Create the Ohio Sports Commission

hb255_01_RH

As Reported by the House Arts, Athletics, and Tourism Committee

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
Sub. H. B. No. 255

2025-2026

Representatives Jarrells, Miller,
M.

Cosponsors: Representatives
Brennan, Russo, Santucci, Robb Blasdel, McNally

To
enact sections
122.123

and
122.124

of the Revised Code
to
create the Ohio Sports Council.

BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section
1.
That
sections
122.123

and
122.124

of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
122.123.
(A)
As used in this section and section 122.124 of the Revised Code,
"sport" has the same meaning as in section 122.12 of the
Revised Code.

(B)
The Ohio sports council is created within the department of
development. The purpose of the council is to assess the economic
impacts of sporting events in this state and make recommendations to
the general assembly regarding policies that can expand the sporting
event economy in this state.

(C)
The council shall consist of the following fourteen members:

(1)
Two members of the senate appointed by the president of the senate,
one of whom shall be recommended by the minority leader of the
senate;

(2)
Two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker
of the house of representatives, one of whom shall be recommended by
the minority leader of the house of representatives;

(3)
One member that represents convention and visitors' bureaus in this
state, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(4)
One member that represents convention and visitors' bureaus in this
state, appointed by the president of the senate;

(5)
One member that represents local sports commissions throughout the
state, appointed by the governor;

(6)
One member that represents local sports commissions throughout the
state, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(7)
One member that represents local sports commission throughout the
state, appointed by the president of the senate;

(8)
Three members that represent sports facilities that host events in
this state, including at least one member that represents a national
collegiate athletic association or professional sports venue,
appointed by the governor;

(9)
One member that represents professional or amateur sports governance
organizations, such as the national collegiate athletic association
or a professional sports team, appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives;

(10)
One member that represents professional or amateur sports governance
organizations, such as the national collegiate athletic association
or a professional sports team, appointed by the president of the
senate.

(D)
The members of the council shall be appointed within thirty days
after the commencement of the first regular session of each general
assembly, and shall serve until the expiration of the session of the
general assembly during which they were appointed. Members of the
council who are also members of the general assembly shall only be
members of the council as long as they hold the office of member of
the general assembly. A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the
same manner as the original appointment.

(E)
Members of the council shall serve without compensation, but shall be
reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of official duties.

(F)
Subject to the availability of funding, the council may appoint such
employees as it considers necessary to carry out its duties under
this section and section 122.124 of the Revised Code. The department
of development shall provide office space and meeting areas for the
council.

(G)
The council shall elect a chairperson at its first meeting, and
biannually thereafter. The council shall meet at the call of its
chairperson to conduct its official business. A majority of the
members of the council constitutes a quorum. The vote of at least
nine members of the council is necessary for the council to take any
official action.

Sec.
122.124.
The
Ohio sports council created under section 122.123 of the Revised Code
shall partner and coordinate with the department of taxation, local
sports commissions, convention and visitors' bureaus, chambers of
commerce, municipal corporations, venues, and appropriate
stakeholders to assess the following:

(A)
State tax revenue received through direct participation in sporting
events;

(B)
State tax revenue received through indirect economic activities in
relation to sporting events;

(C)
Local tax revenue received through direct participation in sporting
events;

(D)
Local tax revenue received through indirect economic activities in
relation to sporting events;

(E)
Incremental increases of state and local tax revenue derived from
sporting events that choose to locate in this state rather than out
of state;

(F)
Marketing benefits to this state and the local community hosting
sporting events, as determined by the council;

(G)
Other economic impact indicators as determined by the council.