The bill H. B. No. 2025-2026 amends sections 5721.32, 5721.33, and 5721.42 of the Revised Code to establish a sunset provision for the sale of delinquent property tax certificates, which will end on January 1, 2027. It mandates that all sales or transfers of tax certificates must be completed by December 31, 2026, with any transactions after this date deemed void. The county treasurer is authorized to conduct public auctions for these tax certificates until the deadline and may offer them in blocks, with a defined certificate period of three to six years. The bill also outlines the registration and bidding process for potential buyers, including the requirement for a registration form and cash deposit, while specifying that tax certificates cannot be sold to the owners of the corresponding parcels.

Additionally, the bill allows the county treasurer to remove unsold tax certificate parcels from the sales list and details the foreclosure procedures for those parcels unless they are restored to the sales list. It clarifies that neither the certificate holder nor their secured party will be liable for damages related to violations of specific sections of the Revised Code committed by others. The bill also permits the county treasurer to negotiate fees with purchasers to cover the costs of preparing and administering the sale, which will be added to the purchase price. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process of selling delinquent property tax certificates while ensuring compliance with the new deadlines and repeals existing sections of the Revised Code to simplify the legal framework surrounding these sales.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 5721.32, 5721.33, 5721.42