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State Rep. Cindy Abrams briefs Harrison on new Ohio laws: dog ordinances, fentanyl penalties, property tax relief
Summary
State Rep. Cindy Abrams told Harrison council members about several recently passed bills — including changes to dog-control laws (Avery’s Law), tougher fentanyl penalties, property tax relief bills and a new offense for grooming — and previewed the capital budget timeline.
State Rep. Cindy Abrams addressed the Harrison City Council to outline recent state legislation and carry local project updates to the city’s leadership.
Abrams, who identified herself and her committee assignments, highlighted House Bill 247 ("Avery's Law") and said the legislature substantially revised the state dog-control statutes to define nuisance, dangerous and vicious dogs and to clarify the dog warden process. She described the change as intended to create clear court processes rather than rely on informal labeling.
Abrams also discussed House Bill 88, which she said increases penalties for traffickers who knowingly sell drugs laced with fentanyl; she said the law includes a mandatory five-year minimum prison term in that circumstance. In a statement to council she said, "Fentanyl will kill 12 Ohioans today," characterizing the statewide risk driving stiffer penalties.
On tax policy, Abrams said House Bill 186 and related measures will deliver property-tax relief over the next three years and that the recent budget produced a flat personal income tax rate of 2.75 percent; she said the changes aim to make Ohio more competitive with neighboring states. She also said the capital budget process is underway and that local projects submitted to the capital budget are under consideration, with a probable May–June finalization window.
Abrams noted the General Assembly created a grooming offense under House Bill 322 to address repeated communications to minors that constitute grooming. She also said the House is monitoring stewardship of public dollars and that she had joined a letter seeking investigations where fraud is alleged in programs serving vulnerable people.
Council members thanked Abrams for the briefing and invited constituents to reach out to her office for questions; several members praised the outreach and the representative’s availability.
The representative’s remarks combined legislative summaries, constituent-service reminders and an invitation to follow up about local capital-project submissions.
Representative Abrams’ comments were presented as legislative updates and local outreach; the council did not take formal action on state bills during the meeting.
