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State lawmakers have been busy introducing or discussing legislation aimed at boosting Ohio's farming and biofuel industry.

Last month, Gov. Bob Taft appointed Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Fred Dailey to be chairman of the Biofuels Working Group, which will try to find ways to increase the use of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in the state's vehicle fleet. In September, Taft ordered the Ohio Department of Transportation to use at least 1 million gallons of biodiesel fuel and 30,000 gallons of ethanol per year and to purchase only new cars that are able to run on both unleaded fuel and ethanol.

The Biofuels Working Group is comprised of directors from the departments of agriculture, administrative services, commerce, development, natural resources, public safety, taxation, transportation and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Agriculture industry leaders have been invited to attend some of the meetings.

"Biofuels help support our farmers, are a cheaper alternative to recent record-high gas prices and are friendly to the environment," Dailey said. "This working group will scrutinize ways to do more with this renewable resource, which will provide more profit opportunities for Ohio's family farmers."

The Ohio General Assembly has been working on a number bills that are of interest to the agricultural industry:

• House Bill 245 – Sponsored by Rep. Steve Reinhard, R-Bucyrus, this bill would require half of all motor vehicles purchased by state agencies be capable of using alternative fuels such as ethanol or soybean-based biodiesel. It has already passed the House and is being considered in the Senate along with Sen. Larry Mumper's companion bill, Senate Bill 156.

Earlier this month, Reinhard received sponsor testimony in the Senate Ways & Means & Economic Development Committee. Reinhard's bill also calls for the Ohio Department of Education to give a subsidy to city, local or exempted village school districts that purchase biodiesel for the operation of school buses. Tax credits would be created for gas stations for the sale of ethanol-blended gasoline and the installation of ethanol fuel pumps or conversion of existing pumps. Based on an estimated 150,000 flex fuel vehicles, Ohio consumers could save an estimated $37.5 million annually, according to Reinhard.

• Senate Bill 189 – Introduced by Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, this bill proposes several changes to the Agricultural Seed Law. It would enable the Ohio Department of Agriculture to provide increased protection to Ohio's seed users. Sen. Larry Mumper, chairman of the agricultural committee, said last month that he did not want additional amendments added to the bill in committee before the end of the year.

• House Bill 232 – This bill would require a fertilizer distributor to register with the agriculture department and maintain specified records from sales of "restricted fertilizer." Rep. Lance Mason, D-Cleveland, introduced this legislation in May. A hearing scheduled on it last month was canceled at Mason's request.

• Senate Bill 212 – Introduced Oct. 25 by Sen. Bob Schuler, R-Cincinnati, this bill would eliminate the one-time registration fee for the new commercial activity tax (CAT). The bill will be heard in the Senate Ways & Means & Economic Development Committee.

Caption: Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Fred Dailey fills up a state car with E85. Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Agriculture