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OFBF volunteers and staff are spending the early summer working at the Statehouse to support a variety of policy priorities. Here are a few of the highlights.

Budget
Ohio lawmakers are close to finalizing the state budget for the two-year period that begins July 1, and agriculture’s interests appear to have fared well.

"Going into the conference committee, we feel very good about the budget," said Rocky Black, OFBF senior director of policy and political affairs.

Black mentioned funding for various biofuels initiatives as well as higher allocations to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University Extension, ODNR soil and water programs and possibly OARDC as improvements made during legislative action on the budget.

Advanced materials
House Bill 233 would create a task force to explore and expand the linkages between farm products and Ohio’s chemicals, polymers and other advanced materials industries. The group is to offer suggestions to the general assembly on how to create opportunities for agriculture and these industries. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Reinhard, R – Bucyrus, stipulates that Ohio Farm Bureau be represented on the task force.

Conservancy districts
House Bill 47, sponsored by Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, is designed to refashion the way conservancy districts are governed. OFBF Senior. Director of Local Affairs Larry Gearhardt has testified in support of the changes this bill would make. Farm Bureau staff also are making the case with legislators that these districts should be required to operate in a more open and public manner.

Eminent Domain
Senate Bill 7 and Senate Joint Resolution 1, which passed the Senate, are both aimed at curtailing the abuse of eminent domain authority in Ohio. OFBF has worked with the sponsors, Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, and Sen. Kevin Coughlin, R-Cuyahoga Falls, to limit the number of entities that hold eminent domain authority, restrict their use of the authority and assure that landowners are fairly compensated when land is taken.

OFBF is urging the House to support the strong measures taken by the Senate.