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Ohio Senate adopts Buckeye Trail resolution and passes bills on probate fees, carbon offsets, memorial highway and specialty plate
Summary
The Ohio Senate on Feb. 10 adopted a resolution urging Congress to designate the Buckeye Trail a national scenic trail and, by unanimous roll-call votes, passed amended House Bill 55 on probate estate fees, Amended Senate Bill 151 on voluntary carbon-offset offerings by retail gas suppliers, Senate Bill 216 creating a memorial highway and Senate Bill 228 authorizing a Lifetime specialty license plate.
The Ohio Senate convened Feb. 10 in Columbus and adopted a series of resolutions and bills intended to support trails, streamline probate of insolvent estates, create a voluntary carbon-offset framework for retail natural gas suppliers, and authorize memorial and fundraising measures.
Senators voted 32–0 to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 13 urging Congress to designate the Buckeye Trail as a national scenic trail. Senator Wilson said the trail runs through 42 of Ohio’s 88 counties and 24 senate districts and that federal designation would draw down funding to help maintain the state’s broader trail network.
The chamber also unanimously approved House Concurrent Resolution 22 encouraging students in grades 1 through 12 to read the U.S. Declaration of Independence during the 2025–26 school year in recognition of the document’s 250th anniversary, with senators stressing civic-education benefits.
On legislation, the Senate passed amended House Bill 55, which addresses insolvent probate estates and authorizes reimbursement of administrators’ and attorneys’ costs (a cap of $5,000 was noted for those reimbursements) to encourage attorneys and administrators to complete probate for estates with insufficient assets. Senator Manning and supporters said the change will help clear “zombie” properties that otherwise languish in the system.
Amended Senate Bill 151 passed unanimously after sponsors described it as a voluntary program allowing competitive retail natural gas suppliers to offer carbon offsets to customers, with registration and oversight by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to ensure environmental claims are substantiated. Supporters said the bill aims to provide market certainty for businesses buying credits while keeping the program voluntary.
Senate Bill 216, to designate a portion of State Route 7 in Mahoning County as the Clarence Sonny Smith Jr. Memorial Highway, cleared the Senate, with supporters citing local resolutions and bipartisan backing. The chamber also approved Senate Bill 228 to create a Lifetime specialty license plate to raise awareness and funds for LifeTown, a Central Ohio program serving children and teens with special needs.
Several procedural motions were also agreed to without objection: senators absent the week of Feb. 8 were excused so long as a written explanation was filed, and Senate Concurrent Resolution 16 was referred to the rules and reference committee. The Senate adjourned to meet Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Votes at a glance: House Concurrent Resolution 13 (adopted, 32–0); House Concurrent Resolution 22 (adopted, 32–0); Amended House Bill 55 (passed, 32–0); Amended Senate Bill 151 (passed, 32–0); Senate Bill 216 (passed, 32–0); Senate Bill 228 (passed, 32–0); Senate Resolution 275 (adopted, 32–0).
