S 722
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for permanent alternative minimum tax relief, middle class tax relief, and estate tax relief, and to permanently extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes.

HR 1250/S 864
House Bill 1250, co-sponsored by Ohio Representatives Boccieri, Driehaus, Fudge, Jordan, Schmidt, Sutton, Tiberi and Wilson and Senate bill 864, co-sponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich, would extend the IRA rollover provision currently allowing tax-free distributions to qualified charities. As proposed, it would also remove the $100,000 limit on an individual’s contribution and allow donor advised funds, supporting organizations and private foundations to receive such funds.

HB 7
Would require new construction with state capital dollars to meet sustainability measures. View the bill.

HB 61
To reduce the estate tax by increasing the credit amount, to authorize townships and municipal corporations, or electors thereof by initiative, to exempt from the estate tax any estate property located in the township or municipal corporation, and to distribute all estate tax revenue originating in a township or municipal corporation that does not exempt property from the tax to the township or municipal corporation.

The House Ways and Means Committee heard sponsor testimony in mid-April on HB 61. In 2007, estate tax revenues of just over $300 million were collected, with most ($245 million) going to local entities under current law. Bill sponsors Jay Hottinger and Cheryl Grossman explained that Ohio is one of 23 states with an estate tax and that it is a significant burden on middle-class families as well as small businesses and farms. The Ohio exemption level, below which estates do not pay taxes, is just over $338,000. 

S 173
Proposes delaying for one year the budget bill's requirement that Ohio schools provide all-day kindergarten. View the bill.

S 157
Republican Senators Grendell and Seitz introduced S 157, a bill that would give unpaid class action funds to charitable organizations. All unpaid funds would be distributed to "charities, nonprofit organizations and charitable programs selected in the action and approved by the court."

HB 209
The payday lending issue continues on the General Assembly radar via this bill introduced to regulate short term lenders. View the bill.

Estate Tax Initiative Gets OK
The Ohio Ballot Board in September approved a petition by Citizens United to End the Estate Tax to begin collecting the 120,683 signatures it must submit to the Secretary of State as a next step in getting the General Assembly to consider the proposal. If the GA fails to act on it or amends it during 4 months, the group can then gather signatures to place the proposal on the ballot.

HB 326
Reps. Hottinger and Grossman have introduced a second bill in the Ohio House to revise the state's estate tax, HB 326. The bill would abolish the state's share of estate taxes received while also increasing the credit amount and authorizing townships and municipal corporations, or electors by initiative, to exempt property from the estate tax. View the bill.

HB 427
Two Ohio House members have introduced HB 427 (a companion bill to S. 157), which would require courts to distribute unclaimed funds from class action lawsuits to charities.

HB 3936
US Rep. Pat Tiberi (R - Columbus), has introduced HB 3936, the Preserve Benefits and Jobs Act, to provide temporary pension funding relief by permitting sponsors of single-employer plans to choose between two ways to repay the pension investment losses those plans have suffered. Many employers, including nonprofits, that have defined benefit pension plans will soon be required to make large catch-up contributions; some nonprofits, including those in Ohio, are facing financial difficulties at best and dissolution at worst, in complying with the catch-up requirements.