would require the PUCO to issue an order requiring the refund of any amounts collected by a public utility from consumers determined to be unlawful if the PUCO decision permitting that collection is reversed by the Ohio Supreme Court.
  • HB 41 (Skindell) would the itemization of all riders, taxes, and other costs on certain utility bills.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A picture from the press conference on February 22, 2024, announcing the legislation is attached. Courtesy: Ohio House Democratic Caucus