State Biennial Budget
The budget bill, House Bill 66 (Calvert-R Medina) on April 12th and is currently being considered by the Senate Finance Committee. The current substitute bill contains substantial cuts to local government funds and state agencies, including ODNR and ODA. Committee hearings are expected to continue until the end of May. A floor vote is expected in June.

Historic Investment Tax Credit
Senator Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) is attempting to get the State Historic Investment Tax Credit bill (SB60) inserted into the budget bill as an amendment. This legislation would link new state tax credits for rehabilitation of historic commercial and residential properties with an existing federal incentive to revitalize central business districts.

Transfer of Development Rights
Legislation is currently being drafted to authorize the transfer of development rights within townships and counties, and between townships, counties and municipalities. Due to the budget process, the TDR bill will probably not be ready for introduction until after summer recess. Several legislators have expressed interest in carrying the bill, but a definite sponsor has not yet been selected.

Impact Fees
Representative Petersen (R-Delaware) has drafted legislation to enable townships, counties and school districts to exact impact fees on new development for the resultant expenses of capital improvements to roads and schools. He plans to introduce the bill before summer recess.

Ohio Program Updates

Ohio Agricultural Easement Purchase Program
The 4th round of AEPP closed on March 31st. The Ohio Department of Agriculture received 168 applications through its new web-based application. The program will preserve 16 farms from 10 counties using $3.1 million from the Clean Ohio Fund. Counties receiving funds include: Madison, Preble, Clark, Fulton, Knox, Greene, Portage, Wayne, Seneca and Warren. ODA anticipates preserving an additional 10 farms from four additional counties using $1.7 million from the federal Farm and Ranchland Protection Program. Official word on those additional farms will be made available later this month.

Ohio Agricultural Security Area Program
House Bill 414 (Core-R Rushsylvania), which enables the creation of voluntary acre Agricultural Security Areas, was signed into law in February and took effect on May 18th. The program offers protection from non-agricultural development and possible tax incentives to landowners of 500+ acres of contiguous farmland who agree to enroll in an ASA for 10 years. The program application will be officially released by ODA next week. It will be made available to county and township offices, and posted to this listserv.