To enact sections 1357.01, 1357.02, 1357.03, 1357.04, 1357.05, 1357.06, 1357.07, 1357.08, 1357.09, 1357.10, 1357.11, and 1357.12 of the Revised Code to create a regulatory relief division within the common sense initiative office and to establish a universal regulatory sandbox program.
SB90 would create a new “regulatory relief division” within the governor’s Common Sense Initiative Office and establish a statewide universal regulatory sandbox program. The sandbox would let approved businesses temporarily test innovative products or services in Ohio without obtaining licenses or other state authorizations that would otherwise apply, so long as the participant enters into a written agreement identifying which laws or regulations are waived or suspended for the demonstration. The bill defines key terms, sets up an advisory committee with business, agency, and legislative representation, and requires the division to consult with affected agencies before admitting applicants.
The bill also creates a detailed application, review, reporting, and consumer-disclosure framework. Applicants must explain the innovation, the laws they want waived, consumer benefits and risks, and how they will protect consumers if the demonstration fails. Agencies must evaluate likely harms to health, safety, or financial well-being, and the division may deny or end participation at any time. Participants must disclose to consumers that the offering is being tested, may not function as intended, and may not be covered by ordinary licensing rules; they also must keep records, report incidents, and file exit reports. The program would run for up to five years per agreement, with limited extensions, and the division would issue annual reports to the General Assembly and quarterly summaries of public suggestions for reducing regulatory burdens.
SB90 would add a new chapter to the Revised Code and expand the Common Sense Initiative Office’s role from general regulatory review to active administration of a sandbox program. It would create a new regulatory relief division, a sandbox advisory committee, and a dedicated fund for application fees, while also authorizing rulemaking, agency consultation, confidentiality protections for applications, and reporting obligations to the legislature. The bill would temporarily suspend or waive certain state licensing and regulatory requirements for approved participants, but it would not waive taxes or laws preserving consumer restitution rights, and it would not eliminate federal-law requirements or criminal liability for unrelated offenses.
The bill’s structure suggests a pro-innovation, pro-business policy approach focused on reducing regulatory barriers and encouraging new products and services in Ohio. Although no committee transcript or vote record is provided, the bill’s sponsors and design indicate support for experimentation, regulatory flexibility, and agency coordination. At the same time, the bill builds in consumer-protection safeguards, which suggests an attempt to balance deregulation with oversight.
The main points of contention are likely to be the breadth of authority given to the governor, the Common Sense Initiative Office, and participating agencies to waive or suspend regulations, and whether that flexibility could weaken consumer, safety, or financial protections. Another likely issue is the bill’s provision that if an agency misses its reporting deadline, the division proceeds as though the agency does not object, which could be viewed as favoring approval by default. Critics may also focus on the advisory committee’s composition, the fact that it is not a public body under open-meetings law, and the extent to which the program could create uneven treatment between sandbox participants and other regulated businesses.