ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) is now accepting student applications for the Diversity and Inclusion Technology Internship Program, which provides an opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience while contributing to cutting-edge technology companies. The program offers paid internships to current college students with a variety of backgrounds and majors. For more information and to apply, visit TechIntern.Development.Ohio.Gov.
The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) announced Wednesday it recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia (CCIS), strengthening economic and trading relations between Ohio and the country. This follows "significant importing and exporting growth over the past few years," according to DOD. "Through this agreement, Ohio and Serbia forge a powerful partnership, united by the shared vision of driving economic growth and prosperity," DOD Director Lydia Mihalik said. "This collaborative commitment paves the way for innovation, trade, and mutual benefit, as we harness the strength of our regions to create a vibrant and prosperous future."
JUDICIAL
The Ohio Supreme Court opened public comment Tuesday on proposed changes to its Rules of Practice and Procedure, an annual rules package that in recent years has drawn pushback from the Legislature. The latest amendments would expand the classes of defendants eligible to reopen their appeal by claiming ineffective assistance of counsel and would impose new limits on how long an officer could take to file a formal complaint after an arrest and how long a court could delay before a defendant's probable cause review and first appearance, among other changes.
TAXATION
Property tax relief bill HB197 (Hall-Bird) now includes language to modify how Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) is calculated for farmland. The House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday unanimously accepted AM1092, which changes the CAUV process for farmland in counties that undergo a property tax reappraisal or triennial update in 2023, 2024 or 2025. Under the amendment, the farmland's CAUV "must equal the average of the value calculated for that tax year and the values that would have been assigned if the land were in a county that underwent a reappraisal or update in each of the preceding two years."
Reps. Thomas Hall (R-Middletown) and Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) announced introduction Tuesday of legislation to freeze property taxes for Ohioans 70 years and up who earn less than $70,000 per year, saying relief is needed to help seniors stay in their homes amid drastic valuations in home prices and tax valuations.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Gov. Mike DeWine announced Friday that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's Workforce Safety Innovation Center has awarded $5 million in grants to four major research institutions. Ohio State University, Kent State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital's Research Institute are receiving one award each and the University of Cincinnati two awards in the grant's second round.
WORKFORCE
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced Thursday that 430 employers were approved for funding in the July round of TechCred, which will enable Ohioans to earn 4,961 tech-focused credentials. It was the 21st round of the program, and the next one is currently open until Friday, Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. Top industries receiving awards in July included manufacturing, construction, and transportation and warehousing services.
This feature was provided by Hannah New Service and selected for you by OSCPA Government Relations Staff.