Ohio Statehouse Update: Governor Kasich Signs Biennial Budget Bill, Issues Veto Statement

On Sunday evening, Governor John Kasich signed House Bill 59, the state's two-year, $62 billion budget into law, just in time for the beginning of the new state fiscal year on July 1, 2013.

The Governor exercised his line-item veto power on 22 items in the bill, covering the following topics:

a provision that would have exempted the owners of spider monkeys from the Dangerous Wild Animal laws;
a mandate regarding school district expenditures of gifted state formula funds;
a provision permitting chiropractors to assess and clear student athletes with potential concussions;
a re-testing exemption for teachers in community schools primarily comprised of students with disabilities;
a provision restricting municipalities' ability to utilize buffer zones of grass, trees and other vegetation to protect water sources from chemical runoffs;
changes related to school district local share agreements for building projects;
an exemption for therapeutic wilderness camps from certain health and safety regulations;
a modification to the payment methodology for nursing homes;
an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates for one Ohio Medicaid provider;
a provision prohibiting the state from extending Medicaid coverage to individuals under 65 years of age, not pregnant, not eligible for other coverage, and whose income does not exceed 133% of the poverty line;
provisions pertaining to the collection of Ohio sales tax on internet sales to Ohio residents;
a provision exempting aerospace research and development equipment from Ohio sales tax;
a provision eliminating the requirement that a taxpayer receive a federal New Markets tax credit in order to qualify for the state New Markets tax credit;
an increase in the amount that a taxpayer may claim for the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit from $5 million to $10 million per year;
a provision exempting investment metal coins and bullion from Ohio sales tax;
a $10 million capital appropriation for a Treasury Management System;
several provisions related to a dental health pilot program that would have mandated certain coverage by insurance companies and tax deductions for providers;
an earmark related to state workforce development funds;
an earmark for the purchase of commercial truck cargo inspection equipment;
an earmark of Thomas Edison grant program funding for certain Edison Centers;
a provision pertaining to the authority of gas utilities to recover the cost of cleaning up contaminated areas; and
a provision requiring an $8 million fund transfer from the Board of Regents Economic Development Programs Fund to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for a new workforce training pilot program.