OHIO LEGISLATIVE SERVICE COMMISSION
Office of Research Legislative Budget
www.lsc.ohio.gov and Drafting Office
H.B. 23 Final Analysis
135th General Assembly
Click here for H.B. 23’s Fiscal Note
Primary Sponsor: Rep. Edwards
Effective date: June 30, 2023; certain provisions effective March 31, 2023, and July 1, 2023
Effective date:
Margaret E. Marcy and other LSC Staff
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION .................................................................................................... 4
Wayside detector systems .............................................................................................................. 5
Investigation ................................................................................................................................ 6
Two-person freight train crews ...................................................................................................... 6
Civil penalties .............................................................................................................................. 7
Provisions not applicable if federal requirements imposed ....................................................... 7
Hazardous waste transportation report ......................................................................................... 8
Railroad technology report ............................................................................................................. 8
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................ 9
Ohio Rail Development Commission ............................................................................................ 12
Composition of the Commission ............................................................................................... 12
Passenger rail ............................................................................................................................ 12
Regional Transit Authority (RTA) audits ....................................................................................... 13
ODOT expense reports.................................................................................................................. 13
Highway ramps ............................................................................................................................. 13
ODOT design-build authority ........................................................................................................ 14
ODOT contract performance and payment bonds ....................................................................... 14
Contract amount changes ......................................................................................................... 15
Inability of surety to meet obligations ...................................................................................... 15
Large contracts .......................................................................................................................... 15
State Infrastructure Bank .............................................................................................................. 16
Oversize/overweight limits and permits....................................................................................... 16
Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program ........................................................................... 17
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Wrong-way driving study .............................................................................................................. 18
Strategic transportation and development analysis .................................................................... 18
Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project ........................................................................................... 18
Commercial motor vehicle parking............................................................................................... 19
Indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts ............................................................... 19
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY ................................................................................................ 20
Pay ranges for Highway Patrol lieutenants, other employees ..................................................... 21
Noncommercial trailer registration .............................................................................................. 22
Permanent registration costs .................................................................................................... 22
Permanent registration requirements ...................................................................................... 23
Plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle additional registration fee ................................................. 23
Military license plate program documentation ............................................................................ 24
Removable windshield placard expiration ................................................................................... 24
Motor vehicle certificate of title ................................................................................................... 25
Enhanced driver’s licenses and ID cards ....................................................................................... 25
Memorandum of understanding and adoption of rules ........................................................... 26
Issuance of enhanced licenses and ID cards ............................................................................. 26
Status and use of enhanced licenses and ID cards ................................................................... 27
Third-party motor vehicle history reports .................................................................................... 27
LOCAL GOVERNMENT .................................................................................................................. 28
Cincinnati Southern Railway ......................................................................................................... 30
Background................................................................................................................................ 30
Procedures to sell railway property .......................................................................................... 31
Resolution proposing a sales agreement ............................................................................. 31
Resolution setting a date of election ................................................................................... 31
Former railway sale process ................................................................................................. 32
Railway proceeds trust fund ..................................................................................................... 33
Board duties.......................................................................................................................... 34
Periodic disbursements ........................................................................................................ 35
Force accounts .............................................................................................................................. 35
Traffic cameras.............................................................................................................................. 36
Transportation improvement districts ......................................................................................... 37
Agreement with an RTA ............................................................................................................ 37
Local government spending ...................................................................................................... 37
County cooperation................................................................................................................... 38
TID board of trustees................................................................................................................. 38
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Aggregate minerals mining zoning ............................................................................................... 38
DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION ....................................................................................................... 39
Motor fuel tax allowances and refunds ........................................................................................ 39
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PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Railroads
Wayside detector systems
 Requires all wayside detector systems installed in Ohio to be within ten to 15 miles from
the adjacent system, depending on the natural terrain surrounding the system.
 Requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) and Ohio Department of Transportation
(ODOT) to work with each railroad company that does business in Ohio to ensure that
wayside detector systems used by those companies are operational, effective, and
current.
 In accordance with federal regulations, requires PUCO and ODOT to investigate the
safety practices of any railroad company that does not work with them in good faith
related to the use of the wayside detector systems.
 Requires PUCO and ODOT to issue a report to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
recommending enforcement action against the railroad company if the results of an
investigation show that the company does not appear to be in compliance with federal
safety standards.
 Requires PUCO and ODOT to issue a copy of that report to the Governor, the Senate
President, the Speaker of the House, and the Minority Leaders of both the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
 Requires all wayside detector systems installed and operating in Ohio to either directly
send their emergency alerts to the operator of the train, rolling stock, or on-track
equipment, or to have the person who receives the emergency alert immediately notify
the operator of the defect.
Two-person freight train crews
 Requires a train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight to have
at least a two-person crew.
 Specifies that the two-person crew requirement is solely related to safety.
 Permits PUCO to assess a civil penalty against a person who violates the two-person
crew requirement.
 Requires the Attorney General to bring a civil action to collect the civil penalty for
violating the two-person crew requirement upon request to do so from PUCO.
 Provides that the above provisions no longer apply if the federal government adopts a
two-person crew requirement for trains or light engines in Ohio.
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Hazardous waste transportation report
 Requires PUCO and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to prepare and submit a
written report to the General Assembly, by September 28, 2023, pertaining to the
transportation of hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
Railroad technology report
 Requires PUCO to examine and compile information regarding the best practices and
current use of certain railroad safety technologies and submit a report to specified
legislative committees by September 28, 2023.
Wayside detector systems
(R.C. 4955.50 and 4955.51)
The act requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) and the Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT) to work with each railroad company that does business in Ohio to
ensure that their wayside detector systems are installed and are operational. Wayside detector
systems are the electronic devices or series of connected devices that scan passing trains,
rolling stock, on-track equipment, and their component equipment and parts for defects.
Defects include hot wheel bearings, hot wheels, defective bearings, dragging equipment,
excessive height or weight, shifted loads, low hoses, rail temperature, and wheel condition.
Given the size and speed of trains, the wayside detector systems often are crucial for detecting
and warning operators about defects that may result in an accident.
In examining the wayside detector systems, PUCO, ODOT, and railroads must ensure
that the systems meet all of the following standards:
1. The systems are properly installed, maintained, repaired, and operational in accordance
with the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA),
state, and Association of American Railroads standards;
2. Any expired, nonworking, or outdated systems or component parts are removed and
replaced with new parts or an entirely new system that reflects the current best
practices and industry standards;
3. That the distance between the systems is appropriate when accounting for the state
requirements, natural terrain, safety considerations, and sufficient response time in managing
any defect alerts; and
4. That each railroad company has defined, written standards and training for employees
relating to the systems, their defect alerts, the course of action that employees are
required to take to respond to an alert, and appropriate monitoring and responses by
the company if employees fail to take the required course of action.
The act requires any person responsible for installing wayside detector systems
alongside or on a railroad to ensure that the systems are no less than ten miles away from the
adjacent system location. The systems may be up to 15 miles away, if the natural terrain does
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not allow for placement within ten miles. Additionally, all wayside detector systems installed
and operating in Ohio must either directly send their emergency alerts to the operator of the
train, rolling stock, or on-track equipment, or have the person who receives the emergency
alert immediately notify the operator of the defect. PUCO and ODOT must ensure the systems
meet the installation and notification requirements as part of their consideration of wayside
detector systems in Ohio.
Investigation
If a railroad company refuses to work or otherwise cooperate with PUCO and ODOT in
good faith, the act requires PUCO and ODOT to investigate that railroad company’s safety
practices and standards. The investigation must be in accordance with the federal regulations
that authorize state investigations (49 C.F.R. Part 212). If the railroad company does not appear
to be in compliance with the federal railroad safety laws, PUCO and ODOT must report the
noncompliance to the FRA and recommend that the FRA take enforcement action against the
railroad company. PUCO and ODOT must send a copy of that report to the Governor, the
President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Minority Leader of both the Senate
and the House.
In the case of laws related to railroad safety and security, the federal government has
expressly preempted state laws on the subject, with certain narrow exceptions.1 As part of that
preemption, Ohio cannot directly regulate or impose penalties on a railroad company for failure
to comply with state or federal regulations. However, FRA regulations authorize state
participation in investigative and surveillance activities related to federal railroad safety, such
as the investigative activities authorized by the act.2 Also, if the FRA does not act on a state’s
request for FRA action within a certain time period, a state may bring an action in federal court
for assessment of federally authorized civil penalties or may bring an action for injunctive
relief.3
Two-person freight train crews
(R.C. 4999.09)
The act requires a train or light engine that moves freight to have a crew that consists of at
least two individuals. No railroad superintendent, trainmaster, or other railroad employee can
order or “otherwise require” a train or light engine used in connection with the movement of
1 49 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 20106.
2 49 Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 212.
3 49 C.F.R. 212.115.
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freight to be operated unless it has at least a two-person crew. (Hostler service4 and utility
employees5 are not subject to the minim