Introduction
The lame duck session is in full gear as the Ohio legislative session ends at the end of this month. While the legislature is deciding on what bills to send to governor for action, the newly elected statewide officials, including Governor-elect Mike DeWine, have started to name cabinet members and key staff. CEA and our legislative team continue to advocate our positions at the Statehouse.
Lame Duck Activity
Public Private Partnership Legislation
HB 668 (Patton) was introduced and has had three hearings in the House Higher Education and Workforce Committee. The bill would authorize state agencies, state institutions of higher education, counties, townships, municipal corporations, school districts, community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools to enter into public-private initiatives with a private party through a public-private agreement regarding public facilities. Because of the uncertainty on how this bill would impact current construction law, including questions about prevailing wage, CEA has been talking the sponsor and committee members with the hope the bill will not pass this session and we can continue to have a dialogue on the issue next session.
Prevailing Wage
SB 72 received a first hearing on November 27th. The bill, sponsored by Senator Matt Huffman, would allow political subdivisions to use their discretion in applying prevailing wage. CEA obviously opposes this legislation and we have made our position known to Senators. It is highly unlikely this bill will pass before the end of the session but we anticipate it will be reintroduced next year.
Misc. Legislation
Some of the other issues CEA is involved with during these final weeks of session include advocating to keep port authority competitive bid thresholds at levels in current law, advocating for current law protections for competitive bidding and construction for third party administrators within state construction, and opposing new programs (HB 551 Perales) that would allow minor workers on job sites. CEA has also worked to maintain current law and exemptions for contractors doing interior work in proposed HB 504 Interior Design (Pelanda).
Next General Assembly - 133rd
Two of Four Legislative Leadership Teams Have Been Announced
Senate Republicans Leadership Team:
Larry Obhof (Medina) - Senate President
Sen. Bob Peterson (Sabina) - President Pro Tempore
Sen. Randy Gardner (Bowling Green) - Majority Floor Leader
Sen. Matt Huffman (Lima) - Majority Whip
House Democrat Leadership Team:
Fred Strahorn (Dayton) - Minority Leader
Rep. Emilia Sykes (Akron) - Minority Leader
Rep. Brigid Kelly (Cincinnati) - Minority Whip
Rep. Kent Smith (Euclid) - Assistant Minority Whip
The Ohio Senate Democrats and Ohio House Republicans have yet to name their leadership teams.
DeWine Starts to Name Key Staff
Governor Elect DeWine has started to name key officials to serve within the administration. Here are some of those that have been announced.
Laurel Dawson – Chief of Staff
Mary Mertz - Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Alisha Nelson - Director, RecoveryOhio (Opioid issue)
Major General John Harris - Adjutant general
Ann O’Donnell - Chief Adviser
Ervan Rogers - Chief Information Officer
LeeAnne Cornyn - Director of Children’s Initiatives
