April 15, 2026 · Transportation Committee · 1,378 words · 8 speakers · 56 segments
The Senate Transportation Committee, I'll ask all the members and members of the audience, please stand for 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, liberty, and justice for all.
Thank you. Operating as a full committee. First, let's take a roll call. Chairman Patton. Here. Vice Chair Schaefer. Here. Ranking Member Antonio. Senator Chavez. Here. Senator Reinecke. Here. Senator Smith is checked in. Senator Timken. Here. I'll ask the members if they'll please review the minutes of the meeting from March 25th. And if there's no objections or corrections. Hearing none, the minutes are approved. First of our business today is Senate Bill 339, Senator Blackshear. This will create the Dayton Dragons license plate. Good morning, Senator. Welcome to the committee, sir.
Good morning. Thank you, Chair. Chair Patton, Vice Chair Schaefer, Ranking Member Antonio, and members of the Senate Transportation Committee, thank you for the opportunity to present sponsored testimony for Senate Bill 339, which would create the Dayton Dragons license plate. The Dragons minor league baseball team is a staple in the greater Dayton community. A high A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, the Dayton Dragons organization relocated to Dayton in 2000 after originally being located in Rockford, Illinois. From the start in 2000, the Dragons have been a favorite for Daytonians and those in the Miami Valley. They have led Class A in attendance in every single year since 2000 with an average attendance of just over 8,000 fans per game. The Dragons currently hold the record for the longest sellout streak in professional sports, which is still active at over 1,600 consecutive games. The Dragons organization truly does an outstanding job of creating a great environment to enjoy some exciting baseball games. Funds from purchases of this license plate will go toward the Dragons Foundation. The contribution is with the standard BMV administrative fee By adding this license plate we are giving dedicated fans in the Dayton area a chance to show their love for Dragons baseball Having the Dragons in downtown Dayton is a huge component of economic development in the region and a major attraction for the city of Dayton. This license plate is just one way to celebrate their impact and give fans a chance to show their team pride. Chair Patton, Vice Chair Schaefer, and Ranking Member Antonio, and members of the Senate Transportation Committee, thank you for the opportunity to present sponsored testimony for Senate Bill 339, and I'll be happy to take any questions.
Thank you very much, Senator, and I appreciate this. I'm really kind of shocked. I know when the former Indians now Guardians had a 444-game winning streak for a while, that was the longest in Major League Baseball to have 1,600 consecutive games sold out. Even 8,000 fans a game is a remarkable achievement. So it speaks to the passion that the folks in Dayton have. Any questions of the Senator? Seeing none, thank you very much for your testimony.
Thank you all so much.
Is there anybody else? No. This concludes the first hearing on Senate Bill 339. We're going to skip ahead for a second to go to Senate Bill 365. Is there anyone here willing to testify who wishes to testify on Senate Bill 365? If not, the Chair now recognizes Vice Chair Schaefer for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to report Senate Bill 365 to the Committee on Rules and Reference and recommend its passage.
Clerk will call the roll. Chairman Patton. Yes. Vice Chair Schaefer?
Yes.
Senator Chavez?
Yes.
Senator Reinecke?
Yes.
Senator Timken?
Yes.
And Ranking Member Antonio?
Yes.
We have received a sufficient number of votes. Senate Bill 365 is referred to the Committee on Rules and Reference. We're now going to hear the governor's appointments. There are 18 governor's appointments today before us. Please note all the biographies were sent to your office and will be on your iPad today. We first going to start out with begin with Kurt Schneider who was appointed to the County Sheriff Standard Car Making and Uniform Commission The chair recognizes Vice Chairman Schaefer for a motion
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to approve the Governor's appointments and favorably report it to the Committee on Rules of Reference.
Okay. Will the clerk please call the roll? Chairman Patton. Yes. Vice Chair Schaefer.
Yes.
Ranking Member Antonio?
No.
Senator Chavez?
Yes.
Senator Reinecke?
Yes.
Senator Timken?
Yes.
Having received a sufficient number of votes, the government's appointments referred to the Committee on Rules and Reference. We will now hear the following appointments for the Motor Vehicle Dealers Board. We have Neil Barkin, Joshua Fox, Jason Hunt, Rob Mitchell, Michelle Prim, Christopher Tobey, Roberto Vasquez. For the Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Repair, we have Dennis Booth, Mark Campbell, Galeed Powell. On the Transportation Review Advisory Council, we have Aaron Crooks, Georgine Wheelow. On the Ohio Rail Development Commission, we have Scott Corbett, Brendan Keener, Russell Orban. And the County Sheriff's Standard Car Making Informal Commission. We also have Orvis Campbell and Mark Wazel-ishin. I hope we did that good. That's a good effort. Thank you. Are there any comments on these appointments? Hearing none, the Chair recognizes Vice Chair Schaefer for a motion.
Mr. Chairman, I move to approve these governor's appointments as a group and favorably report them to the Committee on Rules and Reference.
Political, please call the roll. Jeremy Patton. Yes. Vice Chair Schaefer.
Yes.
Ranking Member Antonio.
Yes.
Senator Chavez.
Yes.
Senator Reinecke.
Yes.
Senator Timken. Yes. The next order of business is Substitute Senate Bill 280. Is there anyone here that wishes to testify in Senate Bill 280? The chair now recognizes
Vice Chair Schaefer for motion. Mr Chairman I move to report Senate Bill 280 as a substitute bill to the Committee on Rules and Reference and recommend its passage Roll call please Chairman Patton
Yes. Vice Chair Schaefer.
Yes.
Ranking Member Antonio.
Yes.
Senator Chavez. Yes.
Senator Reinecke. Yes.
Senator Timken. Yes.
I haven't received a sufficient number of votes. Senate Bill 280 is referred to the Committee on Rules and Reference. Our next order of business is Senate Bill 358 for its third hearing. Is there anyone here that's willing to testify on Senate Bill 358? Members, please direct your written-only testimony on your iPads from Jonathan Kiston, Chair Montgomery. The Chair now recognizes the Vice Chair. Schaefer for a motion.
Mr. Chairman, I move to amend with the amendment AM. I'm sorry. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I move to amend with the amendment, AM-2185-1. This amendment is in order, and I'll proceed to explain this amendment. This amendment would increase the fee for the blackout license plate from $20 to $40 and direct the additional $20 per license plate to the PTSD fund for first responders. Based on the demand for it in other states, we believe $40 per plate is reasonable and much more in line with the other states you're charging, and this would generate meaningful revenue for the important cause I refer to. I spoke with Senator Manning, and he's very supportive of the amendment. Are there any objections or questions on the amendment?
Mr. Chair.
Ranking member, please go ahead.
Thank you. I just have a comment. I am so happy to see that we're increasing this based on, you know, we learn a lot in this committee, and based on the comparisons from other states, I think this is a great way to do this, and I also applaud the fact that those additional funds are going to go for our law enforcement and PTSD. This is wonderful. So thank you. Thank you so much for all the work on this and bringing it to us.
Thank you.
Are there any further questions or comments on the amendment? Hearing no objections, the amendment becomes part of the bill. This will conclude the third hearing on Senate Bill 358. We were going to hold the roll open. Senator Smith had checked in, so we're going to hold it open until noon today. Say no further bids before this committee. We stand adjourned.