A summary of Ohio's legislative news for the week ending May 16, 2025.
ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told reporters Wednesday that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's meeting with state leaders Tuesday reflected his support for the Browns' stadium project but "I don't think just because he was here that that stimulated some move towards any particular issue." According to media reports, Goodell met with Gov. Mike DeWine, Browns' owners and state lawmakers. Huffman further noted that in other stadium improvement projects, there is "a much higher percentage, ultimately, of public money that is being spent," and that it is unusual for the owners to spend $2.2 billion of their own money as well. He also said that "the state is ultimately going to be making money, even under conservative estimates ... it's a good deal for the state."
AUDITOR OF STATE
Auditor of State Keith Faber Tuesday released a special audit his office conducted into the theft of $2.3 million in Columbus Zoo resources by former employees. The multi-agency investigation was launched after a March 2021 Columbus Dispatch report found improper use of zoo assets by President and CEO Tom Stalf and former chief financial officer Greg Bell. The pair resigned from their positions following that report and a subsequent investigation ordered by the zoo's board of directors. Last April, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also announced his office's Charitable Law Section had opened an investigation into the matter. The investigation ultimately determined Stalf, Bell, and three others had used zoo funds for vacations, vehicles, concerts, sporting events, and other acts of personal enrichment between 2011 and 2021. Faber released the report during a press conference with Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa A. Schiffel and current Columbus Zoo President and CEO Tom Schmid at the zoo.
BALLOT ISSUES
Attorney General Dave Yost on Friday accepted the petition title and summary of a proposed constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes in Ohio. The amendment, "Abolishment of Taxes on Real Property," would add a Section 14 to Article XII of the Ohio Constitution. "Having carefully examined this submission, I conclude that the title and summary are fair and truthful statements of the proposed constitutional amendment," Yost wrote in a response letter sent to the petitioners.
Backers of a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the collection of property taxes in Ohio were cleared to begin collecting signatures Wednesday after the Ohio Ballot Board decided the issue is one amendment. Timberlake Mayor John Marra, representing the committee, told the board that the proposed amendment has one clear, unified objection - to eliminate the taxation of real property in Ohio. He said it is focused, concise and does not contain any unrelated provisions.
FY26-27 PROPOSED BUDGET
Periodic agreement on topics from career awareness and exploration funding to the Educational Savings Account (ESA) provision added to HB96 (Stewart) by the House to the cap on school districts' funding reserves punctuated the mélange of opinions on Ohio's education needs among groups including the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Ohio Excels, Buckeye Institute and the Ohio Federation of Teachers during budget testimony before the Senate Education Committee on Monday. In addition, Michelle Francis of the Ohio Library Council (OLC) asked the Senate to restore Gov. DeWine's proposal to set the Public Library Fund (PLF) percentage at 1.75% of the General Revenue Fund (GRF), as opposed to the House provision turning PLF funding into a line item. Francis said the House proposal reduces state funding for Ohio's public libraries by more than $90 million over the biennium as compared to DeWine's proposal.
Following accelerating progress in plugging abandoned orphan wells throughout Ohio, a new fund created in HB96 (Stewart) could slow the state's efforts due to resulting administrative processing time under the proposed FY26-27 budget. HB96 creates the Oil and Gas Resolution and Remediation Fund (OGRRF) as a custodial fund to be used to fund the state's efforts to plug orphan wells. Appropriations to the fund would include the amount of money in the existing Oil and Gas Well Fund (Fund 5180) that is in excess of the total amount appropriated to that fund for that fiscal year. Fund 5180 contains oil and gas severance taxes collected by the state from persons or firms that extract certain natural resources within Ohio as well as certain fines, permitting and waste disposal fees. Under budget bill 134-HB110 (Oelslager), all money in Fund 5180 was temporarily required to be used for the state's orphan well plugging efforts and land restoration.
Provisions in the House-passed budget, HB96 (Stewart), would establish new workforce development efforts within the Ohio Department of Development (DOD) and Department of Higher Education (ODHE), as well as new funding for the Ohio Oil and Gas Career Jumpstart Program at three career centers. As part of the Individual Microcredential Assistance Program (IMAP) within DOD, the House budget would create an "Institutional Platinum Provider Program" (IPPP) for state institutions of higher education under which they could receive advance payment to train individuals earning microcredentials. It further raises the total advance payment or reimbursement amount an IPPP participant can receive from $500,000 to $1 million. There would also be a "Platinum Provider Program" for technical centers, state institutions of higher education, and private businesses or institutions participating in IMAP under which eligible participants could receive one or more advance payments to train individuals to earn a microcredential.
EDUCATION
The State Board of Education Monday reviewed the paths out-of-state applicants can take to obtain a teaching license in Ohio, heard a call to give more attention to the computer science teacher pipeline and discussed members' objections to budget language that would shrink the body and eliminate elected representation. Superintendent Paul Craft and Curtis Hewitt, associate director in the Office of Licensure and Educator Effectiveness, provided an overview of how the board handles licensure applications from out-of-state individuals. Craft said out-of-state applicants generally end up with one of three licenses: a two-year resident educator license; a five-year professional license; or the one-year out-of-state license.
Parma Education Association member Jeff Wensing was elected to a three-year term as Ohio Education Association (OEA) president recently at OEA's Representative Assembly. Sylvania Education Association member Dan Greenberg was elected to a three-year term as vice president. Both will take office on July 15, 2025.
As the Legislature continues work on FY26-27 budget bill HB96 (Stewart), the Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) is not only providing input on the upcoming budget but also continuing its work on initiatives in the current operating budget 135-HB33 (Edwards). Jeremy Varner, DEW deputy director of workforce readiness and career-technical education (CTE), told attendees at the department's bimonthly public meeting on Thursday that the $300 million included in HB33 is already showing results. Those funds were designated largely to establish or expand CTE programs throughout the state, and Varner said the state has seen an enrollment increase of 10% in CTE programs over the last four years.
ELECTIONS 2026
In a near unanimous vote taken behind closed doors, the Ohio Republican Party voted Friday to endorse Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and Jon Husted for U.S. Senate, making the move nearly a year ahead of the May 5, 2026 primary. Held in Columbus, the meeting of the party's State Central Committee went into executive session to discuss and vote whether to issue the endorsements. According to party rules, two-thirds of the committee must vote in favor of issuing an endorsement in order to endorse in a race that does not involve an incumbent.
Attorney General Dave Yost recently announced the publishing of his new book. He said that the book will "tell you who I am, and how I got that way ... and more than a little about how I think about freedom, accountability and government." Stand: An Ohio Life is "a memoir that comes directly and honestly from Yost's heart, a testament to his journey of growing faith and humanity that shapes enduring values, such as fighting the abuse of power, embracing the dignity and responsibility of the individual, and allowing free speech and the free exercise of religion," according to the book's description.
The following endorsements were made over the week:
The congressional campaign of Republican Kevin Coughlin announced the endorsements of Auditor of State Keith Faber, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Novelty) and U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Amelia).
Former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton's gubernatorial campaign announced Wednesday that Shelby Foster has been hired as campaign finance director. Foster most recently ran the campaign finance operation for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford, who won her campaign earlier this year. According to Acton's campaign, Foster's team raised $24 million, which set a new record for a judicial candidate in the United States.
ENERGY/UTILITIES
One regulatory norm the General Assembly did not address in energy reset HB15 (Klopfenstein) is the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) continued practice of allowing electric companies to meet with agency staff and "independent" auditors to vet draft audits of their financials, as was the case with Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC) before HB15 repealed its ratepayer subsidies. Commissioners have defended the need to screen confidential information, factual errors, calculated figures and typos in audits, which may be performed by commission staff or outside accountants, but not findings that are "merit-based." The Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) says PUCO has been doing that very thing, however, and for a long time, including London Economic Institute's (LEI) draft audit finding of OVEC that was deleted at staff's request but originally stated the following: "Keeping the plants running does not seem to be in the best interests of the ratepayers," LEI's chief economist had concluded. "The OVEC plants cost customers more than the cost of energy and capacity that could be bought on the PJM wholesale markets."
Legislation that supporters call a "21st century energy policy" for Ohio was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday during a HB15 (Klopfenstein) signing ceremony at the governor's residence. The final version of the bill passed the Senate 33-0, and the House concurred with the upper chamber's amendments by a vote of 94-2. (See The Hannah Report, 4/30/25.) Among other provisions, the law aims to increase Ohio's power supply by prioritizing baseload power projects.
Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy advised the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) recently that it could be in violation of state law if it does not weigh the negative as well as positive economic impacts in approving electric generation facilities for construction. Kennedy issues the warning in a partial dissent from the Ohio Supreme Court's In re Application of Harvey Solar I, LLC opinion upholding OPSB's 2022 decision to clear 2,610 acres of farmland for Open Road Renewables' construction of one million photovoltaic panels 25 miles northeast of Columbus' I-270. The decision, led by Justice R. Patrick DeWine, could be instructive when the Court issues its pending opinion In the Matter of the Application of Kingwood Solar I, LLC, which chronicles a Greene County solar farm proposed for the governor's "back yard," as he put it.
ENVIRONMENT
The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) has issued $24 million in financing to support clean air improvements for 2443 Auburn LLC, a housing development in Cincinnati's historic district. This urban infill project, led by Uptown Rental Properties LLC, will introduce high-efficiency building upgrades designed to lower energy costs for residents while reducing emissions. The financial assistance is provided through OAQDA's Clean Air Improvement Program (CAIP).
GAMING/GAMBLING
Ohioans would have many more online gambling options under legislation proposed by Sen. Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville). The bill, SB197 (Manning), would legalize online casino gambling and iLottery products. It would also clarify the legality of online pari-mutuel betting on horse racing and make several changes to the sports gambling law. Manning provided sponsor testimony on SB197 before the newly-created Senate Select Committee on Gaming on Wednesday, noting the 701-page bill has been in the works for two years.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) lost all his committee assignments Tuesday, including as chair and member of the House Agriculture Committee. Creech was also removed as member of the House Commerce and Labor Committee, House Local Government Committee and House Public Safety Committee, according to the Tuesday House Journal. House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) declined to take questions on the matter during a press conference with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis regarding congressional term limits Tuesday. However, the Dayton Daily News reported Tuesday afternoon that Creech was the subject of an investigation about alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor that ended with no criminal changes but did mention concerns about his behavior.
Creech's removal set off a shuffling of other committee posts. Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport) is now chair of the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) moved up from vice chair to chair on the House Natural Resources Committee, which Jones had led. Rep. Tex Fischer (R-Youngstown) succeeds Robb Blasdel as natural resource vice chair. Fischer was appointed to replace Creech on the House Commerce and Labor Committee but removed from the House General Government Committee. Rep. Jeff LaRe (R-Canal Winchester) was appointed as member and vice chair of general government but removed from the House Financial Institutions Committee.
Huffman addressed the Creech saga Wednesday, saying he received the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) file and was briefed on it earlier this month, and earlier this week met with Creech to suggest he resign. He said he did not think Creech could effectively do his job with these allegations in the public sphere.
The Buckeye State should join the Sunshine State in calling for a convention of states to impose term limits on members of Congress, House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse on Tuesday. The current structure of Congress creates perverse incentives for U.S. representatives and U.S. senators, said DeSantis, who served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before becoming governor.
The House Public Safety Committee heard not one, not two, but three pieces of dog legislation Tuesday with the promise of a fourth -- statutory changes typically spurring numerous Ohioans to come forward with stories of dangerous canine attacks and, conversely, an equally impassioned defense of breeds they regard as misunderstood. The committee took sponsor testimony on HB240 (Lawson-Rowe-C. Thomas), HB241 (C. Thomas-Lawson-Rowe) and HB247 (K. Miller) -- hearings in which Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) announced he had been working on the subject with a Montgomery County task force and hoped to complete his own legislation by the end of the day.
Business, local government, property and reentry groups all expressed their support Tuesday for the creation of special housing development districts around major business sites as proposed in SB184 (Reynolds). The Senate Housing Committee took testimony on the bill, sponsored by Chair Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester), who said she'd convened an interested party meeting on the legislation Monday, drawing several dozen stakeholders. The legislation would create residential economic development districts (REDDs) within a 20-mile radius of major economic development projects involving at least $700 million in investment. Jurisdictions within that radius could apply for grants to support housing development if they can demonstrate they have pro-housing policies in place, such as streamlined and expedited permitting or zoning that allows greater density, among others.
Wednesday’s House session included passage of HB184 (Stewart-T. Mathews), which would bar name, image and likeness (NIL) deals from extending past a college athlete’s intercollegiate eligibility; SCR5 (Koehler), urging the federal government to support Ohio’s Medicaid work requirements waiver request; HB144 (Click-Lorenz), which would expand who is eligible for inclusion in the communication disability database maintained by the Ohio Department of Public Safety; and road naming bills HB56 (Ray) and HB228 (Williams-Rogers).
Wednesday’s Senate session included passage of SB158 (Timken), to generally prohibit student cell phone use during the school day; SB63 (Gavarone-DeMora), to bar ranked choice voting; road naming bill SB95 (Reynolds-Craig); and SR22 (Schaffer), urging federal action to reduce processing time for veterans’ disability benefit claims.
In other action, the House Children and Human Services Committee reported out HB2 (Johnson) to establish the child care cred program; and HB41 (A. White-Roemer) to establish the child care grant programs; House Education Committee reported out HB114 (Bird-Ritter) regarding kindergarten admission age requirements; and HB127 (A. Mathews-Odioso) regarding school directories; the House General Government Committee reported out SB21 (Brenner-Reineke) designating Rutherford B. Hayes Day; the House Government Oversight Committee reported out HB29 (Humphrey-John) dealing with feminine hygiene products in correctional facilities; and HCR6 (J. Miller-Holmes) encouraging America 250-Ohio efforts; the House Public Safety Committee reported out HB44 (J. Miller-K. Miller) dealing with law enforcement hiring; the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee reported out HB95 (A. White-Stewart) dealing with the Ohio Veterans Educational Council; and HB98 (Santucci-Williams) to establish the community connectors workforce program.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
The growing number of retail intravenous (IV) therapy clinics is raising patient safety concerns for state regulators with the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO), Ohio Board of Pharmacy (OBP) and Ohio Board of Nursing (OBN). Retail IV therapy clinics have proliferated across Ohio, often offering the administration of pre-selected IV fluid "cocktails" that include a mix of saline, vitamins, prescription drugs, and amino acids. These services claim to address dehydration, ease migraines and enhance athletic recovery. In a joint statement on the matter, the boards are emphasizing that such IV therapy is a medical practice requiring licensed professionals and compliance with Ohio laws and regulations.
The Ohio Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council recently released a new Notice of Funds Available for projects dedicated to improving access to services and supports for underserved families. The Outreach Committee of the council is seeking applications to address gaps in services for individuals with developmental disabilities and families from marginalized communities. Multiple awards -- in the range of $20,000 to $90,000 -- will be made available for this project.
HIGHER EDUCATION
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Ohio recently sent a letter to the presidents of Ohio's public colleges and universities, encouraging them to avoid "unintentional complicity in President Trump's inhumane and unlawful immigration policies…We urge leadership at Ohio's public colleges and universities to protect the safety and legal rights of their international students from government overreach," ACLU of Ohio Legal Director Freda Levenson said. "We have seen the federal government manipulate universities into carrying out their unlawful immigration enforcement by suddenly and without notice terminating thousands of international students' statuses across the state. Ohio's educational institutions have no duty to act as an enforcer of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and doing so undermines the integrity of these institutions."
Miami University (MU) recently named Chris Makaroff, former dean of its College of Arts and Science (CAS), interim provost while the university undergoes a national search to permanently fill the role.
Makaroff replaces Elizabeth Mullenix, who announced earlier she would step down as provost and executive vice president to return to teaching in the College of Creative Arts, according to the university.
Makaroff has 35 years of experience holding roles as educator and administrator at MU. He joined the university in 1989 as an assistant professor before becoming dean of CAS in 2015. He served in the position until 2024.
Central State University (CSU) recently named Shuna McMichael as the new assistant vice president for sponsored programs administration effective the beginning of June, according to the university. As a certified research administrator, McMichael has held roles in interdisciplinary research environments throughout the Southern California region, with expertise in supporting research growth at predominantly undergraduate institutions. Her career has involved research leadership, operations, regulatory compliance and administrative oversight, and she has more than two decades of experience in establishing, leading and managing dynamic research enterprises, CSU said.
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) recently announced a public-private partnership with GRP|WEGMAN, which the university says will provide "clean solar power to the university at the most competitive market price" and will deliver Ohio's largest onsite campus solar initiative, according to a statement released by the university. The project will make OWU a leader among Ohio's universities in carbon reduction, delivering over 82% reduction in carbon emissions associated with electrical power consumption on campus. The project is the "most ambitious carbon reduction and onsite solar energy project in Ohio higher education history," the university says.
Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) raised over $50 million in three months to fund its new fine arts infused John Milligan Library, according to a statement released by the university. OWU graduates and trustees John Milligan and Kathryn Bradford Milligan invested $20 million in the library project, making it the largest gift in OWU's history.
JUDICIAL
Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy addressed the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) at its annual meeting at the Statehouse Tuesday, sharing how increasing civility and public service through the practice of law are among her top priorities. She noted the court recently convened a "civility symposium" at the request of law school deans around the state, saying one of the takeaways for her was "finding our own pathway to civility" among lawyers. That can include meeting with opposing counsel for lunch or dinner after a case, Kennedy continued.
The Ohio Supreme Court is proposing amendments to the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio on "Judicial Duties and Responsibilities" that among many other changes would hold administrative judges responsible for court compliance with the Ohio Constitution, Ohio Revised Code and Supreme Court rules. Administrative judges for multi-judge courts or divisions, on the other hand, would have "no authority" over individual judges' personal, fiduciary or confidential staff, "except in instances where budgetary, operational or professional conduct affecting the court or division as a whole compel the intervention of the administrative judge," proposed Rule 4.02(A) states. Proposed amendments can be found HERE.
NATO PARLIATMENTARY ASSEMBLY
Downtown Dayton is scheduled to host the spring session of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly from Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26. It is expected to bring approximately 1,000 people to the event including approximately 300 parliamentarians from the 32 NATO countries their families and staff, U.S. officials, guest speakers and other staff. There will be several public cultural events around Dayton, some of which commemorate the connection between Dayton and Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dayton Peace Accords, signed in 1995 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, ended the Bosnian War Civil War. These events include the following:
- "Think Freedom," an art project based in Sarajevo which will be shown from Monday, May 19 to Friday, June 6 in the Rotunda of the Dayton Arcade, 31 S. Main St.
- "The Dayton Dialogue: Conversations about Peace and Security in The Balkans," which will be held from Thursday-Sunday, May 22-25 at the University of Dayton, Roger Glass Center for the Arts. This event includes a series of panels, with details and speakers for several of them yet to be announced. Tickets will be required and provided on a first come, first served basis though they are free.
- "Dayton Around the World" exhibit will run from Tuesday-Thursday, May 27-29 at the Old Montgomery County Courthouse, 41 N. Perry St.
- A "Concert for Peace" will be performed by the Dayton and Sarajevo Philharmonic orchestras at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 29 at the Schuster Center, 1. W. 2nd St. Marin Alsop will conduct. Additional details on each event are available HERE.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently awarded grants to public safety efforts by land and by sea through separate Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grant and Marine Patrol Assistance Grant Programs. The ODNR Division of Forestry approved grant funding for 90 projects totaling more than $562,000 for fire departments in rural areas through the VFA Grant Program.
PENSIONS
The recently hired governance advisor to State Teacher Retirement System (STRS) trustees unveiled Thursday an initial list of about 20 areas flagged as problems in trustee and staff questionnaires. Meanwhile, trustees went in and out of closed-door executive session discussions related to personnel throughout the day.
PEOPLE
The public is invited to a bill signing ceremony for legislation that honors former Speaker Jo Ann Davidson. Gov. Mike DeWine is scheduled to sign SB14 (Reynolds) on Monday, May 19, at 1 p.m. in his ceremonial office at the Statehouse, according to the office of bill sponsor Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). The bill designates Sept. 28 as Jo Ann Davidson Day in Ohio, recognizing Davidson's "pioneering leadership and legacy.”
POLITICS
The Ohio Democratic Party is expected to meet next month to select a replacement for Liz Walters, who announced that she is resigning next month to take a job with a Washington, D.C.-based analytics firm. Sen. Bill DeMora (D-Columbus), a long-time party operative who has run campaigns and has served as executive director of the party, is among the candidates for the chair's position. Also announcing a bid is Tamie Wilson, who has unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) for several cycles. She said on X/Twitter that she believes it is time "for leadership that sees the full potential of our party, our state, and activates it." They join former Rep. Kathleen Clyde in making public their candidacies. Cuyahoga County Democratic Party Chair David Brock is also reportedly seeking the role of state chair.
TAXATION
Abolishing the property tax is a "terrible idea," according to Greg Lawson of the conservative-leaning Buckeye Institute. The Ohio Ballot Board on Wednesday certified that proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes in Ohio as one amendment, allowing supporters to begin collecting signatures to place the measure on the ballot. "It is reflecting a real problem, and a real frustration that's out there. I do think it's a wakeup call, but I do think it's a bad idea," Lawson said during a Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) panel discussion on property taxes.
TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE
House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) both told Hannah News on Wednesday they were unfamiliar with a recent proposal during the U.S. House budget process that could set a 10-year moratorium on state legislation regarding artificial intelligence (AI). According to media reports, the language would prevent states and political subdivisions from enforcing laws or regulations on AI models and systems during the 10 years following passage.
TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) this week joined American, Canadian and Mexican officials for targeted motor carrier enforcement as part of International Roadcheck, billed as the largest commercial vehicle enforcement effort in the world. Last year, PUCO agents and state troopers uncovered one and a half times as many violations as motor carrier inspections, which totaled 1,088. "Roadcheck is a 72-hour intensive inspection program where transportation inspectors across North America will be stopping trucks and focusing on specific areas of operations to ensure that motor carriers are operating safely on the highways," PUCO Commissioner John Williams said.
The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) Thursday unanimously approved conveying nearly 500 acres of state-owned land to the Ashtabula and Trumbull county park districts. The land formerly held a rail line operated by the Penn Central Transportation Company but was abandoned in 1976. The state assumed the title to the property through eminent domain in 1983, and ORDC Secretary-Treasurer Megan McClory told the commission that the land was acquired due to potential use for freight and a potential testing ground for highspeed passenger rail in the state. However, those plans were later abandoned, and the state has been leasing the corridor to the two county metropolitan parks since 1997.
Provided by Hannah News Service