Rep. Tex Fischer Introduces Pro-Housing Legislation to Modernize and Streamline Homebuilding in Ohio

COLUMBUS – State Representative Tex Fischer (R-Boardman) is announcing the introduction of House Bill 361, legislation aimed at addressing Ohio’s growing housing shortage by cutting red tape, increasing transparency, and aligning local building regulations with statewide standards.

As housing costs continue to rise across the state, HB 361 promotes consistency, efficiency, and accountability in homebuilding, removing barriers that slow down development while maintaining rigorous safety standards.

“Home ownership is a cornerstone of the American dream, but for many Ohioans, that dream is out of reach because of the out-of-control rise of housing costs,” said Fischer. “It's clear we need to increase the stock of available housing and help drive prices down, but too often, red tape gets in the way. This legislation will help reduce bureaucratic timelines and create a streamlined process for homebuilders to get more houses on the market, and make home ownership more accessible for Ohio families.”

Key provisions of HB 361 include:

• Reducing delays in zoning and building approvals.
• Increasing transparency and public access to development decisions.
• Empowering property owners and developers to expedite processes while ensuring strict safety standards are still met.
• Ensuring local regulations align with state standards and deadlines to create regulatory certainty for homebuilders and property owners.
   

The bill awaits a hearing in the House Local Government Committee.