Ohio Municipal League
175 South Third Street
Suite 510
Columbus, Ohio 43215

614-221-4349 Office
614-221-4390 Fax

email:
Legislative Inquiries
John Mahoney
General Inquiries
info@omunileague.org

For email inquiries to the OML, it would be most helpful if you would include your name, position, city or village you represent. 

Also please include a phone number and/or address for instances when we need further contact with you.

Please type “OML Inquiry” in subject line so that we can identify e-mails picked up as spam.

OML E- BULLETIN
If you would like to sign up for the E-Bulletin, send an email here: info@omunileague.org
 In the e-mail, indicate that you would like to be taken off the paper Bulletin list.

Expansive Contractors Licensing Bill Heard in the House.

HB 396 (McGregor) got its first hearing before the House Homeland Security, Engineering and Architectural Design Committee this week. Though the bill is somewhat similar to SB 179, which the League is working on with the Department of Commerce, HB 396 is much more expansive than SB 179. It is competing legislation rather than companion legislation.

Under provisions of HB 396, a much larger number of trades would be licensed by the state, than is the case in SB 179. Through that licensure, contractors would no longer be required to take any local tests for that trade. They would also avail themselves of a single bond insuring against incomplete or inadequate work. We have concerns that such a bond will not be adequate and will ask that this provision of the bill be changed.

Under HB 396, municipal registration and other requirements that exist in current law (e.g. notification of the municipal tax department that a contractor will be working in a community) will not change.

Under HB 396, the state would regulate roofing contractors, including residential contractors. In addition the state licensing board would have its name changed from the Ohio Construction Industry Examining Board to the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. That board would be authorized to license burglar and fire alarm contractors, low voltage contractors (excluding landscape contractors), traffic signal contractors and water softener contractors. The bill also removes from statute the exemption from licensure trades regulated by the Fire Marshall.

SB 179 is a much more modest reform of the contracting laws and will receive its third hearing next week in the Senate.

If you have concerns or questions about HB 396 or SB 179, please, give us a call or e-mail.

Oil and Gas Bill Continues to be Heard.

HB 278, a bill that would declare the state the sole regulator for the placement and regulation of oil and gas wells, continues under consideration by the Senate Agriculture Committee. A hearing was held this week and another open hearing is scheduled for next week. If you wish to testify against this bill, please, see the Committee Schedule for time and place.

The League continues to oppose HB 278 and will oppose the legislation as long as the nonexistent power of the legislature to "preempt" constitutional Home Rule remains in the bill. This reoccurring legislative theme that fails to recognize Ohio’s cities and villages ability to exercise their constitutional right of concurrent police powers and power to regulate when not in conflict with state law is becoming absurd and more and more prevalent in the General Assembly.

Lobbying Seminar Scheduled for March 27.

Following up on one of the recommendations of the League’s Committee on Lobbying and Communications, the League is holding a half-day lobbying seminar in Columbus on Saturday, March 27 at the Marriott Northwest in Dublin. This seminar will feature members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s chief of legislation. All will be discussing the best methods for lobbying both the administrative and legislative branches of state government. Former Speaker of the House JoAnn Davidson will be our luncheon speaker.

All municipal officials are welcome to attend this event.

The cost for this event is $20 and your reservation can be made by just giving us a call (614.221.4349) or e-mailing us at omunileague@copper.net.

House Commerce & Labor, (Chr. Young, 644-6074), McKinley Rm. (formerly 121), 1:30 p.m.

SB102 MANUFACTURED HOUSING (Wachtmann) Establishes the Ohio Manufactured Homes Commission to regulate the installation of manufactured housing in Ohio. (1st Hearing-Sponsor & proponent)

Senate Insurance, Commerce & Labor, (Chr. Nein, 466-8072), Finance Hearing Rm., 9 a.m.

SB 179 CONTRACTOR LICENSING (Nein) Provides for the licensure of backflow contractors and prefabricated fireplace contractors; changes the name of the Ohio Construction Industry Examining Board to the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board and makes other changes related to that board. (3rd Hearing-Interested party)

Senate Agriculture, (Chr. Mumper, 466-8049), Harding Rm. (formerly 109), 9 a.m.