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OCTOBER 22, 2024 REPORT #13
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LAND PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION UPDATE EFFECTIVE
While the initial version of the residential development land exemption was enacted in Fall 2023, additional changes to ORC 5709.56, addressing implementation challenges, became effective September 18, 2024. OHBA was successful in amending HB 50 to include language to clarify the implementation of the current 5709.56 exemption. The new provisions removed the notice and appeal for local school boards and third parties and transferred approval authority from Ohio Department of Tax to County Auditor. OHBA strongly encourages those with eligible property to contact your country auditor about applying for residential development land exemption for property platted on or after October 3, 2023 (effective date of exemption).
HOUSING ISSUES STILL ON LEGISLATORS’ MINDS
Election day draws near with so much attention on what will be the final result. In the meantime, however, numerous legislators have expressed continued interest in chipping away at the critical housing shortage when the House and Senate return after the election. Developed lots are a crucial piece to the housing puzzle; this remains the consistent message from OHBA in these ongoing discussions. OHBA will continue to urge lawmakers to focus on what can be done to deal with the shortage of available, reasonably priced lots where additional homes can be built. Infrastructure needs, development standards, utility capacity, referenda, and a meaningful comprehensive plan are a few.
A LOT AT STAKE NOVEMBER 5TH
From the Presidential race, at the top of the ticket, to Ohio House legislative races determining who will be voting for the next Speaker of the House, on to the Ohio Supreme Court races, it is safe to say, there is a lot at stake on election day. Depending on the day and who you ask, no one has the same answer to the election equation. As we close in on November 5th, all sides will make their final push hoping for victory. In addition to important industry items, we will recap the results of the election at the OHBA Fall Board Meeting, November 12, 2024.
SIGN UP FOR OHBA FALL BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
Sign up for OHBA’s Fall Board of Trustees Meeting on November 12th at the Hilton Easton in Columbus. Detailed information has been emailed.
Feel free to contact OHBA with any questions or comments at 614-228-6647 or build@ohiohba.com.
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
By Vincent J. Squillace
Executive Vice President
Every November there is an election. Typically, a general election where the winner is seated into office the next January. This November will allow voters to choose the entire US House of Representatives, the entire Ohio House of Representatives, roughly one-third of the US Senate, half of the Ohio Senate, and yes, the next President of the United States. There is no need to state just what is at stake here.
OHBA is formed and directed by our trustees to advocate on your behalf before the tribunals of state government. As such, we will have to reacquaint ourselves with the new faces in the legislature occasioned by term limits. Also, there will be new leadership in the Ohio House and Senate due to term limits. I certainly don’t want to leave out the three Justices of the Supreme Court. We will be discussing all this and more at our Fall meeting.
When intel announced they would locate a large facility in central Ohio, it was welcomed news. The announcement also called attention to the fact that there is a need for more housing for the expected workers. That ‘fact” was not news to us. OHBA has tracked housing starts for many years, and we were not shy disclosing that fact to our friends at the Statehouse for many years. Better late than never, leaders of state government claimed there was a shortage of housing which must be addressed.
When the housing community learned state help may be on the way the floodgates opened here and across the nation. This new found possibility of government assistance produced many pleas and policy reports with supposed solutions to this crisis. What OHBA found was nothing much new, but suggestions to deal with many government imposed barriers which led to the shortage.
With nothing new found in all these fancy colorful reports the issued remained, ‘how do we produce more housing (which includes developed lots) in the face of continuing resistance from many levels of government?’
OHBA has been working to increase housing availability and affordability for decades. As such, we were in the best position to advance ideas on increasing supply. Our meaningful effort to stimulate lot development with reasonable taxation took three tries. We finally achieved passage despite opposition from every level of local government and some planning organizations, as well.
Our effort to remove costly environmental regulations with our ephemeral streams bill (HB 175) saved thousands in land development costs. Again, OHBA faced headwinds from the environmental community. Along the way, OHBA kept building codes reasonable through our efforts at the Residential Construction Advisory Committee (RCAC).
All the while, we also had time to rescind a misguided court of appeals ruling that remodeling is not home construction, thus averting costly law suits and excessive damages.
OHBA continues to move on measures to remove excessive land development regulations and street standards. We are urging more reasonable and inclusive comprehensive plans to include affordable housing, as well as, more limitations on submitting zoning changes to the referenda.
Yes, there is much work to be done. Currently, we at OHBA continue to pound the table in trying to meet this great challenge.
Ohio Home Builders Association
Phone- 614/228-6647