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Following is a summary of legislation and regulation Ohio Farm Bureau worked on this year:

This summer and fall, Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) – with help from the Rule-Making Committee – is drafting new rules governing construction standards for all new and existing large livestock and poultry farms; all aspects of manure storage, handling, transportation and land-application by these farms; and the farms’ insect and rodent control plans. Under the new system the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. EPA and Ohio Department of Natural Resources will remain involved in protecting the environment from potential mishaps on farms. Ohio EPA will continue to play an important role in this area, both in an advisory capacity to ODA and through its other regulatory programs such as solid waste, air and drinking water. Senate Bill 141 was passed in 2000 and transfers livestock waste permitting authority from Ohio EPA to ODA. ODA will provide a proactive regulatory approach designed to assist farmers in their efforts to protect water quality.

"We are making great strides in developing workable rules authorized by Senate Bill 141 in the last legislature. All parties are having a voice in the development of rules that Ohioans can have confidence in as we permit large livestock farms," said OFBF Vice President for Government Affairs Keith Stimpert.

OFBF individually and collectively with the Ohio Business Roundtable, the Ohio Manufacturers Association, National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio, Ohio Council of Retail Merchants and Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has been proactive with support of Senate Bill 1, including written testimony and the joint filing of an amicus curiae brief on the DeRolph school funding case. The organizations asked the court to end the DeRolph case and allow time and room for legislative improvements in education to produce results. The group said continued court oversight would become more of a hindrance than a help.

Other key issues OFBF and the group support: staying the course in developing statewide academic content standards; forming standards in all core subjects – math, English, science, social studies; annual testing and reporting to measure learning; help for low-performing students; accountability with clear consequences and rewards; and alignment among standards, curricula and tests.

OFBF supported Senate Bill 97, which should mitigate the negative impact two recent Ohio Supreme Court decisions are having on the insurance industry. Some insurance companies are no longer going to offer uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage in Ohio, and those that offer it are likely to increase the premiums on this coverage. The insurance industry is estimating the costs of the Supreme Court decisions that expand the definition of these coverages will be $1.5 billion from previous litigation that can be reopened under the new case law. SB 97 should be helpful in limiting future litigation in this area.