Leadership

Two Lawmakers Departing Ohio Senate

Sen. Frank Hoagland (R-Mingo Junction) has announced he’s resigning from the Ohio Senate effective Dec. 1. A GOP screening committee will select a replacement who will finish the remainder of Hoagland’s term, which ends next year.

Also this week, Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) said he won’t seek a second term and will instead run to represent Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District. Antani’s announcement came after U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup’s decision to retire. 11/14/2023

Study: Ohio Business Climate Among Best in U.S.

Ohio’s business climate is among the best in the U.S., according to a new ranking by Site Selection Magazine. Ohio was No. 5 overall in the publication’s 2023 rankings, based on feedback from corporate executives and site selectors, as well as an index of new projects and other criteria. 11/9/2023

Extended Comment Period for Motor Carrier Safety Update

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended its comment period on its proposed updates to regulations that determine if truck and bus companies are able to operate safely. The new comment deadline is Nov. 29, according to this insight from Benesch, an OMA Connections Partner. 11/6/2023

Ohio Vies to Become Semiconductor Leader

Ohio is vying to become one of two of the nation’s semiconductor manufacturing clusters under the federal CHIPS Act, according to reports.

A semiconductor cluster is a geographically compact area with multiple, commercial scale fabs — and is home to a large workforce, nearby suppliers, R&D facilities, energy supplies, and infrastructure.

This story published by The Columbus Dispatch notes Ohio has received considerable national recognition since winning the $20 billion Intel project in 2021. 11/1/2023

ISM: Manufacturing Continued to Contract in October

In October, the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted for the twelfth consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management’s survey of supply executives. OMA Connections Partner RSM, in this report, notes that the contraction was linked to falling employment and new orders. 11/1/2023

Editorial: Ohio Senate Should Reject Union Hiring Mandate

The OMA has previously warned against an Ohio House-approved measure (House Bill 205) aimed at forcing certain manufacturers to hire union labor. If the bill becomes law, it could possibly impact other businesses.

The Blade (Toledo) is also pointing out the dangers of the bill. In a Nov. 2 editorial, the paper’s staff writes: “Tying hands, adding costs while enabling the building trades union is not a wise decision. … The Ohio Senate should not follow the Ohio House on the path of regulatory overreach.” 11/2/2023

Think Tank: Ohio’s Regulatory Reform Is Working

Ohio’s approach to regulatory reform offers other states a model worth following, according to the Buckeye Institute. The conservative think tank reports that Ohioans are currently burdened with more than 155,000 state and federal regulations, but that Ohio policymakers have worked to “lighten the state’s regulatory burden.”

Last year, a website — called Cut Red Tape Ohio — was unveiled by state leaders with the aim to making it easier for Ohio businesses to voice concerns about specific state regulations or ask questions about agency rules. 10/25/2023

Study: Federal Regs Cost Small Manufacturers $50,000 Per Employee

A new study from the National Association of Manufacturers finds federal regulations are costing manufacturers roughly $350 billion a year. That amounts to an average $29,100 per manufacturing employee, and more than $50,000 per employee for small manufacturers. Read this news release.

Overall, the total cost of federal regulations grew by more than $465 billion from 2012 to 2022, when the total exceeded $3 trillion — equal to 12% of U.S. GDP. 10/26/2023

Arguments Heard on Insurance Coverage Case

This week, the Supreme Court of Ohio heard oral arguments regarding an important insurance coverage case in which the OMA recently filed an amicus brief. Here’s a video of the Oct. 24 arguments.

Several large insurers have asked the court to adopt broad rules that threaten general liability insurance coverage for manufacturers. A decision is expected in six to 12 months. 10/26/2023

Report: Assets of U.S. Companies at Risk in China

Reuters reports that in a war with the U.S. over Taiwan, China would need to seize American assets within its borders, according to CCP-affiliated researchers. Reuters reviewed more than 200 policy papers authored by Chinese researchers who have studied the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 10/25/2023