Latest news with #HouseBill315
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Zoo gets catty and sues town over new $1 tax on memberships
An Ohio zoo has shown its claws by filing a lawsuit against the local township over a $1 tax on all its admissions and memberships. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium filed the lawsuit Wednesday against Liberty Township, who claim that the fee helps cover costs for police, fire and emergency medical services at the park. The proposed tax comes from House Bill 315, which was passed in April 2024 to allow townships to collect up to $1 per admission to offset public safety costs at large venues. In the suit, seen by The Independent, the zoo argues that it should be exempt from the so-called 'Protect and Serve Charge' as it does not meet the criteria of a 'qualifying venue.' Such venues, which include theatres, concert halls, entertainment venues, or similar event spaces, must have a capacity of at least two thousand and be situated on land exempt from property taxation, according to the suit. 'The Zoo is not, and is dissimilar to, a 'theatre, concert hall, entertainment venue, or similar space.' Rather, the Zoo is an animal conservation and educational institution,' the suit states. 'The Zoo is also not considered a 'qualifying event venue' because a portion of the land on which it is situated is not exempt from property taxation.' The lawsuit also claims that a $1 surcharge on each admission would amount to $2 million of taxes per year, given the average number of visitors the zoo receives, while the cost of first responders is only around $260,000. The Columbus Zoo has demanded that an order be passed, forcing the township to declare it is not a 'qualifying venue,' as well as seeking an injunction to delay the township's attempt to collect the admissions tax and decide if such taxes can be collected going forward. 'This is an important legal issue and a matter of standing up for our guests, our mission, and our work in education, conservation, and animal care,' said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in a statement. 'Through our educationally-focused wildlife conservation mission, we have rightly earned our designation as a tax-exempt not-for-profit institution, and it's critical for us to preserve this designation, not just for our organization, but for not-for-profit organizations throughout Ohio. ' The Independent has reached out to Liberty Township for comment about the lawsuit filed by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ohio zoo gets catty and sues town over new $1 tax on memberships
An Ohio zoo has shown its claws by filing a lawsuit against the local township over a $1 tax on all its admissions and memberships. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium filed the lawsuit Wednesday against Liberty Township, who claim that the fee helps cover costs for police, fire and emergency medical services at the park. The proposed tax comes from House Bill 315, which was passed in April 2024 to allow townships to collect up to $1 per admission to offset public safety costs at large venues. In the suit, seen by The Independent, the zoo argues that it should be exempt from the so-called 'Protect and Serve Charge' as it does not meet the criteria of a 'qualifying venue.' Such venues, which include theatres, concert halls, entertainment venues, or similar event spaces, must have a capacity of at least two thousand and be situated on land exempt from property taxation, according to the suit. 'The Zoo is not, and is dissimilar to, a 'theatre, concert hall, entertainment venue, or similar space.' Rather, the Zoo is an animal conservation and educational institution,' the suit states. 'The Zoo is also not considered a 'qualifying event venue' because a portion of the land on which it is situated is not exempt from property taxation.' The lawsuit also claims that a $1 surcharge on each admission would amount to $2 million of taxes per year, given the average number of visitors the zoo receives, while the cost of first responders is only around $260,000. The Columbus Zoo has demanded that an order be passed, forcing the township to declare it is not a 'qualifying venue,' as well as seeking an injunction to delay the township's attempt to collect the admissions tax and decide if such taxes can be collected going forward. 'This is an important legal issue and a matter of standing up for our guests, our mission, and our work in education, conservation, and animal care,' said Tom Schmid, President and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, in a statement. 'Through our educationally-focused wildlife conservation mission, we have rightly earned our designation as a tax-exempt not-for-profit institution, and it's critical for us to preserve this designation, not just for our organization, but for not-for-profit organizations throughout Ohio. ' The Independent has reached out to Liberty Township for comment about the lawsuit filed by Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some local police departments opt to charge for body camera video in light of new law
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Whitehall and Grove City police departments have opted to charge for body camera video in light of a recently implemented law, as multiple other central Ohio agencies consider doing the same. In January, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 315 into law, which permits government agencies to charge the public and news media the 'estimated cost' of processing videos for public records requests before releasing them. This could include video from body cameras, dash cameras and surveillance footage from jails. Abstinence, patriotism and monogamy all required curriculum under new Ohio bill The statute officially took effect in April, allowing departments to charge up to $75 per hour of video, with fees capped at $750 per request. Before the law went into effect, the Ohio Revised Code allowed agencies to charge for public records, but only nominal fees associated with copying the content onto items such as paper or a flash drive, not labor costs. NBC4 reached out to central Ohio law enforcement agencies, asking if they have changed their public records request policies given the law's implementation. Whitehall has opted to charge the full amount as allowed by the law for body camera video – $75 per hour, or $1.25 per minute, with a cap of $750. The policy states that certain requests by victims or their representatives may be exempt from fees. 'Fees are necessary to cover the costs associated with reviewing, redacting, processing, storing, and distributing public record requests,' the policy states. Site of chemical leak offering compensation, set to reopen The Grove City Police Department has also chosen to charge for police video, with its policy asserting the amount charged will be based on the hourly rates of employees involved in producing the record, but costs will not exceed $75 per hour of footage or $750 overall. For records of certain 'critical incidents,' the police chief may choose to produce the video at no cost to the requester to ensure public transparency, the policy states. The chief of the Blendon Township Police Department, John Belford, said his agency has submitted a draft of a policy to its township attorney for review. Belford said he is recommending the department charge for body camera video, as the footage often requires 'extensive review and redaction.' 'The time that is spent by our administrative staff redacting and producing copies of releasable video has a substantial impact on our staff workload and time management,' he said. The Columbus Division of Police said it has not completed its policy and declined to share if the department plans to charge for video or not. The Hilliard Division of Police stated it is continuing to review the new law. The Pickerington Police Department said it had not yet changed its policy but will consider charging for body camera video under the new law during its budgeting process for 2026, which will likely begin in September. Both the Gahanna and Dublin police departments said they have not made any changes to their policies at this time. Progress made one year since SAFER program launched in Worthington The Delaware County Sheriff's Office stated it is still working on determining its policy. A spokesperson said the department is currently working on a 'significant backlog' of requests, and that it will not charge for those since they were received prior to the new law taking effect. Since the statute says law enforcement agencies may adopt a change to their policy, there is no deadline for them to make a decision, Capital University law professor Susan Gilles previously told NBC4. Multiple departments said they have become overwhelmed with video requests, specifically from people who request body camera content to post online, and that charging will help them manage their records department. DeWine previously stated the intention of the law is to help law enforcement officials cover the administrative costs associated with editing video. Police departments often have to redact the voices or faces of uncharged suspects or victims whose identities are protected under the law. Five-story apartment building nears construction in Franklinton However, the new statute has drawn criticism and concerns about police transparency. Families with loved ones who were killed by police held a news conference shortly after the bill was signed into law. Shawna Barnett, the sister of Andre Hill, who was fatally shot by a former Columbus police officer in 2020, said that the law damages public trust. Gilles also told NBC4 earlier this year that the legislation was not 'well thought through' and would make public records less accessible. DeWine said in a January news release that if the policy has 'unforeseen consequences,' he will work with the legislature to amend the language. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sharp bill signed into law
FRANKFORT The governor has signed House Bill 315, a measure sponsored by Rep. Scott Sharp, Ashland-R, to protect Kentucky's agricultural land from hostile foreign entities, into law. 'With the support of my colleagues in both chambers and both sides of the aisle, Kentucky has now closed a door which has stood open to our nation's enemies for too long,' Sharp said. 'I am proud of the General Assembly for recognizing the seriousness of this issue, and for joining me in taking this necessary action to protect our citizens, our commonwealth, and our country.' House Bill 315 will prohibit any foreign entity from purchasing, leasing or acquiring agricultural land in Kentucky if they are associated with a hostile foreign government identified by Title 22, section 126.1 of the Code of Federal Regulations and do not have a national security agreement with the Committee on Foreign Investment, according to a press release. These countries include China, Cuba, Iran and Venezuela among others. HB 315 will also prohibit any foreign entity associated with these countries from participating in agricultural programs offered by the commonwealth. In addition, the bill requires agricultural land purchased for non-agricultural purposes by all foreign entities to be developed within five years of purchase, stated the release. Visit for more information.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor Beshear signs 20 new bills into law in Kentucky
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has been busy. The governor has recently signed 20 bills into law, vetoed 12 and returned 4 without a signature. The governor's goal is that these bills will help Kentuckians and improve communities across the state. 'We've been laser focused on addressing the everyday needs of our Kentucky families and communities, and the 20 bills I signed do just that,' says Beshear. Below are the 20 bills Governor Beshear has signed into law: House Bill 15 lowers the age at which Kentucky drivers can obtain instructional permits from 16 to 15 years old. House Bill 45 strengthens campaign finance regulations. House Bill 315 prohibits hostile foreign governments from indirectly owning, leasing or otherwise acquiring an interest in agricultural land in the commonwealth. House Bill 321 addresses issues related to zoning map amendments. House Bill 342 requires a financial literacy course in high school. House Bill 422 makes procedural changes for how emergency regulations are administered through the Commonwealth Office of Technology. House Bill 443 makes Kentucky Highway 80 in Perry, Knot and Floyd counties part of the Hal Rogers Parkway. House Bill 537 provides clarity regarding the Opioid Abatement Fund. House Bill 682 includes cable operators and broadband providers in the definitions of 'utility' for reimbursement of costs associated with relocation of their facilities. House Bill 701 safeguards the rights of Kentuckians to use and mine cryptocurrencies. Senate Bill 27 requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to create and maintain a Kentucky Parkinson's Disease Research Registry. Senate Bill 68 makes several changes aligning with Kentucky Academic Standards. Additionally, it will reduce staff time costs at the Kentucky Department of Education. Senate Bill 69 creates certification through the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to license qualified candidates to work in animal chiropractic and equine dentistry. Senate Bill 129 allows governmental, quasi-governmental and nonprofit entities to purchase properties that have been placed in a tax delinquency diversion program. Senate Bill 145 changes the period of time for which delinquency charges can be collected on vehicle payment installments. Senate Bill 162 strengthens protections against unemployment fraud. Senate Bill 179 appropriates $10 million to create the Nuclear Energy Development Grant Program. The measure aligns with the state's energy strategy and new U.S. Department of Energy priorities. Senate Bill 202 creates a licensing and regulatory framework for 'intoxicating THC infused beverages' within the 3-tier system regulated by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Senate Bill 237 requires certain out-of-state peace officers, who were previously employed in another state for 10 years, to have passed a physical agility test in the state where they were certified. Senate Bill 244 establishes the Department of Child Support Services and its offices within the Office of Attorney General's Department of Law. Below are the bills Governor Beshear vetoed: House Bill 2: Beshear says this bill would prioritize tax breaks for purchasers of gold. He says this is 'out of touch with reality for most people in Kentucky. House Bill 90 restricts access to medical care, places barriers on doctors and undermines their clinical judgement, and threatens the life of pregnant women in Kentucky. House Bill 136 would force the executive branch to breach a contract with a vendor opening the government up to costly litigation funded by taxpayers. House Bill 399 criminalizes interference with a legislative proceeding which is already subject to existing laws and is therefore unnecessary. House Bill 424 would limit employment protections for educators at Kentucky's colleges and universities. House Bill 546 makes changes to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's Road Plan, and Beshear says this would include 'unnecessary tolling' on the I-69 Ohio River Crossing project. House Bill 566 received line-item vetoes because it prevents the Governor from being able to fulfill his duty under the Kentucky Constitution that the laws are faithfully executed by the president of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation. House Bill 684 limits the forms of valid identification that may be used to allow a voter to cast a ballot, making it harder for Kentuckians to participate in the voting process. House Bill 694 breaks the promise made to Kentucky teachers in 2010 to fully fund health insurance for retirees by requiring teachers to pay a higher rate much longer than the law calls for. House Joint Resolution 30 seeks to appropriate funds through a resolution instead of through legislation. Senate Bill 28 violates the Kentucky Constitution and will lead to the disclosure of confidential information on economic development projects. Senate Bill 89 eliminates protections currently in place to prevent pollution of groundwater and flooding of creeks, streams and rivers. Below are the bills that were returned without Governor Beshear's signature: House Joint Resolution 15: Beshear aims to show respect to the 79 faith leaders who oppose the resolution. House Bill 241: Beshear says this contradicts the General Assembly's own actions and attitudes toward in-person and all-virtual learning. Senate Bill 136: Beshear says this is due to the General Assembly not providing any funding to support the bill, which would reportedly cost taxpayers $500,000. Senate Bill 201: Beshear says this is due to the requirement that administrative law judges be confirmed by the General Assembly before they can begin service. He says there is concern with not having enough administrative law judges and that members of the Senate may practice before these judges. One more veto day remains before the General Assembly reconvenes for the last two days of the 2025 regular session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
