Two Bills on Workforce Partnerships, EV Charging Stall as Ohio House Returns

Two bills that could ripple through Dublin's tech corridor and nearby state agency campuses sat untouched when the Ohio House reconvened Sept. 2 — neither one granted a committee assignment or floor action since their introduction six days earlier.

House Bill 994, the Joining-Opportunities Business and Schools Act, would create tax incentives for partnerships between colleges and private employers. House Bill 995 would prohibit state agencies from providing free electric-vehicle charging. Both were introduced Aug. 27 and considered for the first time that day according to the House Journal, then left in legislative limbo when the chamber adjourned until Sept. 2. As of that return, neither had moved.

JOBS Act: Tax Incentives for Classroom-to-Career Pipelines

Rep. David Thomas, R-District 65, and Rep. Nick Santucci, R-District 64, sponsor HB 994. The bill would require participating businesses to develop employer-designed curricula leading to industry-recognized credentials while preserving academic control for colleges and universities. In return, businesses would receive performance-based tax incentives. The Chancellor of Higher Education and the Director of Development would administer the program. The bill would amend section 5751.98 and enact sections 3333.46 and 5751.55 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Thomas described the legislation as a fiscally disciplined answer to workforce gaps. "This is a great example of a way to help meet the needs and fill the separation between open jobs and the education able to train our workers," he said. "Instead of throwing money at the problem, we are taking a fiscally responsible approach to incentivize these partnerships."

Santucci framed the bill around career readiness. "The JOBS Act is about making sure our students have the skills and credentials they need to build successful careers right here in Ohio," he said. "By bringing them together, we can create a stronger pipeline from the classroom to a good-paying job..."

For Dublin, the measure could link Delaware County's higher-education institutions to employers along the city's tech corridor — the kind of partnership the bill's incentive structure is designed to encourage.

EV Charging Restriction: Targeting a Quiet State-Worker Perk

Rep. Ty Mathews, R-District 83, and Rep. Mark Hiner, R-District 98, sponsor HB 995, which would enact section 125.848 of the Revised Code to bar state agencies from generally offering free EV charging. The proposal puts a spotlight on a benefit that state employees — including thousands who work at agency campuses near Dublin — have used without a public accounting of the cost.

Local Delegation Watching from the Sidelines

Dublin straddles two Ohio House districts in Delaware County. Rep. Brian Lorenz, R-District 60, represents western Delaware County, including part of Dublin, and previously served as mayor of Powell. Rep. Beth Lear, R-District 61, covers eastern Delaware County and western Knox County. Neither is a sponsor of either bill.

What Comes Next — and What the Delay Signals

Both proposals remain without committee assignments and without a public timeline for further action. The early-session stall does not kill either bill, but it does reveal that the chamber has yet to prioritize workforce-development tax incentives or scrutiny of state-employee EV benefits heading into fall. The open question for Dublin residents tracking both measures: whether committee chairs move them onto a hearing calendar — or let them quietly expire.