A Legislative Update, November 1, 2019

The House was successful in passing several pieces of legislation last week including updates to Ohio’s distracted driving laws and ensuring occupational license reciprocity for members of the military and their spouses.

My colleagues in the Ohio House and I work hard to improve the lives of the Ohioans we represent, and I appreciate the opportunity to update you on these and other issues before us in the legislature.

Updating Distracted Driving Laws: House Bill 119 makes corrective changes to Ohio’s distracted driving and texting while driving laws. Included in these changes is the requirement that offenders must appear in court per Traffic Rule 13, and updates to correct inconsistencies with the definition of “distracted.”  Additionally, House Bill 119 adds the offenses of failure to control and passing a stopped school bus to the distracted driving law. I co-sponsored this legislation.

The Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act: House Bill 76 will make local property tax ballot issues simpler and easier to understand. This legislation will require ballot language and election notices to convey a proposed property tax levy’s rate in dollars for each $100,000 of a property’s fair market value, instead of in dollars for each $100 of taxable value. It would also require ballot language and election notices to include an estimate of how much the levy would collect annually. This will make confusing tax language easier for voters to understand.

Abolishing the Estate by Dower: Dower in Ohio is the inchoate right of one spouse to claim a life estate in one-third of any real estate conveyed by the other spouse during marriage. The concept of dower rights is antiquated and is no longer relevant. House Bill 209 will abolish estate by dower, bringing Ohio’s law in line with 47 other states. Abolishing this outdated concept will simplify paperwork for property owners, lenders, and real estate professionals in Ohio.

Occupational License Reciprocity for Military Families: Senate Bill 7 creates a straightforward process for members of the military and their spouses to receive licensing reciprocity. This legislation requires state occupational licensing agencies to issue temporary licenses to military members and their spouses if they are already licensed elsewhere and have moved to Ohio on active duty. I co-sponsored this legislation because it’s important to recognize the commitment and sacrifices these families have made to serve our country, and Senate Bill 7 is one way we can eliminate a regulatory barrier to ease their transition to Ohio.

In everything I do, whether it is in Columbus or back in my home district of Stark County, I will continue to make your priorities my priorities. With that goal in mind, I welcome your feedback and opinions at any time. Please do not hesitate to contact me by calling (614) 752-2438, emailing Rep48@OhioHouse.gov, or by writing me at 77 South High St., Columbus, Ohio 43215.