Ohio Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee - 3-10-2026

Ladies and gentlemen, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee will now come to order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Chair Schaefer.

Vice Chair Kaler.

Ranking Member Hicks-Hudson.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Senator Wilkin checked in. Do you have a quorum? Very good, thank you. We do have a quorum. Members, the minutes from the March 3, 2026 committee meeting are on your iPads for review and have been published. Any objections or changes to the minutes? Seeing none, the minutes will stand approved as published. Members, we now have a call for the committee and your attention to the governor's appointments for a number of individuals for various appointments throughout state government. Daniel Bullen, Advisory Council on Amusement Ride Safety. Robert L. Davis, Waterways Safety Council. Leah C. Dorman, Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Howard J. Foster, Ohio Expositions Commission. Bradford L. Garrison, Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Ray A. Heppner, State Veterinary Medical Licensing Board. Matthew S. Kelly, Ohio Expositions Commission. Cathanne Kress, Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Nathan Leggett, Reclamation Forfeiture Fund Advisory Board. Cole R. Luthman, Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Andrea Miller, State Veterinary Medical Licensing Board. And Susan M. Chorupski, the State Veterinary Licensing Board. You have materials on these nominees on your iPads. Are there any of these appointees here today I would like to say a few words to say, introduce themselves to the committee. Seeing none, with that concluded, what is the pleasure of the committee? Vice Chairman Kaler.

Okay we have a motion Will the clerk please call the roll Chair Schaefer Yes Vice Chair Kaler Yes Ranking Member Hicks Yes Senator Landis Yes Senator Liston Yes. Senator Manchester. Yes. Senator Reynolds. Senator Wilkin. Six-zero. Six-zero. Very good. Well, we will... Yes, we'll hold the roll open until 5 p.m., 5 o'clock, and then we'll report that on the Rules and Reference Committee. I'd like to now call Senate Concurrent Resolution 17, fourth, ranking member Paula Hicks-Hudson for its first hearing.

Good afternoon. Thank you. Chair Schaefer, Vice Chair Kohler, and members of the Agriculture Natural Resource Committee, thank you for the opportunity to offer sponsored testimony for Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 to support the development of a U.S. Great Lakes waterfront trail. This resolution emphasizes the significance of the Great Lakes as the largest freshwater system in the world and recognizes the success of Canada's Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, which is a 2,250-mile greenway connecting more than 150 communities from Lake Superior to the St. Lawrence River. The development of a parallel trail system within the United States presents an opportunity to enhance regional connectivity, promote outdoor recreation, and strengthen economic developments across all the eight Great Lakes states. The National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program is already working on mapping a potential route. All eight Great Lakes states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio, can participate. It has already received support from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources the Great Lakes Commission the Great Lakes St Lawrence Legislative Caucus the Great Lakes Way the Marquette Greenway Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission, the Wisconsin Non-Murderized Recreation and Transportation Trails Council, and the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiatives. It is time that Ohio joins with our neighboring states to create the Great Lakes Trail. Ohio is especially well positioned to benefit from this trail. With 312 miles of Lake Erie shoreline, we can expect a boost for local businesses and tourists. A continuous Great Lakes trail would bring even more vibrancy to our shoreline communities, especially in the smaller cities and towns that don't receive the spotlight. Cyclists and long-distance trail users can stop for coffee, visit local shops, stay in local inns, helping small businesses thrive. While my husband was in the Cleveland Clinic, I drove along the Great Lakes a trail and saw a number of lovely lakeside cities and villages, and I thought about how this would be even greater for those to be able to hike, bike, and take more opportunities to get a closer connection with those cities. This legislation will promote and highlight many such beautiful spots on Lake Erie. The public health benefits are just as important. biking and walking, highly accessible ways for our constituents to stay active. These activities improve cardiovascular health, reduce stress, and support mental well-being. And from an economic standpoint, trail systems consistently increase commerce support and create jobs, increase property values, reduce commuter costs. For example, an economic benefit study of the Great Lakes Way in Michigan found that the total estimated economic impact of greenways, water trails, parks, unique natural areas, waterfront, reclamation, connection to Canada, and historical and heritage attributes were approximately billion annually In short this resolution positions Ohio as a partner in a multi effort that is already underway. It supports tourism, public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development. I urge your support of this resolution and stand ready to answer any questions. Thank you very much.

I do have a couple for you. Yes. Sounds like it's already established in some states, but we're missing the Ohio connection. Is that correct?

Okay. And then does your district have some of this area that will go through it?

Hence your sponsorship.

Okay. Thank you.

Anything else?

Thank you, Y'all.

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