[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6315736,"mediaKeyId","2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa","parentId",2378674,"title","House Agricultural Committee approves minutes, schedules further budget testimony","audioSeconds",29,"startMs",97000,"endMs",126000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa&start=97&end=126","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa/thumbnail_97000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6315736/Ohio/House-Agricultural-Committee-approves-minutes-schedules-further-budget-testimony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315736-cc155fdee72718e93fc1427dce6d082c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185274&Signature=eOFgJh-1ukY-PEoDumoieZ~Qfp-SIAz1LyjsvyHVqxuibifpRKsR84pGwDOCqLrDvBx2f2yaP96QBn-cH5Dokq2XAJXWSMIAo6GotC6gJpzrBCYmnIM0Nax2Tmy6CJwtFh2zNJE7BIaljQwM30RjYjW4Fh-cEHfkyyComrM58mSXMTKQm~p6VxA-fdcgtfZlnqypCDMAi4wQUtQo22d5dUUXn6zjixdQYnkeBAmcO52TwFd2kDIQLqNt3abjMZ6cnWpEy77uaQGD1rtmO3TxsDIojKR7FfDCpuNuq6MkRfFEYFzOfPkJILAGAKQD0XkOx4k~ojPvYhk6sfdScATa6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ohio Legislature","date","2025-02-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Ohio House Agricultural Committee approved minutes for the Feb. 12, 2025 meeting by voice after the clerk called the roll and the chair asked for objections. \"Hearing none, the minutes are approved,\" the chair said on the record.

Committee business and scheduling
The chair told members public testimony will continue in the next week's hearings and reminded witnesses that testimony should be submitted to committee staff within 24 hours or at least 24 hours before scheduled hearings. The committee adjourned at 10:36 a.m.

Ending note
No roll call tally was recorded in the transcript; the approval was announced after the chair asked and received no objections.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ohio House Agriculture Committee - 2-20-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved minutes from its Feb. 12, 2025 session by voice without objection, and the chair announced upcoming public testimony sessions and submitted testimony deadlines.","taxTitle","Agriculture, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Ohio","taxId",17407,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315742,"Showmen's group urges committee to remove proposed increases to mechanical ride inspection fees",153,2586000,2739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa&start=2586&end=2739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa/thumbnail_2586000.jpg","/articles/6315742/Ohio/Showmens-group-urges-committee-to-remove-proposed-increases-to-mechanical-ride-inspection-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315742-5e66787810dfca655cfd8a8d8bbaa558/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185274&Signature=LlP-9ygCK5O~RkvAoSLKWIZk3XbqePDRC2YKpsSU-EuOmtQTVJJsfv31n~tRSXX3y1u5rxXUEI7hPlsQr2~E6SnDDqO5i~d~JGOy349782~QrQm7a82Pqa5iRmz7j694gYdHzfZiErqjRQ18WIMH-BGVhm3VOmkcbT19pHRtz9sr62nPsKWdTQB5W9Awx3fp4BU1zrhqrOJaVEq1u4M9QYoVPdGkob6LWAvVoOUbY4cxpw9wo72lANTwRZswuyrJb0sytco8dexhI2dQP8Xt8roluyZ0td4FwBN9VjkZH3ZchPWCgpMOU2amRGNqUP8Wpkt4l96k1zJuLISwB2ZzEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eric Derman, executive board liaison and communications director for the Greater Ohio Showmen's Association, told the House Agricultural Committee that proposed changes to permitting and inspection fees would raise costs for mechanical ride operators and asked the committee to remove those changes from the budget.

\"The proposed increase will cost a typical ride company 20% more in inspection fees in 2025,\" Derman said in testimony representing more than 450 members who operate food concessions, games and amusement rides at county fairs and other events.

Why it matters: the proposed fee adjustments discussed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture would reallocate permit/inspection costs across ride categories — increasing fees for many mechanical rides (family, major, spectacular, tower rides and roller coasters) while lowering permit fees for inflatables. Operators told the committee those changes would raise the annual inspection bills for family businesses that supply county fairs and community events.

Industry testimony and examples
Derman said Ohio already has an extensive inspection regime and an “exemplary record” for ride safety. He said past fee changes and new supplemental fees tied to Tyler’s Law inspections have increased costs; the association asked lawmakers not to further increase fees on mechanical‑ride operators. As an example, Derman gave a permit/inspection pair used by some operators: a $225 permit and a $200 inspection fee for a family ride, paid annually when the inspection is performed.

Quantitative note: the witness described the average Ohio ride company as paying about $11,000 in inspection fees two years ago and about $15,000 last year. He said the proposed changes would increase annual bills further; a projected dollar figure quoted in testimony was unclear in the transcript and should be verified with the witness or department for precision.

Department process and advisory input
Director Baldridge told the committee the fee review was informed by a 16‑member advisory board convened by the governor representing multiple industry sectors; the department described the fee change as an attempt to align permit and inspection fees with inspection effort and staff time required for different ride classes.

Committee reaction
Lawmakers questioned whether inspection frequency or quality would change; both the witness and the department said inspections would not be reduced and that the proposal reallocates fees rather than eliminating inspections. Members emphasized public‑safety concerns and asked for cost justifications from the department to explain the proposed fee structure.

Ending note
The association asked the committee to remove the mechanical‑ride fee increases from the budget and requested the department provide clearer, itemized cost data to justify any fee reallocation.","The Greater Ohio Showmen's Association told the committee proposed fee changes in the agriculture budget would substantially raise costs for family ride operators while shifting relief to inflatable operators; the group urged removal of the proposed mechanical-ride fee increases.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315748,"Ohio Commerce director outlines fee‑supported budget, new cannabis division oversight and unclaimed‑funds modernization",872,2209000,3081000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa&start=2209&end=3081","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa/thumbnail_2209000.jpg","/articles/6315748/Ohio/Ohio-Commerce-director-outlines-feesupported-budget-new-cannabis-division-oversight-and-unclaimedfunds-modernization","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315748-6689a2ccefc1b04f879cba38131f39e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185274&Signature=nmTcG4TQv8GUl4haNsyWUgH9QXeSdlZai8nyyB--b-OZg0XWySjBl1Ag~WNsbuhYinUGpeEl7gSsNTPh6ecs2qTy9pdHkNiHcWPmk9fTIn0x~a5Rji7jHLtHfVxg8e7vDhCYldlDWE-AKW8j7eLBxGdZNFk7zd8bwVe1UHZkSgEyRZaGbghPmz~~lsOu46dWhhEZDgWrpCPddKpz1ceT30x5A59EQ6e7NuD472AMsguOl52B3vviUzoTQhfRIIwEfbjeU0sa5KMH9DNkNCxTcDxzI81bWL9Ft8-DhPCpYKpHuGkVOogKU8PyO7Wsa~kLMJ3pKg~BFOBxPL~iY0YMug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sherry Maxfield, director of the Ohio Department of Commerce, told the House Agricultural Committee on Feb. 12 that Commerce is proposing roughly $317,000,000 in FY26 and $321,000,000 in FY27 to support nine divisions and two programs funded largely by fees and assessments rather than the General Revenue Fund.

Maxfield said the department’s priorities include modernizing licensing systems, supporting first responders, expanding outreach and education, and improving consumer protections. \"We are committed to leveraging technology, supporting first responders, and increasing education and outreach,\" she said.

Why it matters: Commerce regulation touches many consumer and business activities — from liquor, building codes and fire marshal services to the newly consolidated Division of Cannabis Control — and Maxfield described budget increases to staff and systems needed to oversee both medical and nonmedical markets after passage of Issue 2.

Cannabis control and Issue 2
Maxfield said the Division of Cannabis Control now oversees both medical and nonmedical marijuana programs. She said the division currently lists 37 cultivators, 46 processors, six testing laboratories and 134 dispensaries, and that the medical program has more than 100,000 registered patients. Jim Koneppa, superintendent of cannabis control, told the committee the Issue 2 implementation formula will produce about 67 additional dispensaries identified under the initiated statute; most of those licensees have selected locations and the department is processing licensing applications.

Intoxicating hemp concerns
During questions Representative Miller asked about unregulated high‑THC hemp products sold at vape and smoke shops. Jim Koneppa described intoxicating hemp as “the same plant” and warned that products sold under hemp authorities can be highly potent, untested for contaminants and readily accessible to minors. Koneppa urged regulation of intoxicating hemp products and retail outlets along the lines of cannabis rules to require testing, child‑resistant packaging, marketing limits and age gating.

Unclaimed funds and technology
Maxfield said the division of unclaimed funds will launch a new online claims platform “next week,” and that the department plans strategic data‑sharing partnerships (for example with BMV, BWC and Tax) to match payees more rapidly. She described an outreach goal to reduce the stock of unclaimed funds by locating owners and returning money more quickly.

Other items
Maxfield highlighted investments in the State Fire Marshal’s technology and forensic laboratory, a proposal for building‑code training grants, and a program to train incarcerated youth in skilled trades tied to apprenticeship pathways. She described Commerce as self‑funded, noting a proposed modest increase in burial permit fees to support cemetery grant awards.

Ending note
Maxfield closed by reiterating Commerce’s operational focus and asked legislators to consider the fee‑supported structure when assessing funding for divisions that have grown in scope, notably the Division of Cannabis Control following Issue 2.

","Director Sherry Maxfield described a fee‑supported Commerce budget for FY26–27, detailed the Division of Cannabis Control’s current footprint and the operational impacts of Issue 2, and described next‑week rollout of a modernized unclaimed‑funds platform.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6315752,"Ohio agriculture director outlines biennial budget with new animal lab, H2Ohio funding and farmland preservation aid",409,128000,537000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa&start=128&end=537","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2378674-10bff11fef96bdd3a1f0bb2e62329ffa/thumbnail_128000.jpg","/articles/6315752/Ohio/Ohio-agriculture-director-outlines-biennial-budget-with-new-animal-lab-H2Ohio-funding-and-farmland-preservation-aid","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6315752-6da77f4e7e34b42ab958923972b41e08/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185274&Signature=GnIrfJExjD1pe0QSVMsJ~Qq5iZxuGVP1cM3AFoLZV1l0FpIwq20Tthesm3yZDBlulvYx71SiAQvQpom81HWfNPulcyN-vrKAH6t7OChpwV9Ann9DaAEWhmAoG8~M2NvGb-Bco4e3qvyiZ-FK6UyfHd5CKEGndWG-6GF2zcODs~A~mPKVCuReu8WYptXOMienDKxoXoBTYFV2F5~bReQ3JJqxoAGRqYjaQRQg5XVb864IYlzNGbNypCCrCled9Gpiz5LSN6gq5MMK16oDxeBovd2U~shWjw6F6sGMRF0W9MEwndQAF~mPvqxUGdhd4S32r0HIrreF60ms3bc9t3BL6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, told the Ohio House Agricultural Committee on Feb. 12 that the department's proposed biennial budget requests roughly $80,000,000 for FY 2026 and $180,900,000 for FY 2027 to support regulatory work, laboratory services and farming programs.

The budget, Baldridge said, aims to improve agency efficiency while funding “high risk issues” such as animal disease preparedness. \"The mission at the department is to ensure the safety of the state's food supply, health of Ohio livestock and plants, while creating economic opportunities for Ohio farmers, food processors, and agribusinesses,\" he said.

Why it matters: the testimony framed laboratory capacity, disease response and farm-support reimbursements as central to the state's ability to protect agricultural producers and the food supply. Lawmakers pressed Baldridge on the department's capacity to handle a continuing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and on long‑term strategies to preserve farmland amid development pressures.

Key budget features and program details
- Lab capacity and disease response: Baldridge said funding in the budget supports ODA laboratory services and the construction of a new animal disease diagnostic laboratory funded through recent legislation. He told the committee the lab is expected to be finished in mid‑2026 and that the department is using contracted staff to meet higher testing demand during the HPAI outbreak. He said roughly 30% of certain tests are currently performed in‑state.
- HPAI response: Baldridge described the HPAI outbreak as ongoing since 2022 and said ODA remains in a response posture. He praised producers and USDA cooperation and said the department is “boots on the ground” supporting affected producers; he added that the current viral strain has shown consistent impacts on poultry production since 2022.
- H2Ohio: the department said H2Ohio would continue with a $60,600,000 allocation under the proposed budget. Baldridge reported 3,200 producers participating and roughly 2,200,000 acres enrolled statewide; he said phosphorus test values show improving trends as best management practices are implemented.
- Reimbursements and grants: Baldridge said about half of the department's budget is for reimbursements, citing $85,800,000 in FY26 and $83,600,000 in FY27 that will flow to farmers, local soil and water districts and fairs.
- Farmland preservation: ODA reported the state's farmland preservation program currently covers 725 farms and more than 108,000 acres across 62 counties. The budget adds $1,000,000 to expand county planning grant opportunities, with $500,000 in each fiscal year.

Lawmakers' questions
Vice Chair Newman asked whether the new laboratory will handle demand from the recent HPAI surge; Baldridge said the facility will add space and efficiency and that the department is hiring and contracting staff to increase capacity during outbreaks. Representative Sims pressed Baldridge about veterinary shortages and telehealth; Baldridge said the department employs more than 20 veterinarians, is engaged with Ohio State University and national partners, and is participating in conversations about using telehealth and other tools to expand veterinary reach for large‑animal producers.

What the department did not claim
Baldridge described the department’s role as diagnostic and response oriented and explicitly distinguished ODA’s testing and diagnosis functions from university research labs. He did not provide a specific long‑term staffing plan or exact operating cost estimates for the new laboratory beyond confirming that the CFO is modeling operational expenses.

Ending note
Baldridge closed by thanking the committee for legislative support, citing House Bill 687 and House Bill 2 as recent authorizations that enabled lab funding, and offered to answer follow‑up questions from committee members.

","Director Baldridge told the Ohio House Agricultural Committee the Department of Agriculture's proposed FY26–27 budget emphasizes lab capacity and disease response, continues funding for H2Ohio, and expands farmland preservation grants; he warned the department remains in active response to highly pathogenic avian influenza.","actionData","errors"]

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