Reps. Blackshear and White introduce the Neighborhood Protection Act

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Willis Blackshear (D- Dayton) and Andrea White (R-Kettering) have introduced the Neighborhood Protection Act, a bill designed to make it easier for interested parties to have the tools they need to effectively rebuild their communities.  Through this legislation, vacant property owners in counties with a population larger than 200,000 would be required to provide current contact information with the County Auditor's Office after their properties are no longer used for commercial or residential purposes.  Counties with smaller populations could choose to opt-in to the program as well.

“The Neighborhood Protection Act is a first step in addressing an issue that has been around for quite a while. This bill ensures that vacant property owners are accessible to manage, maintain and sell properties in neighborhoods all over the state of Ohio. This bill will help address and correct the influx of abandoned and dilapidated properties in our state,” said Rep. Blackshear.

“This legislation is key for the economic vitality of Ohio as we continue to rebuild our communities,” said Rep. White.  “Vacant housing and distressed properties are continuously linked to declining property values, increased crime rates and increased costs for our communities. This legislation will help give communities new tools to address these compounding issues and promote revitalization of neighborhoods and local business development.”

HB 566 awaits its first hearing in the State and Local Government Committee.