Create the State and Municipal Government Commission

hb912_00_IN

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
H. B. No. 912

2025-2026

Representative Miller, M.

To
enact section 701.11 of the Revised Code
to
create the State and Municipal Government Commission.

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

Section
1.
That
section 701.11 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
701.11.
(A)
The state and municipal government commission is created. The
commission shall do all of the following:

(1)
Analyze and report on proposed state and municipal policies and rules
that would impact municipal home rule authority;

(2)
Enhance collaborative opportunities between state and municipal
leaders;

(3)
Make recommendations to state and municipal leaders on municipal
authority, policy, and funding implications of proposed state
policies;

(4)
Discuss and consider state and municipal government revenue sharing,
grant programs, and other matters related to the fiscal health of
municipal corporations.

(B)
The commission shall consist of the following thirteen members:

(1)
The director of development or the director's designee.

(2)
The following members appointed by the governor:

(a)
Two mayors, or their designees, of municipal corporations in the
state with populations of sixty thousand or more;

(b)
Two mayors, or their designees, of municipal corporations in the
state with populations of less than sixty thousand.

(3)
The following members appointed by the president of the senate:

(a)
One member of the general assembly;

(b)
One mayor, municipal executive, or charter county executive.

(4)
The following members appointed by the minority leader of the senate:

(a)
One member of the general assembly;

(b)
One mayor, municipal executive, or charter county executive.

(5)
The following members appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives:

(a)
One member of the general assembly;

(b)
One mayor, municipal executive, or charter county executive.

(6)
The following members appointed by the minority leader of the house
of representatives:

(a)
One member of the general assembly;

(b)
One mayor, municipal executive, or charter county executive.

(C)
Each member shall serve a term of two years commencing on the
thirtieth day of January of each odd-numbered year.

(D)
A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in
the same manner as the original appointment. Each member of the
commission who is a member of the general assembly shall serve for
the duration of the member's term or until that commission member is
no longer a member of the senate or house of representatives.

(E)
Not later than the twenty-ninth day of January of each odd-numbered
year, the commission shall prepare and submit a report to the general
assembly detailing all of the following:

(1)
A summary of the commission's recommendation, along with subsequent
actions taken or not taken by the general assembly and municipal
governments, as appropriate;

(2)
A summary of legislation passed by the general assembly restricting
or limiting home rule authority and any reported impacts on municipal
law or policies;

(3)
Recommendations for the next general assembly to preserve and restore
home rule authority and municipal authority.

(F)
The director of development or the director's designee shall serve as
chairperson of the commission. A majority of members constitute a
quorum.

(G)
The commission shall meet at the call of the chairperson at least
biannually. The chairperson shall provide members with at least ten
days' written notice of a meeting. The commission is subject to
section 121.22 of the Revised Code. The Ohio government
telecommunications service shall broadcast all meetings of the
commission. The commission may allow experts or other parties to
testify before the commission.

(H)
Members shall serve without compensation except to the extent that
serving on the commission is considered part of the member's regular
duties of employment. The commission shall reimburse each member for
actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the
member's official duties. Membership on the commission shall not
constitute holding another public office.

(I)
The commission shall not issue a recommendation or report without
approval from at least all of the following:

(1)
A simple majority of total members;

(2)
Two members from each political party;

(3)
Two members who are members of the general assembly;

(4)
Two members who are a mayor, a mayor's designee, a municipal
executive, or a charter county executive.

(J)
The commission may hire and supervise an executive director, who
shall be located in the department of development, to administer the
commission's duties.

Section
2.
The
Governor, President and Minority Leader of the Senate, and Speaker
and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, in accordance
with division (B) of section 701.11 of the Revised Code as enacted by
this act, shall make initial appointments to the State and Municipal
Government Commission not later than June 30, 2026. The initial
members shall serve until their successors are appointed as specified
in section 701.11 of the Revised Code as enacted by this act.