Ohio House passes $8 billion transportation budget, axing fees and adding transit money

COLUMBUS – After eliminating penalties on distracted driving and adding money for public transit, lawmakers in the Ohio House passed the state's more than $8 billion, two-year transportation budget Thursday.

In a 87-8 vote, lawmakers approved House Bill 74, which pays for roads, bridges and local public transportation. The bill included several changes from what Gov. Mike DeWine proposed, axing registration fees and adding money for public transit. 

Legislators also eliminated DeWine's increased penalties for adult drivers using their cell phones while driving. DeWine wanted to charge individuals who texted, dialed a number, watched a video or other activities while driving. 

Legislators wanted more time to consider the proposal on distracted driving, so they removed it from the transportation budget. 

But the idea faces other opposition. Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, said he opposed the changes, saying they could harm community-police relations. “I think it’s a significant imposition on liberty.”

The debate on public transit money

The budget also includes $193.7 million in state and federal dollars over two years for local public transit.

That was an increase from the $94.6 million over two years that DeWine initially proposed. DeWine had wanted to spend $7.3 million in state money on transit – a 90% drop from the 2019 budget bill.

Democrats attempted to increase money for public transportation to $221.3 million over two years, but that proposal was rejected. Rep. Erica Crawley, D-Columbus, said the money for transit was a "good start" but still less than what was needed. 

"The last thing we need to be doing during this pandemic crisis is cutting more transit dollars," Crawley said of DeWine's initial offer. "It's making it harder for people to get where they need to go and during this crisis to get vaccines if they so choose to." 

Rep. Rick Carfagna, R-Genoa Township, said the money that the House added was an improvement over DeWine's proposal.

Lawmakers also eliminated registration and title fees that DeWine proposed to pay for Ohio Highway Patrol's expenses. Instead, legislators will boost the Patrol's budget by $100 million over two years using taxpayer-funded general revenue fund money.

A change from Rep. Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, added $5,000 for the Ohio Domestic Violence Network to buy public transportation vouchers, ride-sharing credits or gas cards for clients.

"Victims of domestic violence often leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back and often with children in tow," Russo said.

Democratic proposals rejected

Democrats offered other changes, but they were rejected: 

• Allowing county auditors and the Ohio Department of Agriculture to test for fuel quality to ensure drivers don't get bad gas. That change is included in another bill.
• Adding $1 million for transportation vouchers for older adults, students going to school, pregnant women headed to doctors' appointments and others.
• Reducing the hybrid fee to $75 a year. Current fees are $100 a year for hybrids and $200 a year for electric vehicles. 
• Publishing information about how much gas tax is collected and spent on a municipality and township level.
• Creating a committee to study public transit funding. 

The budget heads to the Ohio Senate, where more changes are expected, before hitting DeWine's desk.