05-03-2025
Ohio lawmaker proposes gym membership tax credit
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — State lawmakers are debating whether to start paying Ohioans to work out.
Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Ohio Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), aims to let people who have a gym membership or a personal trainer deduct up to $1,500 from their personal income taxes, and pay up to $200 in a nonrefundable tax credit.
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'I want to make sure that we alleviate any possible obstacle that might be in front of somebody,' he said. 'This gives them the encouragement to say that, 'You know what? It's no longer a financial burden.''
The bill does not explicitly define 'gym membership,' but the analysis puts these guardrails on it: 'Gym memberships are all transactions by which a membership is granted, maintained, or renewed, including initiation fees, membership dues, renewal fees, monthly minimum fees, and other similar fees and dues, by a physical fitness facility such as an athletic club, health spa, or gymnasium, which entitles members to use the facility for physical exercise.'
Cutrona said he wants to encourage gym-goers to keep it up, while attracting new people. He said part of the reason he introduced this bill is to help create a heathier state. He pointed out that Ohio, as of 2022, has the seventh-highest rate of obesity in the nation.
'Is this going to be the end all, be all to end obesity in the state of Ohio? No,' he said. 'But it's a step in the right direction and there's a lot of small steps we have to take to conquer the overall goal.'
Cutrona said he hopes this helps motivate Ohioans who are struggling with obesity to hit the gym.
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'They can get a move away from the pharmaceuticals and focus a little bit more on just lifestyle changes,' he said.
Committee members who heard this bill agreed it is important to keep Ohio healthy. There was little pushback on the idea, but some had questions about cost and how many people would actually benefit. Cutrona said he does not have those answers for the Legislative Services Commission yet.
While Cutrona does not know exactly how much this will cost the state, he said the costs will likely save Ohio money in the long run. He said now, taxpayers are keeping up with the demand of programs like Medicaid for some Ohioans who suffer health complications from issues like obesity.
'We will see a major benefit here in the state of Ohio by the cost savings, by having healthier people, because it costs across the state of Ohio a lot of dollars to keep people healthy,' Cutrona said. 'If we can keep people healthier, that's less dollars we are spending as a whole.'
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