March 25, 2026 · Government Oversight and Reform Committee · 5,929 words · 14 speakers · 63 segments
Government Oversight and Reform Committee will now come to order. Clerk, please call the roll. Chair Mantis.
Here.
Vice President.
Present.
Senator Johnson.
Here.
Senator O'Brien.
Here.
Senator Landis.
Here.
Ranking the wine sheet as excused.
Senator O'Brien.
Here. We have a quorum present and will proceed as a full committee. Members, please review the minutes from the March 11th meeting that have been uploaded to the iPads. Are there any additions or deletions? Without objection, the minutes are approved. The first order of business is to call up House Bill 386 for its first hearing. I would like to invite Representatives Odioso and Abrams to offer sponsor testimony today. Welcome to committee. You may begin when ready.
Chair, I'm Representative Mike Odioso from the 30th District. This is the first time I've addressed this committee, so I really appreciate being here. It's quite a privilege. Chairwoman Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Ranking Member Weinstein, and members of the General Oversight Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide sponsored testimony on House Bill 386, which seeks to amend 3101.05 of the Ohio Revised Code, which governs the application process for the marriage license. Under current law, applicants are only required to prove their age. While that requirement can be satisfied with a photo ID, it can also be met by presenting documentation without photos, such as a birth certificate or a baptismal certificate. Essentially, there's no statutory requirement that applicant provide proof of identity. House Bill 386 addresses this gap. by adding a new provision that requires each applicant to present a current and valid photo identification when applying for a marriage license. Acceptable forms of identification include a U.S. passport, driver's license, state-issued identification card, government-issued photo ID, or a school-issued photo ID. This is a common-sense update to Ohio law requiring valid photo identification ensures that probate courts can have a reliable way to verify the identity of the applicants. By doing so, it can also reduce the potential for fraud, deter human trafficking, and coercion through forced marriages while maintaining the integrity of the marriage license process. Importantly, the legislation is flexible by allowing multiple forms of photo identification, making compliance straightforward for applicants of all ages. Now I'm going to turn it over to my joint sponsor, and that would be Rep. Abrams. Lastly, this legislation brings our marriage license procedures in line with modern identification standards already used in most legal and civic processes. This will close the loophole that currently permits issuances of marriage licenses without a reliable means of confirming identity. Members of the Senate General Oversight Committee, this is simple yet important step to ensure greater accuracy and accountability in Ohio's marriage license system. The bill received overwhelming support in the Ohio House, passing unanimously out of House Judiciary Committee and with a vote of 88-2 on the House floor. As the legislation is now before the Senate, we respectfully ask for your consideration. Thank you, Chair Manchester. Vice Chair Brenner, sorry, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify. We are now happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Are there any questions for the witness? Senator Landis?
Thank you, Chair, and thank you for your testimony. I think this is a great idea. However, I do see maybe some religious connotations here. There are certain groups that maybe don't have photographs taken, like I represent in my district, some of the Amish. Are there exemptions for this type of a situation?
To the chair, thank you. It's a good question. We addressed that within our caucus and with the legal counsel. The Amish have right now worked out a system with getting marriage licenses, which is already in place. so our view was it was a non-issue. I do, because it's being dealt with, I do recognize the issue and if it becomes a hindrance to going forward, I could see taking language, for example, from the voter ID bill, which I think also addressed that, and see if we can put that in. But at this point, as far as I know, it's a non-issue when it comes to the actual practice for the Amish.
Follow-up?
Follow-up, please. I'll be glad to research it from my connections and get back to the chair as to what we find out. I deal with the Omni Safety Committee, and there's many, many, many people. I think there's like 100,000 families that this gentleman reports to. So I'll follow up just to make sure where we are there. We can always offer a nice caricature or something.
So I speak for Rep. Abrams. We totally agree with that on that. Thank you, and we'll be sure to get that information out once we receive it.
Senator O'Brien.
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for your testimony. Really, I shouldn't be speaking because Senator Landis just said what I was going to say. My district is the 32nd district. I have 40,000 Amish in my district. They're highly respected, and that's what I thought. oh my gosh, how is this going to affect them? They get married, they have very large families, but I guess you answered it. But Senator Landis, I'm sure, will look into it. We totally understand that completely.
Okay, thank you. Thank you. Senator DeMora?
Thank you, Madam Chair. So I have a question. Are there any cases that either of you are aware of that someone got a marriage license by pretending to be somebody else? I mean, if we haven't had this for the years of statehood, we've been in, why all of a sudden now is it a problem?
Do you want to take that? So through the chair to the senator, we received this recommendation from a probate judge in Hamilton County. And so respectfully, I would guess that it was happening down there. Otherwise, he wouldn't bring it to us for a problem to solve. Also, I will say that this bill is in front of this committee. And as the sponsors, we are happy to work with you, whatever it changes, and research that you do, so we both respect the committee process, of course. But again, it came to us from Judge Winkler in Hamilton County.
Through the chair?
In addition to that, yes, it came from Judge Winkler and his referees. I happened to be at a probate judge's gathering, and they were speaking on that issue when I stopped in. So it came from basically the group. and at first it was presented to me just as a quirk of the law that you could prove your age, but you didn't have to prove your identity. And so I think for a lot of reasons over the years that that actually wasn't an issue. Now, we looked at the law, and clearly, in my view, we need to have that fixed just as an edit to the law for good legal practice. But in addition, there was a case. It was back in 2018. A Cincinnati man used a stolen identity for decades, committing crimes and even getting married and fathering children under an assumed identity. So there was one in 2018. So we had support from others in the sponsor testimony. But, you know, I do think that it's necessary for the reasons I indicated. But also, as a lawyer, I feel like we should tighten the code up and make it more sensible whenever we can get a chance.
Follow up? Vice Chair Brenner?
Thank you. I also have a large Amish population in Homes, Cushocton, and Knox, but have you thought about addressing in your bill dower rights by any chance?
No, we did not.
Are there any additional questions from the committee? Seeing none, thank you very much for your testimony today.
Thank you.
That will conclude the first hearing on House Bill 386. Second order of business is to call up Senate Bill 271 for its first hearing. Welcome, Senator Katrona. You may begin when ready.
Thank you, Chair Manchester, and thank you, Committee, for allowing for me to provide a sponsor's testimony for Senate Bill 271. This designates October 14th as the Charlie Kirk Memorial Day. And what we're memorializing is two major things. We're recognizing the importance of the First Amendment. We're recognizing the ability to go out there and have open debate, to be able to communicate with your words and not your fists. And that is something that Charlie Kirk advocated deeply for. That was his entire passion, was getting out that open debate. The democracy is successful when we can have these conversations. And the second part is that we don't stand with political violence, that it's unacceptable in our country, it's unacceptable here in our state, and that we will stand against that. The tragic events occurred on September 10, 2025, where his life was taken away from him by an assassination because of his political views. And so I believe that this piece of legislation will not only recognize Charlie legacy but also what it brings together which is the recognition of the First Amendment and also our stance against political violence If you guys have any questions, I'll be happy to answer it at this time. Thank you.
Senator DeMora.
Thank you, Madam Chair. So did the subject of this bill ever live in Ohio or went to go to school in Ohio or was born in Ohio?
I'm sorry, can you repeat that?
Was the subject of this bill ever live in Ohio or went to school in Ohio?
Through the chair to the senator, I don't recall him living or going to school here, but he spent many time going to campuses all across the state of Ohio. And as we've done here in this body many, many times over, as we recognize people that are not only from the state of Ohio but outside the state of Ohio, Many, many people that played an important role in our society, and I think that this is a great example of doing that as well.
Follow-up?
Thank you, Madam Chair. So two weeks ago, a bill by Senator Johnson was passed by us in the Senate. I believe we both voted for it about anti-Semitism. Yet, I'm going to quote the subject of this bill. Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them. It is true that some of the largest financiers of left-wing anti-white causes have been Jewish Americans. Also, quote, Jewish donors have been the number one funding mechanism of radical open border and neoliberal quasi-Marxist policies, cultural institutions, and non-profits, not just the colleges, it's the non-profits, it's the movies, it's Hollywood, it's all of it. So you're telling me that this anti-Semitic person, we're going to recognize a day for him when we just passed a bill to try to end this anti-Semitic speech from the very chambers. Is that what you're asking us to do here today?
To the chair, to the senator, I think that's quite the opposite, and I think that that's, frankly, a misunderstanding of not only Charlie Kirk, but of the designation of this day, and I think it's completely off topic for that. But what I will say is this. As you and I, and I think we're a great example of this, Senator DeMora, you and I, we don't always align politically, but we do have the opportunity to converse with our words, and we were able to have that open debate as we're even having here today. And so I think that, you know, that's kind of the purpose of what this designation is looking to do. Yes, it's recognizing an individual who went out there and didn't go to college and managed to have an entire youth movement and captivated the hearts and minds of so many people in my generation. But also it opens up the floor to be able to have those conversations where we're able to sit here and have open debate. And so, you know, whether you view it as him being anti-Semitic, which I disagree with strongly, but it allows for us to still be able to do that. And that's what the Constitution of our great country allows us to do and what the First Amendment stands there for.
Are there any additional questions from the committee? Seeing none, thank you very much for your testimony today. That will conclude the first hearing on Senate Bill 271. And now I would like to bring up before the committee House Bill 59 for its third hearing as we continue on with our occupational licensing review. We are going to have various directors offer testimony on behalf of the Ohio Department of Commerce. And we will start with Andrea Seidt, Division of Securities. Welcome to committee.
Good morning. Chair Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Ranking Member Weinstein, and members of the Government Oversight and Reform Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide information on the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Securities. I am Andrea Seid, Ohio Securities Commissioner with the Department. The Division's mission is to administer and enforce the Ohio Securities Act in order to protect Ohio's investors while promoting capital formation. The Division seeks to achieve these goals by making Ohio a welcome home for securities professionals and other market participants, facilitating access to capital and preserving the wealth and working capital of Ohio families and businesses through policy examination and enforcement. The Division's authority is set forth in the Ohio Securities Act, which is found in Chapter 1707 of the Ohio Revised Code, and associated rules found in Chapter 130163 of the Ohio Administrative Code. The Ohio Securities Act has required the licensure of firms and professionals engaged in the securities industry for well over a century. The Division's licensing laws and rules cover three primary areas. The qualifications and competencies required for licensed firms and professionals, the compliance obligations for ongoing licensure, and the bases for discipline when the rules are violated. As you can see from the schedule today, there are seven different licenses available in the Division of Securities. Those licenses include broker-dealer firms, salespersons that work at those firms, investment advisor firms, which include both state-registered Ohio firms as well as SEC-registered firms, investment advisor reps that work at those firms, state retirement system investment officers who direct investments for Ohio state-run pension funds, the investment officer who directs investments for BWC, and funding portal operators. The last license type, funding portal operator, is a category that was created since the last committee review but has not at this point attracted any applicants. Licensing numbers at the start of this fiscal year were 1,775 broker-dealer firms, 240,178 salespersons, 3,380 investment advisor firms, 21,859 investment advisor representatives, 85 state retirement system investment officers, and the one investment officer at BWC. Altogether, the division oversees the activities of more than 267,000 financial professionals and firms. The division is second only to Ohio's department nursing board and the number of professional licenses that we issue, and our licensee population continues to grow by substantial year-over-year increases, primarily in the salesperson category. The division reviews the competency and disciplinary history of applicants prior to registration, using standardized forms and a national database shared by all state and federal regulators for the brokerage and investment advisor industry. The Division prioritizes its exam resources on-site, examinations of the state registered investment advisors, where we are the sole regulator. The Division does a limited set of targeted on-site exams and questionnaires for broker-dealer firms to complement the oversight occurring at the federal level. The Division's exam team also conducts for-cause reviews for any licensees when there is suspicion of fraud or criminal wrongdoing. Violations are forwarded onto the Division's enforcement section. The Division's licensing requirements are very similar to those in place in other jurisdictions. Generally speaking, all license types require a combination of the following elements. Completion of an application form, payment of an application fee, proof of minimum competency, which is accomplished through a credential or passing a score on a licensing exam, and completion of a background check in compliance with relevant conduct standards. So long as the applicant meets these criteria, they are issued a license. The division extends occupational reciprocity to federally registered FINRA and SEC firms and reciprocity to individual reps and salespersons who hold or have held the same license in another state within two years of filing an application in Ohio. The division recently proposed a rule change that would extend the reciprocity period even further, from two years to five years if it's approved by JCAR. In addition to its licensure activities, the Division is the only regulatory authority in Ohio responsible for regulating the sales of securities products in Ohio and investigating securities crimes and violations of the Ohio Securities Act. Last year, the division processed over 9,000 filings to facilitate the sale of mutual funds, private placements, and other exempt and registered offerings, and also referred and assisted in the criminal prosecution of 20 individuals who scammed millions of dollars away from Ohio investors. The division's enforcement work yielded five convictions and restitution awards to victims, totally more than $3.5 million. On the administrative front, the Division initiated 23 administrative actions and one civil action. Since the Committee's last review, the Division has created a new investor recovery fund, which has awarded more than $2 million in restitution to Ohio victims. While the licensing and enforcement demands placed on the Division are significant and growing, the Division staff has remained efficient and relatively flat over the last five-year period. The Division's ability to ensure the basic competence of securities market participants and monitor compliance with securities regulations through occupational licensure serves a meaningful, defined public interest. With cryptocurrency and evolving digital forms of investment assets, the licensee population and products, practices, and schemes are constantly evolving. It is more important now than ever that Ohio investors have trust and confidence in the securities firms and professionals with whom they do business. State securities regulators like the Division are the closest regulators to our licensees and the investing public, and we are proud of the critical role that we play to promote and protect the prosperity of Ohio families. In closing, I would ask you to please support the continued occupational licensure under the Ohio Division of Securities. We believe we can continue to regulate our licensees in a fair and effective manner while maintaining high standards. Chair Manchester and members of the committee, I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Are there any questions for the witness?
Vice Chair Brenner. Thank you. Maybe you can expand on this. I know you kind of addressed it in what you read here The reciprocity agreements and you talking about maintaining state standards yet trying to make it up so it's reciprocal so we can be able to attract more people to want to work here. Can you maybe expand on why you believe that our kind of Ohio sovereignty will stay intact if we pass this bill?
Sure. Sure. So unlike other industries, the securities and the financial services sector is pretty national in scope. It's why we have so many. We have over 260,000 because a lot of those licensees are in firms headquartered in New York. So states do work very closely together and coordinate. So there's a lot of uniformity and consistency already baked into the system. And so states share the same credentials. but we do still have authority, even if we do extend reciprocity, to take action where there is misconduct or problems. So if we saw an issue, we would be able to take an action on a license. I still think that it still retains significant gatekeeping authority for the division and for the state of Ohio.
Any additional questions for the witness? Seeing none, thank you very much for your testimony today.
Thank you.
Next, I would like to call up Aaron Johnston, Historical Boilers Licensing Board. Welcome to committee.
Thank you. Good morning. Chair Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, and members of the Senate Government Oversight Reform Committee, my name is Aaron Johnston. I'm here today to provide information on the Historical Boilers Licensing Board. Before I get too much into the weeds on the licensing environment up for review today, it's important to understand the technology we're actually discussing. We're not talking about modern commercial boilers that can range from the size of a small refrigerator to a small house. We're talking about historical boilers, which typically are over 16 inches in diameter at the minimum, and they're of riveted construction, so they're not welded, they're riveted. And these boilers are historical. They're typically antiques. In Ohio, it's also required that they be restored or maintained for hobby or demonstration purposes only. Now, while history is littered with examples of traditional and creative uses of historical boilers, here in Ohio we primarily see a couple categories of those boilers. That's steam-powered locomotives and tractors. And as I'm sure several of you may remember, the context surrounding the creation of the board is a tragic one. In 2002, a catastrophic accident at the Medina County Fair resulted in five fatalities and dozens of injuries to the public. And after functioning for the better part of two decades, the board was then abolished in April of 2021. After further consideration and support from the industry itself, roughly five months later, the board was reestablished later in 2021. The reasons the board was originally created remain valid today. to protect the safety of both the operator and the public at large. Operators are licensed to ensure that they have sufficient education, training, and experience to safely and competently operate historical boilers in places that are open to the public, as well as the knowledge of how to respond to emergency situations like low water events while operating those boilers. The standards of becoming an operator also balance the goal of protecting the public with the alternative goal of minimizing the burden on the licensee. To become a licensed historical boiler operator in Ohio, an individual must complete a training course, take an exam, and have 100 hours of operating experience or training with historical boilers. The fee for the license is $50, and the license is valid for the lifetime of the operator. In addition to traditional licensing functions, the seven-member board adopts rules concerning the inspection, operation, repair, and maintenance of historical boilers. The board meets semi-annually, with each meeting lasting about two hours. The board does not have a dedicated budget or staff. Instead, to increase efficiency and reduce costs, the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Industrial Compliance provides staff and support to the board, and the expenses and revenues for the board's programs are included in the division's budget. Roughly seven staff members of the division support the operation of the board, and several boiler inspectors are also included in that that actually perform inspections in the field of these boilers. Expenses for the board are limited to compensating public board members for their actual expenses accrued in attending board meetings. Annual expenses for attendance of board meetings total like $1,370. Average revenue generated from the board activities is negligible, typically average around $550 per year. At least one other state specifically licenses historical boiler operators, that being Minnesota. The board has entered into a reciprocity agreement with Minnesota, whereby each state recognizes the other's licensing of historical boiler operators. The licensing and renewal requirements in Minnesota are substantially equivalent to those in Ohio. And the amount of regulation exercised by Ohio's board appears comparable to other states that require historical boiler-related licenses and inspections. In summary, the Historical Boiler Board is not believed to have inhibited economic growth, reduced efficiency, or impacted the ability of individuals seeking to enter an occupation or profession. Historical boiler regulations are tailored to be the minimum requirements necessary to safely operate historical boilers in public. Madam Chair, members of the committee, thanks for the opportunity to testify. If you have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer them.
Thank you very much for your testimony today. Are there any questions for the witness? You learn something new every day. Thank you very much for your testimony. Now I'd like to call up Edward Woodruff from the Home Inspector Board. Welcome to committee.
Good morning to the Chair of Manchester, Vice Chair Brenner, Ranking Member Weinstein, and members of the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee. My name is Ed Woodruff, and I am an attorney with the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing with the Ohio Department of Commerce. Thank you for the opportunity to provide information regarding the Ohio Home Inspector Board. The board was created in 2019 through the enactment of Senate Bill 255 of the 132nd General Assembly. the board's purpose and objective is to establish a minimum standard of qualifications and practices for Ohio home inspectors this gives potential homebuyers making arguably the biggest purchase of their lives peace of mind in knowing any inspector inspector that they plan to hire is properly trained and following established Ohio standards of practice there are approximately 35 other states that have licensing requirements for home inspectors and the licensing requirements in Ohio are substantially similar to those in other states. Although there are no national uniform licensure requirements for home inspectors, the board incorporated many components into the standards of practice rule from two professional member organization standards, both of which which have been in existence for decades and are commonly accepted nationwide. If an individual wishes to be licensed as a home inspector in Ohio, they must comply with the following requirements. Completion of an application, proof of minimum competency, completion of a criminal history check, have complied with Ohio Revised Code 4764 and rules promulgated thereunder, and remittance of an application fee. One of the statutory requirements includes that an applicant pass the National Home Inspector exam. As long as the applicant meets or exceeds these statutory criteria, they will be issued a license allowing them to serve Ohio's home buying and selling public. There are licensure exemptions for individuals who are operating within the scope of another professional license. Those individuals include certified building personnel, certified architects, registered professional engineers, individuals licensed as a specialty contractor with the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board, licensed real estate appraisers, licensed commercial applicators of pesticide, public insurance adjusters holding a valid certificate of authority, and licensed real estate brokers, salespersons, foreign real estate dealers, and foreign real estate salespersons. Notwithstanding substitute House Bill 59, the initial licensing fee to become a home inspector is currently $250, and a license is due for renewal once every three years. Licensing fees for the Ohio Home Inspector Program are consistent with other licensing fees assessed with other comparable Ohio licensing programs, such as appraisers and real estate licensees. In Ohio's licensing fees are comparable with licensing fees assessed by other states with similar programs. These fees are necessary to defer or defray the costs associated with the administration of the program and the entire licensing program is sustained through the collection of application fees associated with home inspector licenses. It is estimated the division collects approximately $100,000 annually. Presently, there are 1,380 active home inspector licenses in Ohio and the division records indicate approximately 260 licenses are due for renewal in 2026 The division employs five individuals who handle the day-to-day activities of the program. These five employees include the superintendent, who oversees the administration of the program, a division attorney, a division licensing examiner, and two investigators. In summary, we ask you to please support the continued occupational licensure under the Ohio Home Inspector Board. Prior to implementation of ORC Chapter 4764, every professional involved in a real estate transaction except for a home inspector was subject to licensure requirements, which establishes the minimum qualifications and standards of practice. ORC Chapter 4764 was necessary to ensure that all Ohio home inspectors who play a critical role in a consumer's most expensive investment were well-qualified, competent, and properly trained. This was necessary for the stability of our overall economy and in furtherance of home ownership in Ohio. To the chair, to the members of the committee, Thank you for the opportunity to present this information to you on this board, and I would be happy to answer any questions you may have at this time.
Thank you for your testimony. Are there any questions for the witness?
Vice Chair Brenner. Thank you very much, Chair. Thank you for your testimony. Of the 1,380 licensed home inspectors, how many investigations have you done into those home inspectors as a group over the last year or two? or since the licensure went down since 2019?
I would say that the investigations or the complaints that we've received in the last year or two are well under 100. It hasn't been as robust as we initially had thought it would be back when the program was initially created. We thought we would see more complaints coming in from individuals involved in transactions, but it's actually been a little bit less than what we had thought.
Follow-up? Thank you, Chair. There's been discussion in the past here in the General Assembly about making licensed home inspectors give them the authority to work with counties to do actually building inspections or other inspections, depending on if they get additional credentialing. Has your division looked at that, and has there been any recent consideration of doing that?
It hasn't made its way down to me. We do see crossover where folks are building inspectors and they're also looking at possibly getting a home inspector license and doing something on the side for personal transactions, but I have to admit, for me personally, none of those conversations have necessarily made its way to me.
Are there any additional questions for the witness? Seeing none, thank you very much for your testimony today. Lastly, I would like to call up Michael Basden from the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. Welcome to committee.
Thank you so much. Thank you, Chair Magister, Vice Chair Brenner, Ranking Member Weinstein, and members of the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee. Thank you for the opportunity to offer a testimony on behalf of the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. I'm honored to have joined me today our Executive Secretary, Carol Ross, and our Administrative Chairman, Willie Kester. My name is Michael Basin. I'm the Program Administrator for the Board. The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board was established in 1993 to oversee the licensure of commercial specialty contractors. The specialty trades licensed in the board include heating, cooling, and ventilation, refrigeration, hydronics, plumbing, and electrical contractors. The primary goal of the objective of the board is to promote the safety of the public. Those working with specialty trades as well as those working in the construction industry, generally by verifying the individuals working in the licensed trades have sufficient education, training, and experience to ensure that the work is performed in these trades and done properly and competently. The 17-member board issues approximately 15,200 licenses to specialty contractors working in the license trades. As part of the licensing function, the board investigates complaints made by or against licensees, as well as cases where individuals are performing work that are unlicensed that require the license, and therefore conducting disciplinary proceedings that should in the infraction be found. The board also approves and renews third-party independent training agencies to offer continuing education programming for those licensed in the specialty trades, as well as approving specific courses offered by these trade agencies. Although the board is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Industrial Compliance, the board does have a dedicated staff of five employees. The board also shares the responsibilities of other licensing and inspection services boards within the department to increase efficiency and reduce indirect costs. In order to obtain a license, the commercial contractor in the specialty trade, an applicant must apply to the board and be approved to sit for the exam. In order to be approved, the contractor must show proof of verified permits for each year for the past five years, a journeyman's card, a certificate of completion from a state-approved or a U.S. Department of Labor apprenticeship program, or may take 40 hours of continuing education in code in the trade applying for. The board also considers veterans who perform these duties in the military without submitting the above requirements. Just a DD-214, the form describing the duties in the trade while in the military. These criteria strike an appropriate balance to ensure that the applicants are competent to perform the work while not only over-restricting the pool of available workers in the field, An applicant for licensure must also pay an application fee of $25, the initial licensure fee also of $25. Licenses must be paid annually as a renewal of $60, as well as have eight hours of continuing education per year. We also have a three-year license, which is $180 for the three years, and 24 hours of continuing education is required within that term. All license holders must maintain $500,000 of liability insurance. In addition to licensing, specialty contractors, the board also approves and renews training agencies that offer continuing education programming for the licensed and the specialty trades, as well as approves the specific courses offered by these training agencies. Currently, the board has approved 275 third-party independent training agencies. Each training agency pays an annual fee of $25, as well as $10 per course, plus $1 per credit hour per attendee. According to the National Association of State Contractor Licensing Agencies, 47 state licensed specialty trades, like those trades subject to the board's jurisdiction. because other states are generally comparable to the amount of regulation exercised by the board. The board has entered into reciprocity agreements with 11 states that issue these licenses of these specialty trades, including Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Virginia and Texas. And California will be coming soon. In summary, these trades specifically regulated the board required exceptional levels of knowledge and expertise, and the underlying work play a tremendous role in overlay safety of occupants of regulated commercial projects. Our trades can blow up, can flood, or burn down a building. and having the minimum requirements to obtain the licensure of the licensed trades help to ensure that those working in the fields have sufficient education, training, and experience to perform such work competently and safely. Therefore, I ask that you please support the continued licensure under the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board. Chairwoman Manchester and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to present this information. I'd be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Thank you very much for your testimony today. Are there any questions for the witness? Seeing none, thank you again.
Thank you.
That will conclude the third hearing on House Bill 59. And seeing no further business before the committee, we are hereby adjourned.