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Hamilton County commissioners pass resolution opposing state bill to sweep cannabis host fees
Summary
The Hamilton County Commission voted unanimously Feb. 13 in Anderson Township to oppose Senate Bill 56, which would redirect local host-community cannabis fees to the state general fund; commissioners cited promises to voters and potential local revenue losses.
Hamilton County commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 13 to approve a resolution opposing Senate Bill 56, a proposal that county leaders said would move local “host community” cannabis fees into the state general fund.
The resolution, introduced from the dais during the commission’s regular legislative meeting in Anderson Township, passed on a roll call with all three commissioners voting yes. Commissioner Treehouse made the motion and it was seconded from the dais; the roll call recorded Commissioners Driehaus, Commissioner Summer O'Dumas and Commissioner Reeves voting in favor.
The resolution opposes a provision described by speakers as removing the local host-community fee that would otherwise go to municipalities or townships that host adult-use cannabis businesses. Vicki Earhart, Anderson Township administrator, told commissioners that her township had approved three dispensaries and anticipated the host-community payments would generate “approximately 1 and a half million dollars a year in revenue.” She said the township planned to use the funds to reduce property-tax burdens for residents.
Commissioners and township officials said the proposed change would repeat what they described as a prior state practice after racino revenue: the state initially made local payments and later swept the revenue into state coffers. In discussion before the vote, commissioners said they would stand with host communities on preserving promised local revenue.
Votes at a glance - Resolution opposing Senate Bill 56: Motion carried; roll call yes 3, no 0. (See actions for full record.) - Consent agenda items 1–20 (see companion action below): Motion carried; roll call yes 3, no 0.
Background and context: Issue 2 — the adult-use cannabis ballot measure referenced by township speakers — included language that host communities would receive an excise or local fee. Township and county officials said that language informed local decisions to allow dispensaries and to plan capital or operating uses for the revenue. The commissioners’ resolution records opposition to a bill that would redirect that money to state-level accounts.
