The OMA staff closely follows developments that impact Ohio’s tax climate, including legislation at the Ohio Statehouse. Our policy staff also monitors federal tax developments. In our ongoing mission to protect and grow Ohio manufacturing, we update members regularly and advocate accordingly.
Join the OMA Tax and Finance Management Community for timely information and expert guidance to support your tax and finance decisions.
The OMA will hold the first Tax and Finance Committee meeting of 2025 on Thurs. Feb. 20, featuring a deep dive on the upcoming state operating budget and anticipated tax cut proposals, along with a discussion with Ohio House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Roemer.
OMA Connections Partner RSM will also present on the impacts of the Trump administration’s tariff policies and what that means for Ohio manufacturers. 2/13/2025
A recent Gongwer report highlighted ODJFS’ proposal to impose a new fee on businesses to fund what the agency notes as a long-overdue upgrade of the state’s unemployment benefits IT system.
While business groups acknowledge the need for modernization, they also emphasize the importance of addressing the long-standing solvency issues of the Unemployment Trust Fund. The OMA will analyze and discuss this proposal at the Feb. 20 Tax and Finance Committee meeting. 2/7/2025
This week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine unveiled the initial details of his two-year state budget proposal.
Highlights include:
The Ohio House began hearings on their version of the budget this week, which will continue until mid-to-late April, after which the Senate will make their own amendments before conferencing on an agreed budget and sending it to DeWine for signature and line-item vetoes.
OMA staff are still analyzing the proposed budget and will have deeper analysis on OMA priorities coming soon.
Be sure to register for the OMA’s Feb. 20th Tax & Finance Committee for an in-depth breakdown on the state budget process and key OMA priorities. 2/5/2025
Earlier this week, defense contractor and manufacturer Anduril received approval from the state for $452 million in tax credits for the next 30 years.
In exchange for the credit, the California-based autonomous weapons developer is required to maintain operations on-site for 33 years and bring more than 4,000 new production and services jobs by 2035.
Anduril announced two weeks ago plans to spend about $900 million on their new “Arsenal-1” complex south of Rickenbacker International Airport to build drones, missiles, and other high-tech unpiloted military weapons. When completed, estimated in 2035, the complex would employ 4,008 workers with an average hourly wage of $63.61, making the average annual pay $132,000. 1/28/2024
Reacting to a plan by the Cleveland Browns to construct a new domed stadium outside of Cleveland proper, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined with attorneys for the City of Cleveland in a game of smash mouth lawsuits.
If the sports club is allowed to relocate, Ohioans could be on the hook to pay for the new stadium using taxpayer dollars. We reported recently, the Browns are lobbying for state funds in the soon-to-be-introduced state budget. 1/14/2024
Kimberly Murnieks, Director of the Office of Budget and Management told reporters this week that the state is in a strong financial position heading into the 2025/26 budget year.
Murnieks, who was appointed by Governor DeWine in 2019, touted a healthy bottom line for the state, in addition to a strong “rainy-day fund” of over $3.8 billion, which can be used for uncertainties like natural disasters. 1/14/2024
Just weeks before the state budget bill is set to be introduced at the Statehouse, Ohio’s new Senate President tempered the notion that taxpayers would subsidize a significant share of construction costs to build a possible new stadium in Brook Park, outside of Cleveland.
According to Cleveland.com, Senate President Rob McColley said he opposes “handouts” such as the proposal lobbyists for the 3-14 Browns organization are attempting to advance looking for a reported $600 million in state share toward the total $2.4 billion price tag to develop the new site. Stay tuned. 1/6/2024
This week, House Bill 203, also called the “Prompt Pay Act”, failed to clear the Senate prior to the closing bell of the General Assembly. Garnering strong support from labor, the bill enjoyed a strong last-minute push at the end of the post-election session. The OMA’s coalition-building efforts with members of the business community and advocacy in the general assembly were instrumental in deterring its passage.
The bill aimed to set the payment terms in construction contracts and eliminate the owner’s right to negotiate by requiring all contracts be paid within 30 days while enforcing an 18% penalty fee and providing attorneys fees for contractors at the owner’s expense. 12/18/2024
The OMA led a coalition of business groups to oppose House Bill 203, the prompt pay act. The labor-supported bill would set the payment terms in construction contracts and eliminate the owner’s right to negotiate by requiring all contracts be paid within 30 days. HB 203 would impose an 18% rate on payments not made within the state-mandated “prompt pay” period.
With just a few weeks remaining in the general assembly, the OMA will continue its efforts to oppose the bill and prevent its passage. 12/10/2024
In the final weeks of the legislative session, Ohio lawmakers are debating a proposal to increase annual pay raises for elected officials from 1.75% to 5% over the next four years.
After that, raises would align with inflation or be capped at 3% annually. While legislators like Rep. Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati) argue that the increase addresses inflation’s impact, critics question the timing and effectiveness of lawmakers in addressing broader issues such as housing and utility costs. Discussions are ongoing, with no bill introduced yet. 12/10/2024
Ohioans are paying more for auto insurance rates, with the 10 largest auto insurers in the state raising their rates an average of 19.3 percent in 2023.
The industry is blaming the increase on more accidents and more severe accidents since the pandemic, as well as rising medical costs, an increase in stolen cars, more distracted driving, and higher legal costs, according to the Columbus Dispatch. 11/27/2024
This week, the Ohio Senate’s Ways & Means Committee began hearings on Senate Bill 216, a proposal to phase out state income tax on nonbusiness income over six years and repeal the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) by 2030.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Steve Huffman, acknowledged the state would need to replace approximately $8 billion in annual revenue, potentially through spending reductions or revised sales tax policies, while protecting essential items like food and rent from sales tax. Advocates argue the measure will spur economic growth and attract residents to Ohio, but critics, like Sen. Kent Smith, raised concerns about impacts on property taxes and overall revenue sustainability. 11/20/2024
President-elect Donald Trump campaigned heavily on bringing back U.S. manufacturing, extend the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, curtail federal funding for clean energy, and use tariffs to boost the manufacturing sector.
UtilityDive recently broke down the top four issues to keep an eye on as Trump rolls out his presidential transition plan. 11/14/2024
Markets rallied dramatically Wednesday following Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged 1,434 points to a record high, or around 3.4%. The S&P 500 also hit an all-time high, popping 2.3%, with the Nasdaq Composite climbing 2.6% to a record of its own.
The dollar also had its highest jump since 2020, most likely a reaction to Trump’s proposals around tariffs, international trade, and taxation. 11/6/2024
The IRS has released the final regulations regarding qualifications and stipulations for the Section 45X advanced manufacturing production tax credit.
The regulations include allowing qualified parts to be made from recycled materials, clarification on certain material and extraction cost qualifications, and inclusion of domestic solar wafer production.
These final regulations take effect Dec. 27, 2024 10/30/2024
The U.S. Treasury Department this week rolled out the final rules for tax breaks for manufacturers making “clean” energy parts and mineral products used in climate-friendly tech.
The “45X” credit covers equipment like solar inverters, battery cells, wind blades, and more in the latest move from Washington to merge climate and industrial policy. The credits also apply to processing project extraction costs when sourcing domestic minerals. 10/24/2024
More changes are coming to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime regulations. Effective July 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor has increased the minimum salary threshold for executive, administrative, and professional (EAP) employees to $844 per week.
Further changes are set for Jan. 1, 2025, which will impact how employers manage payroll and compliance. OMA Connections Partner CliftonLarsonAllen has prepared a guide for how employers can continue to prepare for the new changes, including adjustments to payroll systems, and communicate changes to their employees to ensure compliance and minimize disruptions. 10/15/2024
The OMA’s Tax and Finance Committee met this week in Columbus. Discussion included a comparison of the Trump and Harris tax plans, OMA tax priorities for next year’s budget, and the potential elimination of the Commercial Activities Tax.
Guests included Commissioner Patricia Harris from the Ohio Department of Taxation, who outlined the department’s priorities and initiatives heading into the next year. State Senator George Lang (R-West Chester), Chair of the Business First Caucus also joined the committee and detailed his plan to make Ohio the most business-friendly state in the nation. 10/9/2024
Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump this week outlined their plans for the U.S. manufacturing industry, featuring expanded R&D credits, tax credits, and a “manufacturing ambassador.”
The current Vice President’s 82-page policy blueprint includes tax incentives for domestic manufacturing, workforce development initiatives, and support for industries that prioritize environmental responsibility.
Trump’s manufacturing strategy, announced at his rally in Georgia, included a first-year tax write-off for all R&D expenses, allowing businesses to “write off 100% of the cost of heavy machinery and other equipment in the first year.” The former president also proposed creating a “manufacturing ambassador” to streamline initiatives and enhance American competitiveness in global markets. 9/26/2024
After months of declining tax revenues, the Ohio Office of Budget and Management reports that revenues are expected to continue to trend downwards through Fiscal Year 2025 and that “slower economic growth in the second half of the year” can be expected.
This report comes as state agencies are preparing their initial operating budget requests ahead of the state budget that will be completed by June of 2025. Lawmakers and budget officials have previously reported that the next state budget will be “a little tighter.” 9/4/2024
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