Cutrona, Ohio House Approve Bipartisan Bills

Today, State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) voted to support and pass several bipartisan bills within the Ohio House. Two of them, House Bills 481 and 614, had strong bipartisan support. 

“While I am a new member to this distinguished body, I have had the opportunity to work with my colleagues these past few weeks in passing important and significant bipartisan bills that will have a positive impact for the people of Mahoning Valley,” said Cutrona.

House Bill 481 empowers local government entities by allowing them to convey certain plots of land owned by the state to outside purchasers. The bill empowers state government jurisdictions to make their own decisions when it comes to under-utilized property in their area of the state.

Additionally, the House concurred on amendments from the Senate for House Bill 481 that includes largely mirror language that Cutrona supported and the House approved last week in Senate Bill 310:

-          A full capital reappropriations bill for fiscal years 2021-22;

-          Allocates $350 million in CARES ACT funding to provide payments to state and local governments to pay for expenses accrued due to the COVID-19 pandemic;

-          Corrects language and a veto impacting nursing homes from our last budget bill, House Bill 166;

-          Gives the Governor one-time, fiscal year 2021, permissive authority to freeze steps and a pay increase of classified exempt state employees;

-          Authorizes a county, township, or municipal corporation in FY2021 to establish a mandatory cost savings program, up to 160 hours, for exempt employees because of a fiscal emergency or lack of work due to COVID-19; and

-          Explicitly states that if a business received a forgivable Paycheck Protection Loan that loan is not subject to the Commercial Activity Tax.

House Bill 614 also passed the House Chamber, which would study and reform Ohio’s unemployment compensation system. Cutrona noted how important this is for Mahoning County.

“Mahoning County’s unemployment rate from April was at 20.1 percent due to COVID-19 – this is a huge concern,” said Cutrona. “House Bill 614 will look into the current unemployment system, as we know which had several issues throughout this pandemic, and to see what changes need to be made to have more efficiency so Ohioans can receive their unemployment benefits in a more timely manner during these desperate times.”

The House agreed to concurrences with House Bill 481 and it now heads to the Governor’s desk. House Bill 614 passed the House today and awaits further consideration in the Senate.