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Representatives outline Ohio–Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership in sponsor testimony on HB 188
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Summary
Sponsors described HB 188 as establishing a 17‑member Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership to promote bilateral trade, business and academic exchanges, and economic investment; committee members asked about membership makeup, intellectual property protections and requested comparative analyses from other states.
Representatives presented sponsor testimony for amended House Bill 188, which would create the Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership, a 17‑member commission intended to boost trade, business collaboration and academic exchanges between Ohio and Israel.
Representative Sinnerberg (sponsor) told the committee the commission would include six legislative appointees, eight governor appointees representing business and cultural interests, and three ex officio non‑appointed members. The commission would focus on bilateral trade and collaboration, academic exchanges, and attracting infrastructure and investment to Ohio. She said the proposal mirrors other state models and would also encourage broader multilateral partnerships in Europe, Asia and Gulf states.
Representative Thomas Hall, joint sponsor, said the partnership would be housed under the Department of Development and would be required to submit a report no later than 15 months after its effective date. Hall described the bill’s membership and term provisions and said the structure was modeled on previous trade commissions, specifically citing an Ohio–Ireland commission as precedent.
Committee members pressed sponsors on several points. One senator asked about intellectual property and protections when Ohio companies collaborate with foreign startups; sponsors said the bill does not currently include specific IP safeguards and offered to work with members on language. Another member asked whether private‑sector seats (for entities such as JobsOhio and chambers of commerce) were appropriately balanced; sponsors said the makeup follows prior commissions and offered to consider revisions. A senator suggested asking the Legislative Service Commission for comparative analyses of other states’ commissions to see what benefits or returns jurisdictions receive from similar arrangements.
Next steps: Sponsor testimony concluded and the committee will consider follow‑up material requested by members, including possible language on IP protections and comparative analyses of peer state programs.
