September 30, 2026 · General Government Committee · 852 words · 6 speakers · 48 segments
The government committee will now come to order. I'd like to first welcome everyone that's here today. We're glad you're here. Those of you tuning in online, we're glad you're watching. As we do with every committee meeting, I start by honoring God and country. And today I'm going to read a little verse from the book of Jeremiah 29, verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I hope you find that as encouraging as I do. Please rise. We say the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right, with that, with the clerk, please call the roll.
Chair Oetner. Here.
Vice Chair Serino? Here.
Senator Huffman? Here. Senator Reineke? Here.
Senator Lange? Here.
Ranking Member Blackshear? Here.
Senator DeMora? Here.
Welcome. All right, we do have a quorum present. If the members would take a minute and look at your iPads, you'll find the September 29th meeting minutes there. Are there any additions, subtractions, or changes to those minutes? Seeing none, the question is, shall the minutes be agreed to? And without objection the minutes are agreed to All right Senate Bill 475 was noticed to come before committee today However, with the referral of House Bill 519, we will not be bringing it up before the committee, and I will instead move that House Bill 519, having been referred by the Committee on Rules and Reference, be brought up for consideration. The clerk will call the roll.
Chair Roesner. Yes.
Vice Chair Serena. Yes.
Senator Huffman? Yes. Senator Reinachie? Yes.
Senator Lang? Yes.
Ranking Member Blackshear? No.
Senator DeMora? No.
Okay. By a vote of 5-2, House Bill 519 is now before committee. The chair recognizes Senator Serino for a motion.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Let me put the microphone on. I move to amend substitute Bill 1480-5.
This substitute bill is in order. Can you please explain the sub-bill?
Thank you, Madam Chair. This substitute bill largely restores the as-introduced version of HB 519, which criminalizes using unauthorized key fobs as a criminal tool under Ohio law. The use of these criminal tools will now be penalized as an F4. The sub-bill modifies these provisions by removing a requirement that juveniles repeat auto theft offenders be confined at a Department of Youth Services facility. Further the substitute bill also includes a temporary motor fuel tax holiday similar to the one discussed before this committee with the following changes It removes the permanent law change requiring gas stations to offer itemized receipts and instead permits retailers to modify or cover the existing gas tax stickers during this holiday. It reduces the $1 million appropriation to $250,000 for the Department of Taxation to administer the fuel tax holiday. It also makes several technical changes to ensure the Department of Taxation can effectively implement the holiday and retailers have more flexibility in submitting their tax filings to the Department. It further clarifies the enforcement provisions to ensure proper cross-references with the Consumer Sales Practices Act. And finally, it specifies that the gas tax suspension will take immediate effect.
Excellent. Thank you for that explanation. The question is, shall the substitute bill be adopted? Will the clerk please call the roll?
Chair Rogner. Yes.
Vice Chair Serena. Yes.
Senator Huffman. Yes.
Senator Lane. Yes.
Senator Reinigy. Yes.
Yes.
Ranking Member Blackshear, no.
Senator DeMora, no.
Okay, very good. By a vote of five to two, the substitute bill is adopted. The chair recognizes Senator Serino for a motion.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move to favorably report substitute House Bill 519 to the Committee on Rules and Reference The clerk will call the roll He has some amendments Madam Chair I motion to call the previous question
Okay, there's a motion to call the previous question. Will the clerk please call the roll?
I second that.
Yes.
Yes.
Clerk, would you please call the roll? Chair O'Brien. Yes.
Vice Chair Serena. Yes.
Senator Huffman? Yes.
Senator Lane? Yes.
Senator Ryagy? Yes.
Ranking Member Blackshear? No.
Senator DeMora? No.
Okay. By a vote of 5 to 2, the motion to call the roll is sustained. So would the clerk please call the roll on the passage of House Bill 519 to the Committee on Rules and Reference? Chair Rovner? Yes.
Vice Chair Sereno? Yes.
Senator Huffman? Yes.
Senator Lane? Yes.
Senator Reineke. Yes.
Ranking Member Blackshear.
Senator DeMora. No.
Okay. By a vote of 5-2, the House Bill 519 is passed to the Committee on Rules and Reference. The Committee will stand at ease. Again, by a vote of 5-2, substitute House Bill 519 is favorably reported to the Committee on Rules and Reference, and I would ask the members to please do not forget to sign the vote sheet. Seeing no other business brought before committee, the committee is adjourned.