Legislative update

An overview of bills introduced in the 132nd General Assembly

In an effort to keep you more connected to your government and whats happening at your Statehouse, here is
a list of current bills in the House that I thought you might find interesting.

As always, dont hesitate to contact me with ideas for legislation or ways of bettering our community. I value
and respect your input.

Reps. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) & Jack Cera (D-Bellaire) HB 243 To exempt firewood and other
heating fuels from state sales tax.

Reps. John Boccieri (D-Poland) & Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown) HB 245 List and
disqualify all corporations who move call centers out of US.

Reps. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) & Jim Butler (R) HB 260 Automatically grants limited driving privileges
when conviction is non-violent and unrelated to motor vehicle use.

Rep. Kathleen Clyde (D-Kent) HB 14 To create Automatic Voter Registration, which will require that
eligible Ohioans in state and school databases be automatically registered to vote and have their registrations
automatically updated unless they choose to opt out.

Engaging your legislature and the committee process

The formal votes during House sessions may give the
impression that every vote has been decided in ad-
vance. This is actually the case because in-depth ex-
amination of legislation takes place
in committee hearings.
Following a bill's introduction, it is
assigned to one of the Houses 17
standing committees. During com-
mittee meetings, bills are debated
and amended and members of the
general public are given the oppor-
tunity to contribute testimonies.
Witnesses are not under oath, as in
a courtroom, but they must register
with the committee chairperson at the beginning of
the hearing.
State representatives want to hear the views of Ohio-
ans as they consider legislation. Weekly committee
schedules are posted on the web at http://
www.ohiohouse.gov/committee/standing-committees
and in the House Clerk's office.
The House Speaker determines the membership and
number of House standing committees. Appointments
for committee chairs, vice chairs, and ranking minori-
ty members are made at the begin-
ning of each new General Assem-
bly, but changes and substitutions
can always be made at the House
Speakers discretion.
You should know that, as an Ohio-
an, you have the right and op-
portunity to present testimony
on a bill you favor or oppose. If
you should decide to visit the
Statehouse to offer your views on a
particular bill, be sure to contact me so that I can as-
sist in making your time here as enjoyable and pro-
ductive as possible.
For more information about legislation from the past
or bills currently pending before the House, visit the
Ohio General Assembly's website at
www.legislature.state.oh.us/ or call the legislative toll
-free hotline at 1-800-282-0253.