Rules governing foster caregiver training, the sale of liquor to go, and a ban on taxing plastic bags and other single-use containers are just some of the new laws effective in 2021.
Although the 133rd General Assembly passed many laws in its 2019-2020 session, the laws mentioned here take effect throughout 2021. The information was compiled from the Ohio Secretary of State's website, with analysis provided by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
House Bill 669, effective Oct. 13, 2021, changes the rules regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages. The bill allows the sale and delivery of beer and intoxicating liquor by qualifying retail permit holders to personal consumers, if the consumer also purchases a meal. The bill expands alcohol sales to certain outdoor sales and parking lots, which expires on Dec. 31, 2022. Primary co-sponsors were Reps. D.J. Swearingen and Jeff LaRue. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14598&format=pdf).
House Bill 242, effective Jan. 15, changes the rules regarding auxiliary containers, or single-use packaging, like plastic or paper bags and bottles. The new rule places a 12-month ban on the ability of local governing bodies to levy a tax, fee or other charge on the sale, use or consumption of auxiliary containers. It also rules that existing state anti-littering laws apply to such containers. Primary sponsors were Reps. George F. Lang and Don Jones. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14605&format=pdf).
House Bill 8, effective Jan. 22, changes the rules regarding foster caregiver training. Overall, it places the Department of Job and Family Services over some of the foster training process, and specifies 20% of the training can be conducted online. It also eliminates the statutory minimum continuing training hours for family foster homes, charging the ODJFS with establishing those rules. Chief co-sponsors were Reps. Susan Manchester and Tavia Galonski. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14567&format=pdf)
House Bill 17, effective Jan. 15, allows an enhanced homestead exemption for surviving spouses of public safety personnel killed in the line of duty. The law exempts $50,000 of the home’s appraised value or cost from property taxation or the manufactured home tax. It also exempts such a widow or widower from the income means test, currently $33,600 in modified adjusted gross income and reimburses local taxing units for the resulting reduction in taxes in the same manner as other homestead exemptions. The primary sponsor was Rep. Timothy Ginter. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14606&format=pdf).
House Bill 339, effective Jan. 1, is known as the "Insurance Code Correction Act," and lengthens the amount of time a life insurance policy may be backdated from three to six months. Further, it establishes that regional councils of governments are not considered to be in the insurance business if they provide benefits to council members' officers, employees and dependents. Rep. Derek Merrin was primary sponsor. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14590&format=pdf).
House Bill 341, effective Dec. 16, 2021, revises the rules surrounding anti-addiction drugs. Specifically, the new rule lets pharmacists administer injections of anti-addiction drugs, as long as a physician prescribes them. Further, it lifts the licensure requirement for office-based opioid treatment facilities where addiction treatment drugs are administered only on-site and directly by prescribers. The primary sponsor was Rep. Timothy Ginter. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14524&format=pdf).
House Bill 364, effective Jan. 15, establishes Feb. 13 as Aortic Aneurysm Awareness Day. Rep. Gayle Manning served as the primary sponsor. (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/download?key=14471&format=pdf).
