With the close of the 132nd General Assembly just behind us, the Ohio Legislature wrapped up its work for the two-year legislative cycle. Any piece of legislation introduced not making it through both chambers and being signed into law will need to be reintroduced and start the process all over. Although we achieved meaningful regulatory reform, preserved the business investor deduction, and stopped health insurance mandates to name a few victories, there are bills we hoped to see enacted that did not make it across the finish line. We are eager to get to work with Governor DeWine’s new administration in concert with the Ohio Legislature to focus on a few key policy areas including unemployment compensation modernization, workforce development, and regulatory/licensure reform.
Left undone is unemployment compensation modernization. The insolvency of Ohio’s unemployment system has been a looming problem for decades. While difficult decisions will need to be made, it is important to take action now. Ohio’s unemployment rate is low, and we regularly hear from our members about their inability to find employees to fill open positions. There are several key components that need addressing. These include: elimination of dependency benefits (Ohio is one of only a few states that have such a benefit which can be costly to administer), adjusting the taxable wage base to bring Ohio in line with neighboring states, pausing the automatic benefit escalator until solvency is achieved and moving eligibility weeks from 26 to 20 (still nearly five months). Appropriately addressing these issues will put Ohio on the path to long-term solvency while ensuring eligible individuals receive benefits. Maintaining the status quo will place Ohio behind other states that have modernized their systems, likely leading to employer tax increases during the next economic downturn.
Workforce development is another key policy area NFIB will be working to reform during the next General Assembly. Our members continue struggling to find individuals with skill sets that meet the needs of their workplaces. While many programs exist across multiple state agencies, it can be difficult for any business or individual to navigate the bureaucracy and access programs to provide meaningful training and skill development. NFIB has been a consistent advocate of consolidating these programs to provide easier access and quicker results. Consolidation should also lead to less overhead cost, more dollars placed into workforce development, and less in administrative costs. Workforce development is a key tenet of Governor DeWine’s Prosperity Plan.
Additionally, NFIB will continue working to bring common sense improvement to Ohio’s licensure and regulatory scheme. We strongly believe an appropriate balance must be achieved whereby the government is not in the business of erecting unnecessary barriers of entry to employment while also ensuring appropriate protections for public health and safety. We look forward to forging ahead with regulatory and licensure reform to foster an enhanced entrepreneurial climate.
These policy areas will be a focus of NFIB in the 133rd General Assembly, however, this list is not all-inclusive. We will continue to advocate on your behalf on additional policy areas including tax, workers’ compensation, healthcare, and many others.
Please remember to vote your NFIB Member Ballot and keep an eye out for NFIB “Call to Action” communications to ensure your voice continues to be heard. Visit www.NFIB.com/OH to learn more about the issues we are currently working on. Feel free to contact NFIB’s Ohio Legislative Director Chris Ferruso at [email protected] with any questions or thoughts.
