House Committee Begins Hearings on Bill to Remove Red Tape Around Business Expansion

COLUMBUS, OH — The Economic and Workforce Development Committee yesterday, heard sponsor testimony from State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) on House Bill 476. The legislation would create a new universal regulatory sandbox program within the Ohio Department of Commerce which would allow people to obtain limited access to the markets in Ohio to test their products or services without obtaining any other licensure or authorization that would typically be required.

“With the removal of these barriers we give businesses the ability to grow their new products and services,” said Cutrona. “So often we talk about eliminating red tape, and this legislation actually does it.”

The legislation would also create a regulatory relief office within the department that is responsible for administering this program and acting as a liaison between private businesses and state agencies to identify laws or regulations that could be waived or suspended under the universal regulatory sandbox program.

House Bill 476 awaits its second hearing in the Economic and Workforce Development Committee.