For the first time, the Ohio Lobbying Activity Center (OLAC) will accept electronic payment for registration renewals, meaning lobbyists who pay electronically will not have to print and mail anything to OLAC.

A lobbyist may pay individually, by client, or simply by selecting the “add all pending items to cart” from the agent homepage and pay for renewals at one time.

Lobbyists may begin renewing registrations for executive and retirement engagements in OLAC on December 1. Legislative registrations do not expire until December 31, 2020.

The renewal option closes on January 15, 2020. Registrations submitted after this date will require a signature page signed by both the lobbyist and the employer.

For lobbyists who wish to still pay by check, the Office of the Legislative Inspector General must receive an invoice and filing fee no later than January 31 for each 2020 engagement.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 26 into law on November 6, repealing a state budget amendment that would have caused many Ohio attorneys to pay higher income taxes beginning in 2020.

Under Senate Bill 26, attorneys who derive their income from entities such as LLCs and LLPs qualify to pay no tax on the first $250,000 of income and will pay a flat 3 percent tax rate on income above that threshold.

Senate Bill 26 also allows educators to claim an income tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom expenses.

The House passed legislation on October 10 to reverse the state budget bill, restoring a business tax exemption for attorneys and lobbyists.

Senate Bill 26 was originally introduced to allow educators to claim an income tax deduction for out-of-pocket classroom expenses.

The House Finance Committee approved amendments to restore the deduction for attorneys and lobbyists excluded in the two-year state operating bill tax policy of House Bill 166.

Since 2013, the state business income deduction (BID) has allowed those deriving income from any pass-through entity (e.g., LLCs, LLPs) to pay no tax on the first $250,000 of income and a flat 3% on any income above the threshold.

House Bill 166 excluded otherwise eligible income from legal services provided by an attorney or income from legislative, executive agency, or retirement system lobbying activity beginning in 2020.

Senate Bill 26 has been re-referred to the Senate for final approval.

Four more states making changes to lobbying and ethics laws. Find out which jurisdictions in this edition of News You Can Use Video Digest!

The state budget bill signed by Gov. DeWine includes a provision removing a tax exemption for attorneys and lobbyists beginning in 2020.

Since 2013, the state business income deduction (BID) has allowed those deriving income from any pass-through entity (e.g., LLCs, LLPs) to pay no tax on the first $250,000 of income and a flat 3% on any income above the threshold.

House Bill 166 excludes otherwise eligible income from legal services provided by an attorney or income from legislative, executive agency, or retirement system lobbying activity.

A professional coalition including the Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) is beginning a grassroots campaign to reverse the exclusion.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed a campaign finance bill into law, promoting transparency for campaign finance reports.

Senate Bill 107 allows certain local political candidates to file their campaign finance reports electronically.

The bill further requires the Secretary of State to make the information in the electronic statements available online.

Senate Bill 107 will take effect January 1, 2021.

A three-judge federal panel unanimously ruled Ohio’s gerrymandered congressional district map unconstitutional under the First and 14th Amendments.

On behalf of the League of Women Voters, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio filed the suit.

The suit claimed the congressional map disfavored democratic voters on the basis of their political affiliation.

The court ordered the state to create a new map by June 14 to prepare for the 2020 election.

Campaign finance reform, elections changes, and new lobbying and ethics bills passed in this week’s News You Can Use video digest!

State Sen. Michael Rulli introduced legislation to promote greater transparency in local elections by allowing local candidates to file campaign finance reports electronically.

Senate Bill 107 would remove the paper-only filing requirements for individuals who file with local boards of elections.

The bill would also require the secretary of state to make the information in those electronic statements available online.

If passed, the bill would take effect on the first day of January that occurs at least 180 days after the act is filed with the secretary of state.

State & Federal Communications was a proud platinum sponsor of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank’s annual Harvest for Hunger Campaign Kick-off Breakfast at the John S. Knight Center on February 26.

Harvest for Hunger, the Foodbank’s largest fundraising campaign, helps support food distribution across 21 counties in Northeast Ohio.

President & CEO Dan Flowers of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank said the organization’s 2019 goal is to provide more than 5.3 million meals to neighbors in need.

The Ohio Secretary of State, Frank LaRose, released new campaign contribution limits adjusted for inflation each odd-numbered year.

The changes include an increase in the amount PACs and individuals may contribute to statewide candidates from $12,707.79 to $13,292.35 per election period.

The new limits are effective today, February 25, 2019, through February 24, 2021.

Mayor Andrew Ginther and the City Council announced plans to limit contributions to municipal elections for the first time in city history.

The proposal seeks to limit annual contributions to municipal candidates by following state contribution amounts of $12,707.79.

The proposal also requires anyone issuing an advertisement in an election period to disclose contributions, expenditures, and debt. Additionally, all campaign finance filings must be audited.

Officials will host a presentation and hear public feedback on the proposal on Tuesday, December 4 at 6 p.m. in City Council chambers.

City Council will vote on the proposal at the December 10 council meeting. If passed, the proposal will take effect for the 2019 municipal elections.

The city of Toledo will hold a special election to maintain a jail in Lucas County.

The ballot initiative to keep the Lucas County jail in downtown Toledo will appear before voters in a special election on February 26, 2019.

The City Council unanimously voted in favor to place the issue of a proposed jail on the ballot.

A majority of Akron voters approved Charter Amendment Issue 9, moving the city’s primary date from September to May.

The date change is expected to save the city money, boost voter turnout, and bring the Board of Elections into compliance with state law by enabling it to meet a deadline to get ballots to overseas voters 45 days before the November general election.