Ohio House Bill HB86

Ohio 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/11/25
• Report Pass: 5/21/25
• Engrossed: 5/28/25

Caption

To amend sections 319.48, 319.54, 321.261, 321.263, 321.343, 323.25, 323.26, 323.28, 323.31, 323.33, 323.47, 323.65, 323.66, 323.67, 323.68, 323.69, 323.691, 323.70, 323.71, 323.72, 323.73, 323.75, 323.76, 323.77, 323.78, 323.79, 505.86, 715.261, 721.28, 1721.10, 1724.02, 2329.153, 3737.87, 3745.11, 3767.41, 5709.12, 5709.91, 5709.911, 5713.083, 5715.02, 5721.01, 5721.02, 5721.03, 5721.04, 5721.06, 5721.13, 5721.17, 5721.18, 5721.19, 5721.192, 5721.20, 5721.25, 5721.26, 5721.30, 5721.32, 5721.33, 5721.37, 5722.01, 5722.02, 5722.03, 5722.031, 5722.04, 5722.05, 5722.06, 5722.07, 5722.08, 5722.10, 5722.11, 5722.14, 5722.15, 5722.21, 5722.22, 5723.01, 5723.03, 5723.04, 5723.05, 5723.06, 5723.10, 5723.12, 5723.13, 5723.18, and 5739.02; to enact sections 5709.58, 5721.183, 5721.193, and 5723.20; and to repeal sections 323.74, 5721.14, 5721.15, 5721.16, 5722.09, and 5722.13 of the Revised Code to make changes to the law relating to tax foreclosures and county land reutilization corporations, and to name this act the Gus Frangos Act.

Summary

HB86 is a broad property-tax foreclosure and land-reutilization bill that revises Ohio’s procedures for collecting delinquent property taxes, foreclosing on tax-delinquent parcels, and transferring abandoned or nonproductive land. It updates the rules for delinquent tax lists, tax certificates, notice and publication requirements, redemption periods, minimum bid rules, and the use of county boards of revision in foreclosure cases. The bill also creates or expands several tools for counties, municipalities, townships, and county land reutilization corporations to inspect, acquire, and repurpose distressed property. A major feature of the bill is its expansion of county land reutilization corporation authority and related financing mechanisms. It authorizes direct transfers of certain foreclosed parcels to electing subdivisions or land banks, adjusts how sale proceeds are distributed, and adds new provisions for service payments in lieu of taxes tied to land-bank conveyances. It also revises related property-tax exemption and lien statutes so that land reutilization corporations can more easily acquire, hold, and dispose of property, and so local governments can use tax-foreclosure and nuisance-abatement tools more efficiently. The bill is named the Gus Frangos Act.

Impact

HB86 would substantially amend Ohio’s Revised Code provisions governing delinquent-tax enforcement, foreclosure, forfeiture, and land-bank operations. It affects county auditors, treasurers, prosecuting attorneys, boards of revision, sheriffs, local governments, and county land reutilization corporations by changing notice procedures, redemption timelines, sale and transfer rules, lien priority, and the distribution of proceeds from tax-foreclosure sales. It also adds new authority for inspections of foreclosed property and for direct conveyance or resale of distressed parcels, while modifying several tax-exemption and service-payment statutes to support land reutilization and redevelopment efforts.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received very favorably in the House. It advanced out of the House Development Committee on a unanimous 11-0 vote and then passed the House unanimously, 91-0. The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded floor debate, so the overall sentiment can only be inferred from the strong bipartisan support and lack of recorded opposition. The bill’s broad cosponsorship list also suggests substantial support across party lines.

Contention

No specific points of contention are documented in the available committee materials or voting history. Based on the bill text, the most likely areas of policy sensitivity are the expanded powers of county land reutilization corporations, the shortened or alternative redemption procedures for property owners, and the ability to transfer property without appraisal or public sale in some circumstances. The bill also changes how foreclosure proceeds and service payments are allocated, which could affect counties, taxing districts, property owners, and lienholders, but no recorded opposition or amendments are shown in the provided materials.