As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and returns to the new normal, in-person conferences have also returned from their hiatus. Accordingly, it is an appropriate time to review ethics laws regarding public...more
The Ohio General Assembly finished the first half of 2022 with a rush of lawmaking, appropriating billions of dollars in infrastructure spending, and making policy changes in a range of subjects. Initially, the legislature’s...more
6/15/2022
/ Electric Vehicles ,
General Elections ,
Infrastructure ,
Mass Shootings ,
New Legislation ,
Property Tax ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
Redistricting ,
School Shootings ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
State Legislatures
On Tuesday, May, 3, 2022, Ohioans cast their ballots in the state’s Primary Election. May’s Primary Election did not include candidates for state legislative districts, due to the ongoing litigation regarding the new maps for...more
In its January 26, 2022, press release, the Ohio Ethics Commission is urging the Ohio General Assembly to enact enhanced penalties for persons or entities convicted of giving unlawful gifts or payments to any public official...more
On February 17, 2022, Governor DeWine signed House Bill 51 into law. House Bill 51 includes an uncodified provision authorizing public meetings to be held by teleconference, video conference or other similar electronic...more
If you are thinking about using Venmo to accept campaign donations, you now have guidance from the Ohio Elections Commission to permissibly do so.
The Ohio Elections Commission advised that the use of peer-to-peer...more
With a busy state and federal election cycle coming up this year, spring is an ideal time to give your Political Action Committee (PAC) a thorough cleaning. These checklist items should be part of your regular PAC...more
After failing to meet the Ohio Supreme Court’s ordered deadline for submitting House and Senate district maps, the Ohio Redistricting Commission passed its third version of district boundaries by a 4-3 vote on February 24,...more
The Ohio Elections Commission recently issued an advisory opinion addressing whether a foreign national can contribute to a ballot issue political action committee (PAC) in Ohio.
The Ohio Elections Commission determined...more
On February 7, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court invalidated the state House and Senate district boundaries that were recently adopted by the Ohio Redistricting Commission. The majority, in a per curiam decision, ruled that the...more
While most were watching the Bengals defeat the Titans in the NFL playoffs on January 22, 2022, the Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted new state House and Senate district boundaries. The commission faced a midnight...more
On January 14, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court invalidated the state’s newly redrawn congressional districts. In a 4-3 vote, mirroring the earlier decision invalidating the State House and Senate Districts, Justice Michael...more
On January 12, 2022, the Ohio Supreme Court, by a vote of 4-3, found the newly drawn state House and Senate district maps did not comply with Ohio’s Constitution, specifically Article XI, Section 6, which states that no plan...more
In the second half of 2021, the 134th Ohio General Assembly focused on the state legislative and congressional redistricting process and finishing work on a wide variety of legislation dealing with topics such as sports...more
1/6/2022
/ Ballot Measures ,
Cannabis Products ,
Census ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Criminal Justice Reform ,
Digital Communications ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Energy Sector ,
General Assembly ,
Governor DeWine ,
Insurance Industry ,
Judicial Election ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Personal Data ,
Primary Elections ,
Redistricting ,
State Budgets ,
State Elections ,
State Legislatures ,
State Privacy Laws ,
Telehealth ,
Utilities Sector ,
Vaccinations
If passed, recently introduced legislation H.B. 450 permits community solar development in Ohio.
Join Bricker & Eckler attorneys Dylan Borchers and Matt Koppitch as they discuss how the proposal works. They will also chat...more
Election day 2021 featured two special congressional elections, as well as mayoral races in several large cities, including Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton and Toledo. City councils, judicial seats and ballot issues were also...more
The Ohio General Assembly will soon begin work on the state’s capital budget, which is typically passed in every even-numbered year. Expect the legislative process to begin on the capital bill during early winter and finish...more
On September 14, 2021, the Ohio Supreme Court found that the Trumbull County Board of Elections erred in rejecting a part-petition submitted by Mark Ferrara to appear on the ballot as a candidate for township trustee. ...more
If you’ve been out shopping, you’ve likely noticed stores are decking their halls and preparing for the holidays (holiday creep is a topic for another time). Many companies like to send small holiday gifts or tokens of...more
On October 12, 2021, members of the Ohio House of Representatives introduced House Bill 450 to permit community solar in the territories of the electric distribution utilities (EDUs). To date, community solar has not been...more
Federal vaccine mandate for private employers -
United States President Joe Biden announced a COVID-19 vaccine requirement applicable to private sector employers who employ 100 or more employees on September 9, 2021. The...more
9/15/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Employer Mandates ,
Executive Orders ,
Local Health Departments (LHDs) ,
Local Ordinance ,
Masks ,
OSHA ,
Private Sector ,
Temporary Regulations ,
Vaccinations ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
Ohioans in the 11th and 15th congressional districts participated in special primary elections for two congressional vacancies on Tuesday, August 3, 2021.
In the 15th congressional district, which was vacated by...more
The Ohio General Assembly recently completed an exhaustive and comprehensive first half of 2021. The legislature tackled the state’s two-year operating budget, COVID-19 relief funding, residential broadband expansion, reforms...more
7/15/2021
/ Agricultural Sector ,
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Appropriation ,
Broadband ,
Economic Development ,
Economic Downturn ,
Energy Sector ,
General Assembly ,
Governor DeWine ,
Health Care Providers ,
Pending Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
Tax Cuts ,
Tax Revenues
On June 28, 2021, the Ohio General Assembly passed Senate Bill (S.B.) 52, which places new requirements on renewable energy development in Ohio and changes to the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) process. The bill is specific...more
7/1/2021
/ Advisory Board ,
County Planning Commissions ,
Decommissioned Facilities ,
Energy Projects ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Land-Use Permits ,
Pending Legislation ,
Public Meetings ,
Renewable Energy ,
Site Plans ,
Solar Energy ,
Utilities Sector ,
Wind Farm ,
Wind Power
Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill (H.B.) 2 into law on Monday, May 17, 2021. H.B. 2 was drafted similarly to H.B. 13 from the last general assembly. H.B. 2 creates the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant...more