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Rep. Miller praises House passage of Ohio Veterans' Heritage Protection Act

Bipartisan bill would keep war relics in the public domain
November 17, 2021
Adam C. Miller News

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Adam C. Miller (D-Columbus) today praised the House passage of Senate Bill (SB) 59, known as the Ohio Veterans’ Heritage Protection Act, that would protect cannons or other artillery, statues, monuments, memorials, or plaques that have been placed by the public to commemorate a war or service in a war. SB 59 is the companion legislation for Rep. Miller’s HB 190, which was passed by the House in June 2021. 

“Preserving war relics is more than just the cannon in front of city hall, it is about our nation’s history, sacrifice, and remembrance,” said Rep. Miller. “This bill prohibits someone from selling war relics owned by the public – all of us – ensuring that generations to come will understand the price of freedom from The Revolutionary War to today.”

SB 59 would:

Prohibit a war relic that is located on public property or on the property of a cemetery association from being sold, purchased, or otherwise disposed of by any person; 
Prohibit a war relic that is located on public property or on the property of a cemetery association from being destroyed, relocated, removed, altered, or otherwise disturbed by any person, except under certain circumstances; 
Exempt the state and a political subdivision from the bill’s prohibitions if it can clearly prove ownership of a war relic by written documentation;
Exempt a governmental agency, the state, or a political subdivision from being fined for destroying, relocating, removing, altering, or otherwise disturbing a war relic; 
Authorize the Ohio History Connection, with the help of local historical societies, to compile and maintain a registry of war relics.
 

SB 59 now moves to the governor’s desk for his signature. 

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