The Ohio Senate added and changed provisions in a
sweeping midterm budget bill that it passed on Wednesday. Some of the
proposals in H.B. 483 would:
— Increase small business income-tax reductions to 75 percent from 50 percent for tax year 2014.
— Raise personal income-tax exemptions for low- and middle-income taxpayers making under $80,000 a year.

— Double the earned income tax credit available to low-income Ohioans from 5 percent to 10 percent of the
federal credit.
—
Get rid of a $500,000 pilot program to provide businesses with
technical assistance related to market research, marketing and the
development of connections with other businesses and resource providers.
— Scrap increases to fees for nonresident deer permits and hunting licenses.
— Create an official public notice website for the state, to be operated and maintained by the Ohio
newspaper industry.
— Replace the words "handicapped" and "disabled" with "accessible" on new
or replacement signage indicating access.
— Limit the authority of the state Controlling Board to approve certain increases in appropriation
authority.
— Create a Maritime Port Funding Study Committee.
— Reinstate the requirement that the director of the state’s pharmacy board be a licensed pharmacist.
— Remove a proposal for a high school dropout prevention and recovery program, along with the $5 million
set aside for it.
— Require wind turbines to be set back at least 1,125 feet from the nearest property line.
— Bar unpaid police officers from issuing citations for Motor Vehicles Law violations.