The proposed bill, titled "The Taxpayers Freedom Trilogy Act One: Discontinuing the Continuum," seeks to amend various sections of the Revised Code with the primary objective of eliminating property taxes that are levied for a continuing period of time by the year 2030. Key amendments include the repeal of section 5705.261 and the introduction of a new section, 5705.171, which establishes that property taxes approved before a specified date will expire after the tax year 2029, although they can be renewed similarly to limited-period levies. The bill also removes references to "a continuing period of time" in relation to tax levies, thereby requiring that all proposed levies have a defined duration, which cannot exceed ten years for certain purposes.

In addition to restructuring property tax levies, the bill outlines specific procedures for township trustees regarding the establishment and management of fire and police districts, as well as the creation of county school financing districts. It allows for the addition of unincorporated territories to existing police districts and streamlines the process for school districts to join these financing districts. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which school districts can issue bonds and levy taxes for classroom facilities projects, ensuring that the financial management of these funds aligns with the needs of the districts while maintaining transparency and accountability. Overall, the bill aims to enhance taxpayer freedom and streamline local governance related to tax levies and funding for essential services.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 505.37, 505.48, 505.481, 3311.21, 3311.50, 3318.05, 3318.052, 3318.08, 3318.18, 3318.44, 3354.12, 3358.11, 5705.03, 5705.19, 5705.191, 5705.192, 5705.198, 5705.199, 5705.21, 5705.212, 5705.213, 5705.215, 5705.217, 5705.218, 5705.219, 5705.2111, 5705.2114, 5705.222, 5705.23, 5705.233, 5705.25, 5705.251, 5748.02, 5748.03, 5748.04, 5748.09, 5705.261