A bill pending in the Ohio House seeks to clear up confusion over whether landowners own the mineral rights to their property.
The confusion is over which version of the state’s Dormant Mineral Act applies to oil and natural gas activity. For generations, Ohioans made extra money by separating the mineral rights under the ground from the surface rights on the ground. Those rights weren’t worth much for decades until recently when horizontal drilling started accessing new areas of oil and gas.
Enacted in 1989, the Dormant Mineral Act determines when the mineral rights can be returned to those who own the surface rights. Under the act, mineral rights can be considered abandoned if not used by the original owner or heirs in the last 20 years. In 2016 the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the act did not automatically reunite abandoned mineral interests with the surface rights, as many believed happened under the original version of the law. This has caused confusion and frustration for landowners who did not reunite abandoned mineral rights with the surface rights through a judicial ruling prior to June 30, 2006, when the law was amended to its current form. Instead, landowners must do their due diligence in finding potential heirs of the severed mineral interests to accomplish this process.
“Ohio’s DMA has a gray area when it comes to which version of the law should be followed and how much research should be conducted before a property is deemed abandoned,” said Rep. Jack Cera, D-Bellaire. “Property can be in a family for decades when they find out that a previous owner is staking claim to the mineral rights of the property and the resulting financial gain.”
Cera is sponsor of House Bill 100, which lays the groundwork for a more efficient way for landowners to properly certify their property and oil and gas rights for the future. Ohio Farm Bureau provided testimony in support of the legislation.
The House and Senate have voted to pass a bill that avoids a looming government shutdown. The bill, which includes short-term spending, disaster aid and a farm bill extension.
Read More
The disaster relief funding disbursement will be overseen by the Ohio Department of Agriculture and administered through local soil & water districts.
Read More
The winners of the 2024 Ohio Farm Bureau Advocacy in Action Award are Roger Baker of Wayne County and Neall Weber (posthumously) of Franklin County.
Read More
The requirement for businesses that are registered with their state to file information about beneficial owners with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network has been paused.
Read More
Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives recommend safe energy conservation during extreme cold snaps to help alleviate demand.
Read More
Delegates discussed many important topics including carbon sequestration and mental health at the Ohio Farm Bureau’s 106th Annual Meeting.
Read More
Bill Patterson, Cy Prettyman and Adele Flynn will continue to serve as officers for Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
Read More
10 Ohio Farm Bureau members were elected to the federation’s state board during the 106th annual meeting.
Read More
The grants help inspire, encourage and nurture young agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs to find creative and transformative ways to address challenges facing the agricultural sector today.
Read More
The 2024 Distinguished Service Award recipients are Dr. John Mossbarger of Fayette County, Sen. Rob Portman of Warren County and Jane Scott of Franklin County.
Read More
