The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code to update regulations concerning annexation, financial disclosure forms, and property tax exemptions for residential community reinvestment areas. A significant addition is the new section 3311.222, which requires school districts to approve property tax exemptions related to these areas, thereby enhancing local governance and ensuring school districts have a voice in financial matters that could affect their funding. The bill also expands the list of public officials required to file disclosure statements with the ethics commission, including city managers and village administrators, and specifies the information that must be disclosed to promote transparency and accountability.

Additionally, the bill revises the annexation process by reducing the maximum territory size for annexation from five hundred acres to two hundred acres and increasing the required contiguous boundary length from five percent to twenty percent. It introduces a streamlined procedure for annexing land with unanimous consent from all parties involved, allowing for quicker approvals without a hearing if deemed beneficial by county commissioners. The bill also establishes new provisions for transferring school district responsibilities upon annexation and allows students from annexed territories to continue their education in their previous districts until graduation. Overall, the bill aims to enhance local governance, transparency, and the efficiency of annexation processes.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 102.02, 709.022, 709.023, 709.024, 709.16, 3735.67