House Bill 315, Township Omnibus Bill, Passes, to be Signed by Governor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2024

House Bill 315, Township Omnibus Bill, Passes, to be Signed by Governor

Columbus, Ohio – Early this morning, House Bill 315 was passed by the General Assembly and sent to Governor DeWine for his signature before the end of the year.

Sponsored by Representatives Thomas Hall (R-Madison Twp.) and Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), HB 315 was introduced at the request of the Ohio Township Association (OTA) and contains 17 township-specific law changes designed to provide townships flexibility to operate more effectively or provide parity to how other local governments operate. Some of the items include the ability to utilize the township's website for public notice requirements, eliminating a requirement to go to the ballot if repairs to fix the township hall exceed $75,000, and clarifying that general fund monies may be used for road repairs.

During the Senate process, additional provisions were added to HB 315, including amending recently passed House Bill 47, which requires Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in active sports locations such as township parks. The amended language now requires AEDs to be placed at sports and recreation locations only during organized youth sports activities, which allows townships the flexibility to store AEDs in a secure and weather-proof location outside of those activity times.

"I am grateful for the General Assembly's consideration, diligent work, and passage of HB 315. Although the House initially did not concur, it proved an opportunity for productive discussions during the conference committee. HB 315 demonstrates our commitment to strengthening and advancing townships throughout the state," said Representative Hall.

Since townships are statutory governments and can only do what the Ohio Revised Code permits or inherently implies, omnibus bills like HB 315 help townships better serve the 35 percent of Ohioans residing in townships.

"We are grateful for Representatives Seitz and Hall, and the General Assembly, for their continued support of Ohio's townships," said OTA Executive Director Heidi M. Fought. "House Bill 315 demonstrates the unique challenges local governments face and the critical role townships play. In most circumstances the changes are not significant but will provide townships the same authority that cities might already have or the flexibility to operate its government more effectively and inexpensively."

If you have any questions, please contact the Ohio Township Association at 614-863-0045.

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The Ohio Township Association is a statewide organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of township government in Ohio. The OTA was founded on June 28, 1928, and is organized in 87 Ohio counties. OTA has more than 5,200 active members, made up of trustees and fiscal officers from Ohio’s 1,308 townships, and more than 3,000 affiliate and associate members.