It is a busy time in the Ohio Senate. The 133rd General Assembly is underway, with new bills being introduced and new legislative committees beginning their work.
I recently joined my colleagues to announce the Senate’s legislative priorities. We discussed the issues that matter most to Ohioans. We set out a vision for accomplishing our goals, and then we immediately got to work. Members of the Senate introduced dozens of bills, including priority legislation that focuses on the challenges we face together as Ohioans.
The Senate is focused on several significant, overriding themes as we begin our work. These include improving the economy, preserving Lake Erie and Ohio’s waterways, reforming our criminal justice system, protecting Ohioans from harm and abuse, and investing in our education system.
First, we believe it is paramount that Ohioans be able to find well-paying jobs. We have made significant progress during my time in the Senate, improving the business climate by lowering taxes and getting rid of unnecessary red tape and regulation. During that span Ohio employers have added more than 560,000 new jobs. In 2019 we will build on that progress, as Senate Bill 1 will cut government red tape by 30 percent over three years. We have also introduced bills to incentivize investments in Ohio “Opportunity Zones” (Senate Bill 8) and allow military members and their spouses greater flexibility with state licensing when moving to Ohio (Senate Bill 7).
Next, for the third straight legislative cycle, we are focused on protecting Lake Erie and our waterways. Senate Bill 2 will help accomplish that goal, as we establish a statewide planning structure for watershed programs to be implemented by local soil and water conservation districts. We are working with agricultural communities and others to find solutions that help protect and preserve our most important natural resource.
It is undeniable that the opioid epidemic is one of the most significant problems facing Ohio today. In the last legislative cycle, we raised penalties for drug traffickers, while increasing funding for drug addiction treatment and related social services. This year, we are tackling this problem from another angle, by proposing major criminal justice reforms. Senate Bill 3 will take a “smart on crime” approach that emphasizes rehabilitation and moves non-violent drug offenders into treatment instead of incarcerating them in state prisons. This approach will offer many people a second chance. Equally important, it will reduce recidivism rates—meaning our communities will be safer.
Finally, the Senate will work to improve our state’s education system. The budget process will involve substantial work on our school funding formula, as we seek to ensure that schools have the resources they need to provide a quality education to all students. This year, Senate Bill 4 will also increase our investment in school facilities by providing an additional $100 million for renovation or construction of school buildings across Ohio. Priority will be given to the lowest-wealth schools and those with exceptional needs.
I encourage everyone to be engaged in the legislative process as we work on these important issues. The Senate works for you, and we should be accessible to the people we represent. That is why I kicked off the last legislative cycle by expanding television coverage of the Senate’s work to include several important committees. The committees working on issues like the state budget, education, and health care policy can now be viewed on OhioSenate.gov, on the Ohio Channel online at OhioChannel.org, and on local public access broadcast stations.
As we begin the 133rd General Assembly, the Senate is focused on moving Ohio forward. My colleagues and I welcome your feedback. If you have any ideas about how to improve our great state, please give me a call. The best ideas don’t come from government and they don’t come from politicians — they come from you, from We the People.
You can reach me at obhof@ohiosenate.gov or by calling me at 614-466-7505. You may also reach me by mail at State Senator Larry Obhof, 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
