Central Ohio lawmakers explore opportunities to foster growth

Unlike most parts of the state, Columbus is experiencing a massive influx of population as one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest.

To move the rest of Ohio in that direction, Rep. Brian Stewart said Thursday that the Legislature needs to consider more pro-growth policies, including the use of state dollars for new sports stadium funding.

Speaking to attendees of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Impact Ohio event, the Ashville Republican touted lawmakers’ decision to dedicate $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds to finance such facilities.

Democrats slammed the inclusion of that language in the biennial budget (HB 96Track), which set aside $600 million for the Cleveland Browns proposed domed stadium in Brook Park, contending those funds would be better spent on schools.

The program remains on hold amid litigation. Even so, Stewart argued minority party opposition was centered mostly on the fact that the funding was targeted to professional sports teams.

“If this was $2.2 billion in private investment in anything else, we would have said, ‘Oh, absolutely, a $600 million loan to help do the roads and bridges and make sure that the traffic works,’” he said.

Stewart argued that building up the state’s sports facilities could foster significant economic development and provide more recreational opportunities for Ohioans. It could also shape discussions on other major pieces of legislation when lawmakers return to Capitol Square, he suggested.

“I think that that is going to be a continued focus when we head into the capital budget…so we should be supporting those things all around the state to make that happen,” he said.

Targeted economic growth was one of several ideas floated by lawmakers at the panel discussion to capitalize on the capital city's population surge.

For Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester, and Rep. Munira Abdullahi, D-Columbus, that means finding new ways to build housing stock, especially at a time when affordable housing is scarce throughout Ohio.

Reynolds gave a nod to her work toward creating the $100 million Rural Development Revolving Loan Fund, which aims to reduce infrastructure barriers in rural parts of the state.

“We don't want to necessarily spawn a lot of housing throughout our rural areas,” she said. “However, in the areas where growth is happening and we need smart growth, we also need the infrastructure to be able to do it affordably.”

Abdullahi, the ranking member in the House Development Committee, said working with Chair Rep. James Hoops, R-Napoleon, helped ensure the low-income housing tax credit and the Welcome Home Ohio program were kept in the biennial spending plan.

She, Reynolds and Rep. Christine Cockley, D-Columbus, have also started a quarterly housing roundtable to determine how the state can find solutions.

“I'm hoping that by the end of this GA, we actually come up with a semblance of a strategy, and then we continue it next GA, and then we actually have something for the next 5-10 years to discuss housing in our state,” Abdullahi said.

Reynolds also said the state needs to adopt policies surrounding artificial intelligence that can boost education and workforce development, while also creating sufficient protection for children and to prevent employment displacement.

Cockley said bipartisan legislation she is leading, including a bill penalizing tech companies if their AI chatbots encourage users to harm themselves or others, align with those goals (HB 524).

“To me, our job as legislators is not to control the content, rather to weigh the risks and opportunities that are associated with these emerging technologies,” she said.

Rep. Dontavius Jarrells, D-Columbus, and Rep. Latyna Humphrey, D-Columbus, said the state should prioritize methods to better prepare Ohioans who are entering the workforce.

Jarrells urged the General Assembly to move forward with his plan with Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania Twp., to help individuals transition out of various public assistance systems.

Many of those endeavoring to do so face what he called a “benefits cliff,” meaning their families would take in less money if they chose to work more hours or at higher-paying jobs due to related reductions in government assistance.

“The reality is, there are families all across the state that are making those decisions and unfortunately have to come to a grim reality that they're stuck in a cycle of poverty,” he said.

Humphrey said formerly incarcerated individuals face barriers in finding jobs, which is why she is leading legislation that would incentivize companies to employ them.

"That decreases the chance of them going out and reoffending,” she said.