Bipartisan legislation What’s passed

Major bills that have passed the Legislature in recent weeks with bipartisan support included:

SB 294: Environmental Protection Agency omnibus that aims to protect the environment while easing regulatory burdens on businesses.

SB 305: Outlaws hidden compartments in motor vehicles used by traffickers to transport illegal drugs.

SB 310: Limits and regulations on the private ownership of dangerous wild animals.

SB 315: Energy bill, including policy related to the state’s emerging fracking industry.

SB 316: Education policy changes, including a third-grade reading guarantee and increased opportunities for students to consider career options at younger ages.

SB 337: Reforms criminal sentencing provisions, specifically so-called “collateral sanctions” to allow rehabilitated Ohioans to find gainful employment despite past convictions.

HB 262: Increased criminal penalties for perpetrators of human trafficking and increased outreach to victims of the crime.

HB 386: Gaming-related legislation that includes law changes related to state-run video slots at horse racing tracks and a moratorium on sweepstakes parlors and Internet cafes.

HB 473: Great Lakes Compact-related water usage limits.

HB 487: Midbiennium budget bill, lengthy legislation aimed at reducing government spending and modernizing outdated public policy.

HB 490: Improves various services for the state’s veterans and their families.

HB 508: An update of the state’s tax laws.

Source: State officials