On March 23, the Ohio Senate gave final approval to a revised transportation budget which included only one substantial change from the most recent update GOPC reported on March 16.
After Governor DeWine issued a veto threat, Senators removed language which would have raised the maximum speed limit for two-lane state routes outside a municipal corporation from 55MPH to 60MPH. Lawmakers did not provide an explanation for why the proposal was added to the budget. Advocates, including GOPC, expressed safety concerns for cyclists, pedestrians, and Ohio’s Amish community who travel these roadways with horse-drawn buggies.
An hour after the Senate approved the revised transportation budget, the Ohio House of Representatives voted 16-79 to reject the Senate changes, setting the state for a Conference Committee between members of the Ohio House and Senate to negotiate a final compromise agreement which will need to be approved by March 31.
Meanwhile, the House Finance Committee is set to resume hearings beginning March 28 by holding public testimony hearings on the Main Operating Budget, House Bill 33. Full committee work comes on the heals of the seven House Finance Committee subcommittees which have (or will soon) conclude hearings on the various aspects of the budget. On March 21, GOPC testified as an interested party before the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Development and Natural Resources to express support for the restoration of funding to the Brownfield Remediation Fund and the Building Site Demolition and Revitalization Programs. Both funds, created in 2021, were zeroed out for funding in the “as introduced” budget. GOPC led a coalition of some 15 groups which expressed support for restoration of funding.
The House of Representatives is on pace to complete work on the budget by the end of April. Be sure to check for updates on our blog as well as our bill tracker page, all on our website.