June 8, 2026 · Small Business Committee · 1,557 words · 4 speakers · 21 segments
Good afternoon, everyone. The current time is 5 p.m. If you're able, please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of 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. Thank you all. The meeting of the House Small Business Committee will come to order. As I said, the time is 5 p.m. I think we're missing some people for a full quorum, but we'll know that here when the clerk calls the roll, so please call the roll. Chairman Gambari. Present. Vice Chair Dean is excused. Ranking member Upchurch. Representative Daniels. Here. Representative Demetrio is excused. Representative Heiner. Here. Representative Kishman. Here. Representative Lampton. Here. Representative McLean is excused. Representative Teska is excused. Representative Brewer. Representative Lutt. Representative Sigrist. Here. Okay, we only have six members present, so we will continue as a subcommittee. Oh, 501, right on time. Representative Upchurch? Okay, look at that. Welcome to committee, Representative. We will be proceeding as a full committee, now that we have a quorum. The minutes of our last meeting, back on February 17, 2026, are on your iPads for your review. I'm sure you have all diligently reviewed those. Are there any objections or changes to the minutes? Great hearing none. The minutes are approved. I would now like to call House Bill 873 forward for its first hearing. 873 is brought to us by Representative David Thomas. And Representative Thomas, the floor is yours.
Thank you, Chair Gambari, Ranking Member Upshurst, members of the Small Business Committee, so appreciate the opportunity to testify today in support of House Bill 873, what I'm colloquially calling the Free the Toy Act. This one is pretty simple. Ohio is the only state in the nation that prevents toys like these, and I brought some examples for you. This one is a really, can I pass these around?
If you would like, can you clarify, is that your personal toy or is that a prop?
So this contraband and this contraband are currently occupants of my office as an example but not personal ones Those ones are at home Those are the Build-A-Bears, which we'll be talking about later. So these toys are examples of toys that currently are not able to be sold here in the state of Ohio because they use recycled materials. In those cases, they're recycled polyester for the outside. Now, Pennsylvania is another state that just actually updated their laws to allow for the sale of these types of toys, I'm going to say animals. And then Massachusetts, they have on their books currently a prohibition on recycled materials as well, but they actually essentially ignore that prohibition. So that leaves Ohio as the only state in the nation where you cannot actually sell, warehouse, or distribute toys that are used with recycled materials. Now, I'll admit this bill does seem a little bit silly and certainly not helping my case right now, having all these cute little animals going around the committee room. But it is important. And why I quickly signed on...
Oh, the chair would like the...
The ranking member would like it.
Oh, thank you. So why this is so important, though, my own personal kind of philosophy, outdated, unnecessary, pointless regulations that we have in the state are some of the biggest frustrations I have with government. And eliminating those just makes sense. We have small businesses here in Ohio and big businesses alike that want to do business in our state. They want to contribute to our sales tax and our quality of life, but we're actually currently banning them from even being here for no real legitimate reason. And this should make all of us upset. So you may be like me. I will admit I did not purchase these. I have no real use for them, I promise.
You're under oath, Mr. Thomas.
I don't remember doing this. I'm under the toy oath, I guess. But even though if you're like me, this bill still should be important to you. Because even if you're not going to buy these, the prohibition in Ohio actually also applies to warehousing and to distributing. So, for example, earlier this year, Mylay, which is the company that makes these toys specifically, was exploring opportunities to warehouse products here in Ohio. But actually, because the Stuffed Toy Statute applies to warehousing and not just the sale and manufacturing, they were not able to actually have their warehouse here in Ohio Similarly Build which we all know and those I do have at home chair a Build turtle where if you do its little hand it sings happy birthday to you We all, I think, have memories of Build-A-Bear. But I didn't realize, Build-A-Bear actually, they're based, they have locations here in Ohio, and they have warehouses here in Ohio, but they actually have to have a separate and special line just for Ohio because they use recycled materials in most of their materials across the nation, but because we prevent them from selling recycled materials here, they have their own special line, their own special whole warehouse process just for Ohio. Naturally, you can assume cost, duplication, complexity, it just doesn't make sense. And so thus the bill in front of you, House Bill 873. This bill essentially removes that requirement that recycled materials cannot be used. It makes Ohio like every other state in the nation where toys with recycled materials can be sold. And it actually has the support of the Department of Commerce as well, who oversees this regulation. They've indicated they'd be supportive of updating. They just need essentially the legislature to kind of lead the way with changing the rules so they can then clarify and act accordingly. This bill does that. It's good for business. It's good for kids. It's good for removing needless and pointless regulations. And with that, Chairman, I'm happy to take any questions.
I'll take his back. Thank you, Representative, for your testimony on House Bill 873. Just for the record, could you tell us what you've named your stuffed animal that sits in your office?
Well, you know, I think this is a cow, so I believe. I'm not entirely sure, but I think you can use your own imagination.
If not, the folks in the Ohio Channel will be emailing your office to let you know exactly what that is. You know, I did a naming contest with my dog when I was auditor. Got 500 names, really fun thing. Named her Liberty. We should do a naming contest for these little animals. I was going to say Haraz and Gambari. Well, that's the end of your testimony. Thank you. I appreciate the good gestures. Is there any questions for Representative? Please go ahead.
Thank you Chair Do the law currently ban only recycled material in toys or just toys Chair member yes So essentially there vagueness and there ambiguity with what type of materials you can actually use So the law essentially does not
allow for the sale of recycled materials and toys. Now these are tested. These are approved by the feds. They're completely safe. But Ohio hasn't actually essentially said either recycled materials are allowed or not allowed, they're just not there. So thus, they cannot be sold.
Follow-up, Chair?
Thank you.
Was there a reason for that?
Chair, member, so go back probably 60, 70 years. The feds didn't test toys. Someone probably put something not good in a toy with recycled materials for plastic or something. Thus, states then had these. Now the feds test. Every state has removed. We're the only state that has none.
Representative Heiner. Thank you, Chair. I assume that there's a testing process goes on to test these materials to confirm there's nothing harmful in them before they're put into a toy that our children are going to play with. Chair
member, yes. The feds, that's kind of their process. They oversee those types of safety. I can't speak to specifics, but there will be some good folks who are willing to come in and can walk you right through it. Thank you. Any additional
questions of the committee today? Representative, thank you for bringing this bill to committee. And seeing no further questions, that will conclude the first hearing on House Bill number 873. Thank you. Thank you. I would like to call forward House Bill 615 for its second hearing. Is there anyone here that wishes to testify on behalf of 615? Okay, seeing no one, I would just like to draw everyone's attention to your iPads. There is testimony from the Senior Vice President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Rick Carfagna, who has submitted a written testimony as a proponent for House Bill 615. That language is on your iPad. I would encourage all of you to read that language and appreciate Rick Carfagna for the time he took to submit that. Any questions pertaining to 615? Seeing no additional questions, that will conclude our second hearing on House Bill 615. Is there any additional business to come before the committee today? Seeing no additional business, we stand adjourned at 510 p.m.