Where property tax relief, 'diet weed' regulation stands in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers are attempting to move forward with legislation as the end of the year nears, but several efforts are stalled.
Property Tax Relief Legislation
Property tax legislation is unlikely to pass the statehouse before next year.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Ohio House passed House Bill 274, which would expand the homestead exemption for homeowners 65 and older who meet the income requirement, among other benchmarks. Homestead exemption reduces the amount of the value of the property that is taxed. The bill is estimated to help 450,000 households.
“We've been taking property taxes incredibly seriously,” Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) said. “[House Bill] 274 is a good first step, making sure that those that are living in what's most likely their last home, the ones that they were retired in, the ones that they built their memories in, and they don't need to be taxed out of their homes.”
The bill did pass with bi-partisan support, but still, 10 House members voted against the measure and said it really does not get at the core of the issue.
“What voters are asking for is real property tax reform and [House Bill] 274 just doesn’t get that done, so it was an easy ‘no’ vote,” Rep. Ron Ferguson (R-Wintersville) said. “You get silly things during lame duck season, and this is just one of those things to pretend something is being done when really nothing at all.”
Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said it is unlikely that his chamber takes up House Bill 274 and passes it before the end of the year.
“Complex things that haven’t had much discussion that have huge ramifications monetarily and into the future, we’re not going to be able to do that in seven or eight days,” Huffman said. “So, I’d like to take the findings of the property tax committee and use those to draft legislation for the first six months of next year.”
Lawmakers have been working on property tax legislation for the past two years, extensively, and a property tax study committee was supposed to release a report months ago. Huffman said despite all that work, more needs to be done before something is passed.
“[Property taxes are] this giant robot that we started building 100 years ago and every time when we're supposed to actually make sure that it's working right, we put some gizmo on it that solves the problem for the moment, and really this whole system needs to be taken apart and take out the parts that don't work,” Huffman said.
“Diet Weed” Regulations
Ohio Senate members tried to move forward on a compromise for Delta 8 regulations this afternoon, but in a last-minute decision, the effort was stalled in Ohio Senate General Government Committee.
Delta 8 is a low-level THC that can give the user a high similar to marijuana and Governor Mike DeWine has been calling for its regulation for a year.
Senate Bill 326, as it stands now, is an outright ban on “intoxicating hemp” products. The committee was poised to amend that bill to do several things, including:
- Only allow the sale of Delta 8 products in dispensaries
- Only allow the sale of Delta 8 products to those 21 and older
- Require that packaging of Delta 8 products does not appeal to kids
House members said the “only sold in dispensaries” provision is a non-starter for their chamber.
“What we what we agreed to in June, with small group of senators and representatives was just what I said, 21 and up, locked up behind the counter, Department of Agriculture to make rules around products of purity and compliance with federal standards,” Ohio House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) said. “That was the agreement. So why they're moving in this direction you’d have to ask them.”
“You got two separate chambers for a reason, and we are going to do what we deem best, and they are going to do what they deem best and get passed and then hopefully the chambers can get together and come up with something that works,” Chair of Senate General Government Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) said. “This is a very complicated issue, and we want to take as much time and consideration and weigh all of our options of what we want to do, what we think is the best thing to do.”
Seitz said that provision is a no-go for House members because “big marijuana” is already benefiting enough with the adult-use program in the state.
“They locked up the marijuana business to the exclusion of everybody else and now they want to take over the hemp business, too, and so, I think that is ridiculous that we would even think about doing something like that, although I readily admit we should more stringently regulate these Delta products and what we're doing now,” Seitz said.
Huffman said he also wants to tax Delta 8 and other THC products like marijuana is taxed in Ohio.
Ranking Member of the Senate General Government Committee Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) said regulating this way is better than an outright ban and said he does not think it will hurt too many convenience stores or gas stations.
“This wasn't, it wasn't here two or three years ago, so it’s not like these convenience stores have been selling this stuff for the last 20 years and it's hard, it's hard for their market,” he said. “It is bad when its unregulated. And I don't think I don't think it's going to hurt too many convenience stores.”
Either way, Huffman said his chamber plans to move forward on an amended Senate Bill 326 to regulate THC products in the same way as marijuana.
“Based on what I’m hearing, the Speaker doesn’t want to do anything regarding restricting hemp in any way, but I think that’s the bill we will probably bring to the floor,” he said. “We will vote it out of the Senate if the House doesn’t bring it up, que sera, sera.”
Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) has said he is interested in some sort of regulations, but the chambers remain at a standstill.
“Our position has been pretty clear on Delta 8,” Stephens said. “It’s essentially regulating it the same way you would tobacco as far as age limits, putting it behind the counter and that sort of thing.”