OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 547 Bill Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 547’s Fiscal Note
Version: As Introduced
Primary Sponsors: Reps. Wiggam and Gross
Effective date:
Andrew Little, Attorney
SUMMARY
 Prohibits the Ohio Housing Finance Agency from awarding a state low-income housing
tax credit to a housing project unless the project owner takes certain actions to limit
tenancy in the project to individuals who are legally present in the United States.
DETAILED ANALYSIS
Continuing law authorizes the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) to allocate federal
and state tax credits to residential developers who agree to reserve units for low-income
tenants. The state credit is awarded to projects that have received an allocation of the federal
credit, generally in an amount that assures a project’s financial feasibility.1
The bill prohibits OHFA from awarding a state low-income housing tax credit to any
housing project unless the project owner takes certain actions to limit rental of the completed
project to individuals who are legally present in the United States. Specifically, project owners
must:
 Prohibit any part of the project from being leased to a person who is unlawfully present
in the United States;
 Require every prospective tenant to present proof of legal presence in the United States
by providing one of the following documents:
 An original or certified copy of a birth certificate;
 A current and valid United States passport or passport card;
 A consular report of birth abroad from the U.S. State Department;
1 R.C. 175.16, not in the bill.
June 17, 2024
Office of Research and Drafting LSC Legislative Budget Office
 A certificate of naturalization or citizenship from the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security;
 A document issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services showing the
person’s dates of the tenant’s legal presence;
 A valid and current driver’s license or state-issued identification card.
 Maintain a copy of each document used to verify legal presence until the tenant’s
tenancy ends and allow access to the Ohio Attorney General.
OHFA must obtain a written agreement to comply with the bill’s requirement from each
project owner that applies for a tax credit before awarding a credit. OHFA must also revoke an
awarded credit if the project does not comply with the bill’s requirements, and the Attorney
General is authorized to investigate violations of those requirements.2
HISTORY
Action Date
Introduced 05-15-24
ANHB0547IN-135/ts
2 R.C. 175.061.
P a g e |2 H.B. 547
As Introduced