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Ohio EPA says reductions at 25.2% now, aims for 30% after pending filings

Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review · October 28, 2025

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Summary

Ohio EPA legislative liaison Sam Smith told JCAR the agency reached 25.2% regulatory-restriction reductions after rules filed since June 30 and expects to reach a 30% reduction once several rule packages are final-filed; the agency plans further cuts to 32.8% next year and emphasized stakeholder engagement.

Sam Smith, legislative liaison for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, told the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review on Oct. 20 that Ohio EPA’s regulatory-restriction inventory stood at 22.7% as of June 30, 2025, had moved to 25.2% after rules final-filed since that date, and will reach the committee’s 30% target once several packages are final-filed.

"With the rules that are currently in JCAR jurisdiction, the agency will be at 30% once the following packages are final filed," Smith said, naming acid-rain, disadvantaged-community loans, drinking-water monitoring requirements and an RCRA hazardous-waste review packet as contributors to the pending increase. He added that ongoing updates aim to bring reductions to approximately 32.8% in the coming year.

Smith framed the work as part of the agency’s statutory obligation and emphasized stakeholder involvement: "Ohio EPA values stakeholder input. Taking the time to work with stakeholders allows the agency to achieve its obligations, while also enacting common sense rules." He also noted that federally delegated programs can require more prescriptive procedures and that high-profile or litigated packages can take longer.

Committee members did not move to invalidate any EPA items and asked no substantive follow-up questions after Smith’s presentation. The committee proceeded to other agenda items.