Tristan Rader

Ohio Democrats urge Gov. Mike DeWine to veto House Bill 173, which regulates submetering companies. Critics argue the bill fails to sufficiently protect tenants from inflated rates and poor service, while supporters claim it establishes necessary policy. The bill caps submetering charges at 3% below typical utility rates and aligns some requirements with utility standards, but conflicts with a recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling.

A bipartisan bill proposing increased oversight for JobsOhio, Ohio's economic development agency, received its first hearing. The measure aims to subject JobsOhio to standard state audits and annual legislative testimony, addressing concerns about its lack of transparency as a private entity not covered by state sunshine laws.