Ohio House Passes Reps. Hall, Lamptons' Bill to Support Living Organ Donors and Save Lives

Columbus — State Representatives Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.) and Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 122, legislation aimed at reducing barriers for living organ donors and addressing Ohio’s growing transplant waitlist crisis.

The bill works to create an incentive for employers to support employees who choose to become living organ donors. It also establishes a state income tax credit for employers who provide paid leave to employees recovering from a living organ donation, helping to ease the financial and personal burden on donors and encouraging more Ohioans to consider this lifesaving act.

“House Bill 122 is about saving lives and supporting the heroes among us who choose to give the ultimate gift,” said Hall. “By reducing the financial and employment-related barriers to living donation, this legislation will help increase the number of organs available for transplant and improve outcomes for patients across the state.”

According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, more than 100,000 people nationwide, including nearly 3,000 Ohioans, are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. Of those Ohioans, over 1,900 are in need of a kidney transplant, but a persistent shortage of transplantable kidneys continues to threaten lives.

“This legislation takes a meaningful step toward removing barriers to living organ donation in Ohio by providing employers with a fiscally responsible incentive to support their employees, ultimately saving lives and offering hope to thousands on the transplant waiting list,” said Lampton.

Key provisions of HB 122 include:

• A tax credit for “qualifying employers” who offer paid leave for a medically necessary recovery period following an employee’s living organ donation.
• A credit equal to the actual leave compensation or $300 per day, whichever is less, up to 30 days and a maximum of $9,000 per employee per donation.
• Employers may claim up to $54,000 in credit-eligible donation leave benefits per year.
• Covered organ donations include all or part of a kidney, liver, pancreas, intestine, lung, or bone marrow, in accordance with the National Organ Transplant Act.
• The Ohio Tax Commissioner will provide an annual report to the Ohio House and Senate taxation committees, ensuring legislative oversight and transparency.

The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.