Ohio Senate panel adopts amendment allowing VA health ID for ODNR veterans discount

The Ohio Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee on an unanimous voice vote adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 223 that would allow a veteran health identification card issued by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to be used as a valid form of identification to qualify for an Ohio Department of Natural Resources veteran discount program.

Committee members adopted amendment 0866 after Vice Chair Wilson moved it and explained its effect. “The amendment would allow a veteran health identification card issued by the US Department of Veterans Affairs to be used as a valid form of identification for veterans to qualify for the bills program,” Vice Chair Wilson said in moving the change.

The amendment was offered during the bill’s third hearing. Clerk roll call recorded affirmative responses from Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Wilson, Senator Craig and Senator Schaffer; the chair summarized, “we do have, unanimous from those present, that'll carry and, we'll have that, amended into the bill.” The amendment was incorporated into the bill and the committee concluded the third hearing on Senate Bill 223.

The change narrows one practical hurdle for veterans seeking the ODNR discount by expanding the forms of ID that will be accepted; the bill’s broader provisions and any further committee action were not discussed on the record. No public testimony on Senate Bill 223 was recorded during this meeting.

The committee convened and completed the roll call and amendment vote before moving on to other bills on the agenda.