To amend section 101.27 of the Revised Code to eliminate mileage reimbursement for legislators who use electric charging facilities in designated Capitol Square parking facilities and to name this act the Fairness in Mileage Reimbursement Act.
Summary
HB702 would amend Ohio Revised Code section 101.27, which governs legislative compensation and travel reimbursement, to bar a legislator from claiming the weekly mileage reimbursement for any week in which that member uses a plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle charging station in a parking facility affiliated with the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts or the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. The bill keeps the existing mileage reimbursement structure in place for other legislators and other weeks, but creates a specific exception tied to use of designated Capitol Square charging facilities. The act is titled the Fairness in Mileage Reimbursement Act.
The bill also carries forward the statute’s existing salary provisions for members of the General Assembly and leadership positions, committee and subcommittee stipends, and the deduction for unexcused absences. It does not change the base salary schedule itself, but it does amend the reimbursement rule by adding a new disqualification for certain electric-vehicle charging use. The bill would repeal the existing version of section 101.27 and replace it with the amended language.
Impact
HB702 would directly affect Ohio legislators’ travel reimbursement rights under R.C. 101.27 by limiting mileage claims for any week in which a member charges a plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicle at specified statehouse-area charging facilities. In practical terms, the bill creates a targeted restriction on reimbursement eligibility for legislators who use those electric charging stations, while leaving the broader mileage reimbursement program intact for other travel. It would also formally rename the act and continue to codify legislative salaries, leadership pay, committee stipends, and absence deductions in the same section.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available history, the measure appears to be introduced with a critical or corrective tone toward legislators receiving mileage reimbursement while using state-provided electric charging facilities. The title and structure suggest the sponsor is framing the bill as a fairness issue rather than a broad compensation overhaul. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided history, so there is no evidence of broader support or opposition beyond the bill’s introduction stage.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the bill’s targeted treatment of legislators who use electric vehicle charging stations at the Statehouse or Vern Riffe Center. Supporters would likely view the provision as preventing a perceived double benefit—using a state-affiliated charging facility while also claiming mileage reimbursement for the same week—while opponents could argue that it singles out EV drivers and creates an arbitrary penalty unrelated to actual travel costs. Because the bill is narrowly focused on legislators’ own compensation and reimbursement practices, debate would likely center on fairness, consistency, and whether the restriction is justified as a cost-control measure.
To amend sections 3517.12, 3517.13, and 3517.155 of the Revised Code to modify the Campaign Finance Law regarding foreign nationals and statewide initiatives and referenda and to declare an emergency.
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