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Former tax commissioner backs bill to limit litigation over property-tax complaints, lawmakers consider refunds question
Summary
At its second hearing, House Bill 232 drew proponent testimony from former tax commissioner and taxpayer coalition representative John Zano, who urged changes to curb what he called a cottage industry of attorneys litigating property‑tax complaints; members asked about potential refund obligations for taxing districts.
Former tax commissioner John Zano, appearing for the Taxpayer Protection Coalition, testified in support of House Bill 232 at its second hearing. Zano told the committee the bill would shore up protections enacted in earlier legislation (House Bill 126, as referenced at the hearing) and limit what he described as aggressive legal practices by some private attorneys seeking to expand refunds or overturn tax determinations.
“House Bill 232 shores up the protections that were enacted by the hundred and 30 fourth general assembly in house bill 1 26,” Zano said, and the coalition “supports house bill 2 32 and believes that there's an important protection that the house should enact as soon as possible.” He described an industry of attorneys who, in his view, have sought to exploit perceived loopholes in prior law.
Representative Troy asked about the effect on taxing entities if courts order refunds based on changes to legal interpretation; Zano said protections exist under current law to allow school districts to finance refunds over time and indicated the coalition supported measures to limit burdens litigants have placed on taxpayers.
Written testimony from the Ohio Realtors was made available electronically to committee members for this and related items; no other live witnesses were recorded. The committee did not vote on the bill at the hearing.
