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VFW urges 25% state park discount and VHIC acceptance during SB 223 hearing
Summary
At a committee hearing on SB 223, a representative of the Veterans of Foreign Wars urged a 25% discount for veterans at Ohio state parks and suggested adding the Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) to the bill’s list of acceptable ID; the bill’s sponsor said an amendment has already been drafted.
The Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee received proponent testimony on Senate Bill 223, which would direct the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to establish a discount program for veterans and service members at state parks.
David Rood, legislative chairman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Ohio, told the committee a simple, easy‑to‑understand 25% discount could help keep outdoor recreation spending in Ohio and make parks more accessible to veterans. “The parks could even be a lifesaver for some of our heroes,” Rood said, describing parks as therapeutic spaces for veterans.
Rood also recommended a technical change to the bill: he asked the committee to add the Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) to the bill’s five listed forms of documentation that would qualify veterans for the discount, saying the VHIC is a form of ID many veterans carry and that “if the TSA accepts it, I think our park rangers can also.”
Senator Patton responded that his staff member had already drafted an amendment to add the VHIC and that the amendment would be considered at the next meeting, at the chair’s discretion. The committee noted written testimony available on committee devices from Adam Carr of Save a Warrior.
No committee vote was taken during the proponent hearing; Senator Patton and the witness both urged favorable passage out of committee so the discount program could be implemented.
Next steps: Senator Patton indicated the VHIC amendment would be brought back for consideration at a subsequent meeting.
