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APRIL 19, 2024 REPORT #8

OHBA SUMMER BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

Save the date for June 25-26, 2024 for OHBA’s Summer Board of Trustees Meeting.  This meeting will be held in Cleveland at the Renaissance Hotel and detailed information has been sent out.  Some of the highlights:

Tue, June 25th 1:00-3:00 p.m. combined government affairs meeting

    4:00-10:00 p.m. tour of Little Italy, dinner & drinks for $75 (must RSVP for this event)

Wed, June 26th 8:00-9:30 a.m. Executive Committee Breakfast meeting and Board of Trustees at 9:30-11:00 a.m. 

      1:30 p.m. a tour of Playhouse Square will be offered if enough is interested and you must sign-up for this event as well.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Senate Select Committee on Housing Releases Report and Initial Recommendations; House Proposal Shared

This week included the release of housing proposals from both the Ohio Senate and the House of Representatives. Following months of hearings around the State and discussion with stakeholders, the Senate Committee Chairwoman, Michelle Reynolds, released the committee’s report and helped introduce four pieces of legislation. The links to the report and the Senate bills are below. A brief description of each of the bills includes:

· Report

· SB 243 would declare the GA's intent to enact legislation addressing local zoning regulations that impede housing development.

· SB 244 would authorize local governments to create residential stability zones where homeowners may qualify for a partial property tax exemption.

· SB 245 would revise laws governing eviction, real estate representation agreements, residential building code enforcement, and real property transfers.

· SB 246 would rename the Department of Development as the Department of Housing & Development.

While the Senate offers a wide array of ideas in its 23 recommendations, OHBA commends the Committee for including areas focused on the land development process and increasing both the supply of lots and new homes. As the Senate continues to work on these proposals, OHBA will be very involved and continue urging the Senate to address impediments in the land development process: development standards, referenda, and lengthy time frames for review, to name a few.

For those involved in the land development process, please reach out ASAP to your respective Senate and House Members to make them aware of the lengthy, often unpredictable nature of land development in Ohio.

The House also released a housing proposal this week trying to incentivize municipalities to adopt pro-housing policies through an annual housing fund sourced by the elimination of non-business credits given to owners of multiple properties as individual homeowners irrespective of owner occupancy. Further tax abatements near mega development projects are also included in the proposal.

OHBA has been in contact with the sponsors, and emphasized the need to put more specific standards/goals in place, as well as, include solutions to help address the shortage of developed lots. A copy of the House draft has been attached for review here.

LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

Two other pieces of legislation OHBA has been tracking include HB 203 Contractor Payments and HB 466 Real Estate Transactions. HB 203 Construction Projects Roemer, B. Sweeney, B. To require owners of private construction projects to timely pay contractors. HB 203 Requires private owners of construction projects to pay contractors within 30 days after receiving a request for payment except that, if the plans require government approval, payment is required no sooner than 30 days after work is certified as compliant with architectural or engineering standards.

It would also apply 18% annual interest to payments not timely made. While residential construction (1,2,3-family) remains exempt, OHBA is working with the sponsor for explanation on application to multi-family projects and smaller commercial projects. We are waiting to hear back on questions related to sections of the Revised Code in place for public projects allowing agreed upon terms beyond the 30 days. HB 466 Real Estate Transactions Schmidt, J. Brennan, S.

To require a written agency agreement for a licensed broker to represent a buyer or seller in a real estate transaction. A brief analysis of HB 466 can be found here.

Feel free to contact OHBA with any questions or comments at 614-228-6647 or build@ohiohba.com.