The presence or absence of any House or Senate Bill on the following list is not indicative of the current administration's support or opposition to the proposal.

127th General Assembly LEGISLATIVE UPDATE**

LAWS PASSED: 7

1. HB 113-White/Luckie: Re-entry services from faith based & other comm. organizations for DRC & DYS; signed 3/25/08 - effective 6/25/08.
2. Amended Substitute HB 119-Dolan: Operating budget - Fiscal Year 2008-2009 (2031 pages); effective 6/30/07.
3. HB 177-Blessing: Same person-not more than two horse racing permits for race tracks; signed 10/25/07-effective 10/25/07.
4. HB 194-Zehringer: Open Meetings Act-executive session-discuss trade secrets; signed 11/13/07 - effective 2/12/08.
5. Substitute HB 372-McGregor,R. & Ujvagi: To exempt military retirement pay from the income tax; exempt the estates of armed forces members who died while serving in a combat zone from probate fees; to provide reservists & NG members may renew professional licenses w/n 6 months, to provide that standard "Purple Heart" license plates be issued w/o charge, to designate IR 70 & 71 as the "Purple Heart Trail," to authorize the display of combat battle stars on certain special combat or military license plates, to prohibit discrimination under the Ohio Civil Rights Commission Law & certain other laws on the basis of military status, to require the AG to appoint a staff mbr of the Consumer Protection Div to expedite cases or issues raised by a person or the person's immediate family who is deployed on active duty, to grant certain military persons additional civil service credit, to require relevant military experience to be considered in continuing education determinations, to create an incumbent worker training program and to create Civil Air Patrol license plates; effective various times 1/1/08 taxes & 3/24/08 Purple Heart plates, & discrimination.
6. SB 25-Carey, JR., J: Create "Gold Star Family" license plates; signed 1/25/08 - effective 90 days.
7. SB 219-Schuring: Public Official Misconduct-extends the period of limitation while the public official is in office or within two years; signed 4/21/08 - effective in 90 days.

BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE (547) & IN THE SENATE (329):

COMBAT VETERANS BENEFITS:

1. HB 60-Evans: To authorize boards of county commissioners to exempt from taxation the homesteads of qualifying members of the National Guard and reserve components of the Armed Forces who have been deployed outside the state, and to exempt estates of members of the US armed forces who died while serving in a combat zone from various probate filing fees.
2. HB 61-Ujvagi: To prohibit a juvenile court from making custody determinations or modifications in a case in which one of the parents is called to active military service with any reserve component of the US armed forces or Ohio militia. (See ASHB 119).
3. Amended HB 96-Healy: Exempt estates of military members who died in combat from probate filling fees.
4. HB 167-Dyer: Walter Reed Army Medical Center-transfer our program for Ohioans.
5. HB 294-Celeste: Health Coverage PTSD (to preclude health insures from excluding coverage for PTSD).
6. HB 547-Fende: To require the removal of snow or ice from special parking locations designated for persons with disabilities w/n 24 hrs after the weather conditions causing the snow or ice ceases.
7. SB 248-Austria: Armed forces-privileges and immunities.
8. SB 263-Buehrer: To prohibit a person from using a deceased soldier's persona for a commercial purpose without written consent.
9. SB 284-Boccieri: To exempt from personal income tax grants provided to individuals from the MIRF.
10. SB 297-D. Miller: To prohibit health insurers from excluding coverage for PTSD.
11. SB 298-D. Miller: To prohibit discrimination in health care policies, contracts, & agreements in the coverage provided for the diagnosis & treatment of mental illnesses & substance abuse or addiction conditions.

VETERANS BENEFITS:

1. HB 63-Ujvagi: To grant paid leave to certain state employees so that they may participate in a funeral honors detail at the funeral of a veteran.
2. HB 91-Goyal: To allow US veterans service organizations to register vehicles used solely for participation in organizational activities, exhibitions & parades without the payment of any registration or service fee.
3. HB 122-Ujvagi: Authorized person to obtain one copy of a patient's medical record without charge.
4. HB 189-Ujvagi/McGregor: Military status-prohibit discrimination based on. (Sub HB 372).
5. HB 193-Fessler: Occupational license/certificate-grant renewal-expire during military service.
6. HB 386-Harwood: Military Service/Foreclosure-to prohibit a creditor w/n 18 mos of the person's release from AD from initiating a mortgage foreclosure against a vet who has made a claim for disability benefits and to forgive Ohio court costs for vets seeking damages in an Ohio court for denial of rights.
7. HB 450-Goodwin: Handgun Purchase-permit member of armed services who is between ages of 18 and 21 to purchase a handgun if the person has rec'd firearms training.
8. HB 473-Ujvagi: To permit ODNR to issue electric powered all-purpose vehicle permits to allow mobility impaired persons to hunt in public wildlife areas using elec-powered all-purpose vehs.
9. HB 498-Fessler: To grant annual mil leave of up to 408 hrs to firefighters and those other public employees who do not work a traditional workweek of 40 hrs & to entitle firefighters & these public employees to use such leave to cover an entire work shift any part of which was used to perform mil service.
10. HB 515-Fende: To permit retired and honorable discharged veterans of the armed forces of the US and the Ohio Nat'l Guard to apply for state-issued identification cards & new & renewal driver's licenses without the payment of any fee.
11. SB 85-Boccieri: To allow any active-duty member of the US armed Forces to obtain a free duplicate driver's license following a service-related injury.
12. SB 150-Roberts: Liquor permit holders-accept military I.D./notify of permissible forms of ID.
13. SB 176-Boccieri: Armed forces-private employment rights-Ohio courts hear claims.
14. SB 248-Austria: Armed forces-privileges and immunities.
15. SB 289-Spada: Veterans Affairs-To create a Dept of Veterans Affairs & a Director of Veterans Affairs, create duties for the department and the director and transfer duties of Governor's Office of Veterans Affairs to the department.
16. SB 303-Stivers: To grant annual mil leave of up to 408 hrs to firefighters and those other public employees who do not work a traditional workweek of 40 hrs & to entitle firefighters & these public employees to use such leave to cover an entire work shift any part of which was used to perform mil service.
17. HCR 40-Fessler: To designate 2008 as the "Year of the Veteran."
18. Amended SJR 5-Grendell: Veteran's Compensation-to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan & Iraq Conflicts.

PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS:

1. HB 59-Combs: To defer increases in taxes on residences owned and occupied by individuals age 65 or older.
2. HB 107-Patton: Primary residence taxes certain persons 65 or older may have primary residence taxes frozen.
3. SB 105-Goodman: Extend homestead exemption to homeowners with incomes of $50,000 or less.

STATE INCOME TAX REDUCTIONS:

1. HB 112-Ujvagi/McGregor: To exempt military retirement pay from the personal income tax (See Sub HB 372).
2. HB 433-Zehringer: Income Taxes- to exempt from personal income tax up to $10k in state & federal government retirement benefits for taxable years beginning in 2010.
3. SB 19-Cates: To exempt military retirement pay from the personal income tax.
4. SB 162-Stivers: Income tax exemption-person 65 years old or older-unearned income.
5. SB 191-Coughlin: Income tax exemption-federal government employee/military retirement benefits ($10k over three years for state & fed retirees).

CHANGES TO GOVERNMENT:

1. HB 116-Blessing: Require public employers to make health savings accounts available to public employees.
2. HB 147-Dyer: Require expanded minutes or transcribed records of legislative committee meetings.
3. HB 240-Goodwin: Regarding employment of retired members of PERS, SERS, STRS & OPFPF.
4. Substitute HB 270-Schneider: PERS/OPFPS/STRS/SERS-retiree return to same position-no pension while salaried.
5. HB 270-Schneider: State Retirees-members of State Retirement Sys who retires & then returns to public employment in same position will not receive pension while receiving a salary.
6. HB 316-Seitz: Allow smoking in cigar bars & in outdoor seating areas of restaurants.
7. HB 396-Hottinger & Dodd: Charitable Organizations-to generally authorize BoCC to appropriate funds to tax-exempt 501 ©(3) organizations.
8. Amended HB 404-Hottinger: Viatical Settlements-To make changes to laws governing Viatical settlements where investment firms induce seniors to buy life insurance.
9. HB 420-Brinkman: State Spending-to promote transparency online with respect to state spending on awards, earmarks, state real property mgmt, state agency mgmt, & state program effectiveness.
10. HB 521-Wolpert: Create the Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform & Collaboration to develop recommendations on reforming & restructuring local government in Ohio.
11. HB 534-Adams: Personal income tax-phase out over ten years.
12. SB 3-Faber: Felon forfeit office holding/state pension.
13. SB 108 Schaffer: Prohibit court from granting release to person serving prison term for offense committed while holding office.
14. SB 146-Spada: To create the Office of Internal Auditing and establish the State Audit Committee and to prescribe their respective and interrelated functions.
15. SB 195-Cates: Smoking-permit in walk-in humidors/restaurant outdoor seating areas.
16. SB 246-Sawyer: Classified employees-political activities.
17. SB 258-Kearney: State Purchases-to generally require that state agencies set aside a certain amount of purchases for which only small business enterprises may compete
18. SB 289-Spada: Veterans Affairs-To create a Dept of Veterans Affairs & a Director of Veterans Affairs, create duties for the department and the director and transfer duties of Governor's Office of Veterans Affairs to the department.
19. SB 310-Cates: To make existing laws prohibiting a person who has been convicted of a felony from
holding public office & denying such person other specified privileges applicable upon determination
of the person's guilt
20. SB 312-Fedor: To allow taxpayers to contribute a portion of their income tax refunds to the OVH Agency.
21. SB 316-Padgett: To regulate sales of the US & state of Ohio flags

OPEN MEETINGS LAWS:

1. HB 256-Wagoner: Public Records/Open Meetings Act-Public Access Counselor-advise/receive complaints.

MEMORIAL NAMING OF HIGHWAYS/BRIDGES IN HONOR:

1. HB 31-Fende: To designate SR#2 within the city of Willoughby as the "Brian Montgomery Memorial Highway."
2. HB 32-Fende: Designate portion of SR#44 within Lake County as the "Andy Nowacki Memorial Highway."
3. HB 87-Wachtmann: To designate a bridge on SR 108 over the Maumee River as the "Henry County Veterans Bridge."
4. HB 90-DeGeeter: To designate the portion of I71 located within the city of Middleburg Heights as the "Corporal Brad D. Squires Memorial Highway."
5. HB 146-Garrison: Designate SR 660 in Guernsey County as "Major James W. Reed Memorial Highway."
6. HB 163-Distel: USMC Pvt. Henry Kalinowski Memorial Highway-SR 11.
7. HB 199-Boyd: Ohio Tuskegee Airmen-capital grounds monument CSRAB promote.
8. HB 266-Huffman: Veterans memorials boards of trustees-composition.
9. HB 273-Husted/Beatty: Memorial highway/special license plate omnibus.
10. HB 276-Letson: "Sgt Marco Miller Memorial Interchange"-US Route 442 & State Route 82.
11. HB 277-Letson: "Sgt Robert M. Carr Memorial Interchange" - State Routes 45 & 82.
12. HB 321-Distel: Name Bridge on US Route 20 in Conneaut Creek as "The Ohio Veterans Memorial Bridge."
13. HB 344-Uecker & Brinkman: Designate a portion of I275 within Clermont county as the "Matt Maupin Highway."
14. HB 363-Sayre & Okey: Road Naming-to designate the portion of SR800 w/m Mineral City as the "Sgt Jeremy D. Barnett Memorial Highway."
15. HB 375-Fende: Designate the portion of Interstate Hwy 90 located within municipal cop of Willoughby Hills in Lake County as the "Cpl Joshua Harmon Memorial Highway."
16. HB 394-Bubo & Widener: Designate a portion of US Route 50 located in Clermont County the "LCPL Nicholas B. Erdy Memorial Highway" and to designate SR 334 in Clark county as the "LCPL Kevin S. Smith Memorial Highway."
17. HB 408-Dyer & Chandler: Designate part of I 76 w/n Brimfield Township in Portage County as "The Luke 'Doc' Emch and Matt 'Doc' Conte Corpsmen Memorial Highway."
18. HB 492-Fessler: To designate a portion of SR #66 within Miami County as the "Cpl Samuel F. Pearson Memorial Highway.
19. HB 509-Brady: To designate the portion of Interstate Hwy 90 located within the municipal corporation of Rocky River in Cuyahoga County as "LCPL Danny Scherry Memorial Hwy."
20. SB 34-Padgett: To designate SR 660 in Guernsey County as the "Major James W. Reed Memorial Highway."
21. SB 35-Goodman: Designate Interstate Routes 70 & 71 the "Purple Heart Trail." (Sub HB 372).
22. SB 44-Carey, Jr. J: Dir of Transportation-designate a name for a bridge that is part of the highway system upon request.
23. SB 92-Miller: To designate the portion of I-71 located within the city of Middleburg Heights as the "Corporal Brad D. Squires Memorial Highway."
24. SB 124-Grendell: Designate portions of two highways as memorial highways (LCPL Montgomery & LCPL Nowacki).
25. SB 181-Wilson: "PFC Ralph Dias Memorial Highway"-State Route 344.
26. SB 201-Spada: Designate portion of SR #3 w/n North Royalton as "Corporal Jeffery A. Boskovitch Memorial Highway."
27. SB 235-Cafaro: Designate the interchange of US 422 and SR 82 in the city of Warren as the "Sgt Marco Miller Memorial Interchange."
28. SB 236-Cafaro: Designate the interchange of SR 45 and SR 82 in Champion Township in Trumbull County as the "Sgt Robert M. Carr Memorial Interchange."
29. SB 238-Boccieri: Designate portion of US 62 located in Stark, Columbiana & Mahoning counties as "LCPL Daniel McVicker Memorial Highway."
30. SB 243-Schaffer, T.: U.S.S. Hocking Day-To designate October 22 of year "U.S.S. Hocking Day."
31. SB 262-Sawyer: Designate part of I 76 w/n Brimfield Township in Portage County as "The Luke 'Doc' Emch and Matt 'Doc' Conte Corpsmen Memorial Highway."
32. SB 327-Coughlin: Designate a portion of SR59 in Cuyahoga Falls as "SGT Bryan W. Large Memorial Hwy" and to designate another portion of "SGT Justin T. Walsh Memorial Hwy."
33. SB 328-Buehrer: To designate a bridge on SR 108 over the Maumee River as the Henry County Veterans Bridge.

VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES:

1. HB 12-Fessler: To create "Ohio National Guard Retired" license plates.
2. HB 159-Bubp: To create "Support Our Troops" license plates.
3. HB 273-Husted/Beatty: Memorial highway/special license plate omnibus.
4. HB 325-Gerberry: Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom-service in-special license plate.
5. HB 526-Combs: To create the "Thank you U.S. Military" license plate.
6. Substitute SB 39-Schuler: Create Civil Air Patrol license plates. (See Sub HB 372).
7. SB 82-Stivers: To create "Ohio National Guard Retired license plates.
8. SB 132-Schuring: To authorize the display of combat battle stars on certain special combat or mil license plates. (See Sub HB 372).
9. SB 215-Stivers: Afghanistan/Iraq wars/global war on terrorism-special license plates.

FLAGS:

1. HB 55-McGregor,J.: To designate April 29 of each year "Heritage and Freedom Flag of the Former Republic of Vietnam Day."

HELP FOR POOR PEOPLE:

1. HB 37-Skindell: To designate 21 December as Homeless Persons' Memorial Day.
2. HB 62-Ujvagi: To authorize a BoCC or a board of trustees of a reg'l water & sewer dist to offer discounts on water & sewer rates to persons sixty-five years of age or older.
3. HB 75-Hagan: To require certain employers in this state who do not provide a specified amount of health care coverage to their employees to make contributions to a fund to be used to supplement this state's share of Medicaid costs.
4. HB 186-Skindell: All Ohioans-universal health care coverage.
5. HB 333-Batchelder & Hagan: Checking-cashing loans-restrict/small loan linked deposits/education & counseling.
6. HB 337McGregor&Lundy: Check-Cashing Lender Act-modify/Financial Literacy Education Fund/small loan study.
7. HB 358-Yates: Check Cashing Businesses-to modify the provisions for making a loan.
8. HB 419-Foley: Homeless Intimidation-creates the offense of Homeless person intimidation.
9. HB 530-Hottinger: Personal Finance Education through Treasurer of State administered linked deposit program to encourage personal savings & promote personal financial education.
10. HB 545-Widener: Repeal the Check Cashing Lender Law, to establish the short-term lender law, to authorize depository financial institutions to make short-term loans with special terms.
11. SB 5-Carey: To revise the law governing the PASSPORT, Assisted Living Medicaid waiver, & Residential State Supplement programs.
12. SB 72-Miller: To prohibit check-cashing businesses from making loans to a customer who has an outstanding loan with another licensee, to create a statewide database of open loans at check-cashing licensees, and to change the permitted interest rate, fees, and duration of such loans.
13. SB 115-Stivers: Health insurance-expand dependent coverage.
14. SB 137-Autria: Assault person 70 years old or older-increased penalty.
15. SB 168-Miller D.: Universal health care coverage-all Ohioans.
16. SB 207-Miller R.: Check Cashing Loan Act-modify lending provisions.
17. SB 251-Coughlin: PATH Grant Program-to create the Pilot Accessing to Health grant program and to make an appropriation.
18. SB 281-Seitz: Exempt property values equal to Bankruptcy Code/adjust according to CPI.
19. SB 306-Schuler: Homestead Exemption: To change the definition of "housing cooperative" for purposes of the county homestead tax exemptions and property tax payment link deposit programs for low to moderate income senior citizens and permanently disabled citizens and to expand the definition of a homestead to include settlors of irrevocable inter vivos trusts.
20. SB 308-Spada: Payment late charges-to require certain creditors & utility service providers to
recognize the postmark date as date payment received with respect to late charges.
21. SB 314-Carey: To authorize the Treasurer of State to administer a linked deposit program
designed to encourage personal savings and promote financial education.
22. SB 319-Grendell: Checking-cashing businesses-modify loan-making rules/small loans.

IDENTITY THEFT COUNTERMEASURES:

1. HB 13-Fessler: Prohibit Social Security numbers on motor vehicle registration renewal notices.
2. Substitute HB 46-Stewart: To require a consumer reporting agency to place a security freeze on a consumer's credit report in response to a consumer's request.
3. SB 6-Niehaus: To allow a consumer to place a security freeze on the consumer's credit report.
4. SB 109-Boccieri: Allow consumer to place security freeze on consumer's credit report.
5. SB 263-Buehrer: To prohibit a person from using a deceased soldier's persona for a commercial purpose without written consent.

INCARCERATED VETERANS:

GAMBLING:

1. HB 49-Gibbs: To allow a charitable organization to obtain a short-term license to conduct bingo, instant bingo at a bingo session or instant bingo other than at a bingo session
2. HB 115-Williams: Allow charitable organizations to conduct game of chance at certain food service facilities.
3. HB 474-Yuko: To change the definition of "instant bingo dispenser" & to authorize a charitable organization to purchase, lease & use instant bingo ticket dispensers.
4. HB 513-Huffman: To designate a community development corp. org as a charitable org eligible to be issued a bingo license.
5.HB 514-Adams: Lottery/Keno-to prohibit the State Lottery Com from establishing a lottery game that has more than two announcements of prize winners per day or that is played on a slot machine, including a game of keno.
6. SB 313-Amstutz: To prohibit the State Lottery Commission from establishing a lottery game that has more than two announcements of prize winners per day or that is played on a slot machine, including the game of keno.

FOREIGN POLICY:

1. HB 151-Mandel/Jones: Public investors-companies doing business in Iran-no investments in.
2. HB 308-Domenick, Combs: Immigration Status-impose state income tax at a rate of six % per annum on the compensation of specified independent contractors who fail to verify immigration status.
3. SB 161-Jacobson: Public authorities-no investment in companies doing business in Sudan.
4. SB 260-Cates: Deportation Custody-to provide that a BoCC may direct a sheriff to take custody of persons who are being detained for deportation or who are charged with civil violations of immigration law and to expressly authorize state & local employees & county sheriffs to render assistance to federal immigration officials in the investigation & enforcement of federal immigration law.

**Legislation can be accessed through the state home page on the Internet; the address is http://ohio.gov/government.stm

You can also refer to the Governor's Office of Veterans' Affairs website for additional information about veterans laws; the address is http://veteransaffairs.ohio.gov.