Ohio transportation funding bill moves to Senate

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House moved a biennial transportation budget today, outlining more than $7 billion in spending at related agencies.

HB 53 passed on a vote of 97-0 and heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration. The latter has already started hearings on the bill, which will be passed in coming weeks.

The legislation is the first of several biennial budget bills and is separate from the larger two-year spending plan covering most of the rest of state government.

Among other changes, the House removed language from HB 53 that would have increased education and testing requirements for Ohioans 18 or older to obtain their first driver’s licenses, behind-the-wheel instruction for those younger than 18, and restrictions for probationary license holders.