Area Ohio House Reps. Named To Committees & Lead Recent Legislation

Article Presented By Kingston National Bank…

Area Ohio lawmakers are in the news for committee assignments and recent legislation that have sponsored.

Representative Mark Johnson (R) of Chillicothe, has announced he will continue to be the Chairman of the Ohio House Commerce & Labor Committee. Johnson represents the state’s 92nd District, which includes Hocking, Vinton, southern Perry County, and Ross County.

Along with serving as Commerce & Labor Committee, Johnson will also serve on the Development Committe, Finance Committe, and Natural Resources Committee.

Ohio 12 District Representative Brian Stewart (R) of Ashville will chair the Ohio House Finance Committee. Stewart’s district covers Madison and Pickaway Counties and a western part of Franklin County.

“Responsibly managing Ohioans’ hard-earned tax dollars is one of the most important duties of state government,” said Stewart. “I look forward to working with the Governor, all my colleagues in the legislature, and residents from all across our state, to pass a budget that positions Ohio for success.”

In addition to the overall state budget, the Ohio House Finance Committee is also the starting point for the BWC, Industrial Commission, Transportation, and Capital budgets.

91st Ohio House Representative Bob Peterson (R) of Sabina, represents Fayette, Highland, Pike, and Ross counties.

Peterson recently announced approval of House Bill 503 which addresses harm caused by feral swine in Ohio. Key provisions of the bill include:

• Allows landowners to kill a feral hog without a license, as long as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is notified within 24 hours;
• Eliminates an existing license to feed swine garbage or treated garbage and prohibits bringing swine into the state who have been garbage fed;
• Increases penalties for importing, transporting, or possessing of feral swine; and
• Updates definitions under the Agricultural Commodity Handlers Law.

“Feral swine are a nuisance to landowners around the nation and are a threat to Ohio’s livestock industry,” said Peterson.