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Legislative Bulletin
July 29, 2022

OML UPDATE AT A GLANCE

CONGRESS PASSES CHIPS ACT
The federal CHIPS Act, legislation that would provide $52 billion to benefit the semiconductor industry, passed through the U.S. Senate and U.S. House this week. The legislation is viewed as important to the Intel development in Ohio. See more below.

BILL SPOTLIGHT: COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREAS LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED IN OHIO SENATE
House Bill 123, which modifies laws governing community reinvestment areas (CRAs) passed the Ohio House last year and is currently in the Senate Ways & Means Committee. It could advance during the lame-duck session later this year. See more below.

FIFTH ROUND OF OHIO VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED
Gov. Mike DeWine announced an additional $3.5 million in grants that will go to 14 local law enforcement agencies to help combat violence in their communities as part of the Ohio Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program. A total of $58 million will be awarded as part of the grant program overall. Learn More

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES JOINS IN EDUCATION INITIATIVE
The National League of Cities has joined a public-private partnership that will encourage and support organizations in using their American Rescue Plan Act dollars and other federal resources to ensure every child has access to a high-quality afterschool and summer learning program. See more below.

NLC PODCAST NOW AVAILABLE
The National League of Cities released the trailer and first episode to CitiesSpeak with Clarence Anthony, a monthly podcast with the NLC executive director that will feature conversations with local leaders and policy experts on the top issues, challenges, and topics facing cities. It is available on most podcast platforms.

REMINDER: OHIO OFFICE OF FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS IS A RESOURCE
Late last year, the Ohio Office of First Responder Wellness was created within the Department of Public Safety to provide support and training to help agencies proactively address post-traumatic stress and other traumas. It serves law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, dispatch, corrections, and Ohio- based military. Learn More

UPCOMING REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN FINDLAY
OML's upcoming regional conference taking place in Findlay on Aug. 5 is a great opportunity to network with other elected officials and staff members from nearby cities and villages, while also learning more about topics relevant to municipalities, including policy issues, ethics, public records, home rule, cybersecurity, and economic development. Register by the Deadline TODAY
CONGRESS PASSES CHIPS ACT

The U.S. Senate and U.S. House voted to approve the CHIPS Act, legislation that would provide $52 billion in subsides for companies to research, design and manufacture semiconductors. Both of Ohio's senators, Sen. Sherrod Brown and Sen. Rob Portman supported the legislation, as well as 12 of the state's 16 representatives.

Intel officials had said, regardless of whether the bill passes, they plan to move forward with plans to build a facility in New Albany, Ohio. But Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger said passing the CHIPS Act would inform if and when the complex eventually would expand to its full scale. The plant, the largest economic-development project in Ohio history, is expected to employ 3,000 workers along with 7,000 temporary construction jobs. 

Supporters of the CHIPS Act say the legislation is necessary to compete with other countries that subsidize their semiconductor industry and to cover the higher cost of paying American workers compared to counterparts in East Asia, where many computer-chip factories are located. 
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT AREAS LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED IN SENATE

House Bill 123, which modifies laws governing community reinvestment areas (CRAs) passed the House last year and has had five hearings in the Senate Ways & Means Committee so far.

Continuing law allows a county or municipality to designate community reinvestment areas (CRAs) where residential, commercial, or industrial development projects may be exempted from property tax for a certain amount of time as an economic development tool. This bill modifies the law governing CRAs, and the terms under which property may be exempted in such areas, including:

  • Eliminating the requirement for the Department of Development to approve a proposed CRA.
  • Increasing, from 50% to 75%, the percentage of a proposed CRA exemption for a commercial or industrial project that requires obtaining permission from a school district encompassing the project
  • Modifying the requirement that municipalities share municipal income tax revenue generated by new employees at a large CRA commercial or industrial project with the school district encompassing that project
  • Reducing, from five to two years, the amount of time required to transpire between the discontinuation of a CRA commercial or industrial project and when the project’s owner may obtain an enterprise zone tax exemption or another CRA exemption.

OML supports HB 123, because it would help make CRAs more accessible to cities and villages by removing existing barriers in current law and creating greater opportunities for municipalities to use CRAs as a means to invest in their local communities. The bill could potentially advance during the lame-duck session later this year. Bill Analysis
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES JOINS EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The National League of Cities (NLC) announced its participation in the U.S. Department of Education’s new “Engage Every Student” initiative. The program is a public-private partnership that will encourage and support schools, school districts, local elected officials, city governments, and community-based organizations in using their American Rescue Plan Act dollars and other federal resources to ensure every child has access to a high-quality afterschool and summer learning program.
 
The project was announced by Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at an event in DC and will be staffed by NLC's Institute for Youth, Education and Families team, which has already been tracking the many ways local governments across America have invested in and continue to support afterschool and summer learning programs as part of their pandemic recovery strategy and beyond. Learn More
UPCOMING OML EVENTS

Northwest Regional Conference
Friday, Aug. 5 @ Hancock Hotel in Findlay
If you haven’t yet attended one of our regional summer conferences, this will be your final chance. Join like-minded professionals in northwest Ohio to learn more about the most current issues facing municipalities. The registration deadline is today, July 29. More Info

Webinar: Why the Popularity of Electric Vehicles is Surging and What Ohio Municipalities Should Do About It
Virtual
This webinar will explain why EVs are surging in popularity, the benefits of EVs, and what elected officials in cities and villages should be thinking about in preparation for EV adoption in their areas of responsibility. The presentation will reference the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program plan and provide suggested action items for OML members. Register

MEMBERSHIP INFO: OML-Affiliated Associations


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