The Legislature’s Lame-Duck Threats

Ohio lawmakers have been on recess since June, but they’ll return to action in mid-November after the general election.

Members of the legislature who want to pass pending legislation yet this year will be under the gun since bills not enacted by year’s end will need to be introduced as new legislation in 2023, thereby restarting the committee process.

Among bills still pending in the 134th General Assembly are the following, all of which are opposed by the OMA:

• House Bill 235: Would infringe on employer rights by forcing refineries across Ohio to hire union workers. While the bill applies only to refineries, this bill would create a precedent that could impact other industries. (Learn more and email your representatives, urging them to oppose HB 235.)
• House Bill 317: Would increase costs on customer’s utility charges by making harmful changes to Ohio’s electric ratemaking mechanism, while failing to protect ratepayers from undefined transmission costs.
• House Bill 68: Would set the payment terms in construction contracts and eliminate the owner’s right to negotiate, requiring all contracts to be paid within 30 days. It would also impose an 18% annual interest rate on payments not made within 30 days.

Here are the House and Senate session schedules for the remainder of 2022. 10/19/2022