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As Introduced
136th
General Assembly
Regular
Session
S. B. No. 184
2025-2026
Senator Reynolds
To
enact sections 122.634 and 122.635 of the Revised Code
to
establish residential economic development districts and to create a
grant program for housing developments within such districts.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section
1.
That
sections 122.634 and 122.635 of the Revised Code be enacted to read
as follows:
Sec.
122.634.
The
housing accelerator fund is created in the state treasury. The fund
shall consist of money appropriated to it by the general assembly and
all other money received for the purposes of section 122.635 of the
Revised Code. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited
to the fund. The director of development shall use the money in the
fund only for the purpose of providing grants under section 122.635
of the Revised Code.
Sec.
122.635.
(A)
As used in this section:
(1)
"Major economic development project" means a project in
this state that meets both of the following criteria:
(a)
The project is reasonably expected to create, retain, and attract
jobs or otherwise improve the economic well-being of the area
surrounding the project site;
(b)
At least seven hundred million dollars in private investments are
committed to establish, expand, renovate, or occupy a facility as
part of a single project at a designated project site, including
investment in new buildings, additions or improvements to existing
buildings, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures, and inventory.
(2)
"Major workforce housing project" means a project that
reserves at least one hundred units, designed for residential
occupancy by at least one hundred individuals or families living
independently from each other.
(3)
"Pro-housing development policy" may include any of the
following:
(a)
Having a process in place to increase the rate at which permits for
housing developments are reviewed;
(b)
Having a pre-approval process in place for an expedited review of
permits for a diverse range of housing developers;
(c)
Subsidizing or decreasing costs related to water or sewer connections
and extensions for major workforce housing projects;
(d)
Acquiring and readying sites that are ready to be financed and built
upon by developers;
(e)
Reducing or eliminating impact, inspection, and plan review fees for
housing developers;
(f)
Adopting a zoning plan that includes promoting higher density, small
lot size, and minimum setback requirements;
(g)
Developing a comprehensive plan that promotes diverse residential
development options;
(h)
Having no or minimal parking requirements for developments that
include residential units;
(i)
Conducting a traffic study, improving water or sewer infrastructure,
improving roads, or permitting both rigid and flexible pavement
types;
(j)
Developing partnerships to expand the provision of sewer and water
services to new areas;
(k)
Promoting the use of non-traditional building structures such as
modular or manufactured homes.
(4)
"Residential economic development district" means all
parcels of land within a twenty-mile radius of a major economic
development project.
(B)
A county, township, or municipal corporation that is fully or
partially located within a residential economic development district
may apply for a grant under this section in the form and manner
prescribed by the department of development. The county, township, or
municipal corporation may submit the application independently or in
collaboration with a housing developer or one or more other counties,
townships, or municipal corporations. The application shall, at
minimum, include documentation or other evidence that proves, to the
satisfaction of the department, that the applicant has done or has
imminent plans to do both of the following within the district:
(1)
Adopt and implement pro-housing development policies;
(2)
Approve a major workforce housing project.
(C)
The department shall review applications and award grants under this
section on a rolling basis, to the extent that funds are available.
The department shall evaluate applications and determine the amount
of each grant awarded in accordance with scoring metrics that give
preference to counties, townships, and municipal corporations that:
(1)
Adopt more pro-housing development policies in terms of both quantity
and impact;
(2)
Allow for higher density, smaller lot size, smaller or no side yard
setbacks, and minimal open space.
(D)
If a county, township, or municipal corporation is approved for a
grant under this section based on imminent plans to adopt and
implement pro-housing development policies and approve a major
workforce housing project, the department shall confirm that the
county, township, or municipal corporation follows through with those
plans, as described in the grant application, before disbursing grant
funds. A grant recipient shall use the funds only for the following
purposes:
(1)
Providing capital for housing development through grants or loans;
(2)
Acquiring and readying sites for development;
(3)
Providing financial assistance for housing-related infrastructure
projects including road improvements and water or sewer connections;
(4)
Addressing additional service or public safety needs due to increases
in population;
(5)
Any other purpose deemed appropriate by the director of development.
(E)
The director of development shall adopt rules in accordance with
Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement and administer this
section. The rules shall address application procedures, scoring
metrics, grant distribution, and state model zoning plans that
include density, lot size, and setback preferences.
(F)
The general assembly, in enacting this section, hereby declares its
intent to encourage major workforce housing projects in areas of the
state that otherwise would not attract such developments and to
increase home ownership among Ohioans.