SB316 • 2026

Regards local government authority over railroad's right-of-way

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Andrew O. Brenner
Last action
Official status: As Introduced
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Regards local government authority over railroad's right-of-way

To enact section 4963.50 of the Revised Code to give specified local governments the authority to unilaterally approve an encroachment on a railroad company's right-of-way for certain utility work.

What This Bill Does

To enact section 4963.50 of the Revised Code to give specified local governments the authority to unilaterally approve an encroachment on a railroad company's right-of-way for certain utility work.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

Ohio Legislature
As Introduced

Official Summary Text

To enact section 4963.50 of the Revised Code to give specified local governments the authority to unilaterally approve an encroachment on a railroad company's right-of-way for certain utility work.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

As Introduced

136th
General Assembly

Regular
Session
S. B. No. 316

2025-2026

Senator Brenner

To
enact section 4963.50 of the Revised Code
to
give specified local governments the authority to unilaterally
approve an encroachment on a railroad company's right-of-way for
certain utility work.

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

Section
1.
That
section 4963.50 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec.
4963.50.
(A)
As used in this section, "utility provider" has the same
meaning as in section 5515.10 of the Revised Code.

(B)
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if a utility
provider seeks to conduct work in the interest of health, safety, or
public benefit and that work will result in an encroachment on a
railroad company's right-of-way or near the railroad company's
right-of-way, the utility provider may, in lieu of obtaining the
railroad company's permission to engage in such work, apply to either
of the following for permission to conduct the work:

(1)
If the encroachment is proposed inside the territory of a municipal
corporation, the legislative authority of the municipal corporation
where the encroachment is proposed;

(2)
If the encroachment is proposed outside of a municipal corporation,
the board of county commissioners of the county where the
encroachment is proposed.

(C)
The legislative authority or board of county commissioners may grant
permission to a utility provider after giving reasonable notice to
any affected railroad company.