Jena Powell

State Representatives Powell And Ginter Highlight Proposed Tax Credit To Support Strong Families

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Enhancing strong family health throughout the state of Ohio is an important issue for State Representatives Tim Ginter (R-Salem) and Jena Powell (R-Arcanum). Last year, Ginter and Powell introduced House Bill 297 and it recently passed in the House Ways and Means Committee.

The legislation allows individuals to receive an income tax credit for a cash contribution to qualifying non-profit Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs). Ginter explained the significance of PRCs during committee testimony.

“Pregnancy Resource Centers located across Ohio provide services for pregnant women such as prenatal care, counseling and other resources during a critical and often stressful time in their lives,” said Ginter.

Powell believes the legislation focuses on further assisting those families who receive care they need at PRCs.

“I’m excited to work on legislation that helps strengthen men, women, and children in the state of Ohio,” said Powell. “This is a great bill that will do just that by families receiving a nonrefundable tax credit for their donations to pregnancy resource centers.”

Last year, the Ohio General Assembly passed budget legislation that provides $7.5 million in federal assistance to these centers for the next two years. However, with over 100 PRCs in Ohio, Ginter indicates the importance of supporting local funding for these centers.

“It is only sensible that we provide avenues of health care that are not totally dependent upon government funding,” said Ginter. “Pregnancy Resource Centers help to take some of the strain off of government while at the same time providing another avenue of care for women with limited resources. The latest studies show that at least 90 percent of PRCs funding come via donations from the local community.”

Within local communities, most PRCs offer parenting classes, diapers, pregnancy tests, and other resources for pregnant women and their families. Minimal or zero cost is inflicted upon those seeking aid at a PRC. Additionally, several PRCs do offer medical and prenatal care from licensed medical professionals, such as Womankind in Garfield Heights.

“With a proven track record, pregnancy resource centers have aided many individuals and families seeking care,” said Ginter. “I continue to believe that not only does it help those in need, but PRCs are a positive investment for our state financially, and more importantly, in the improved health and lives saved through these centers.”

Jena Powell

Occupational Licensing Reciprocity Reform

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‘Occupational Licensing Reciprocity Reform‘ is a huge step in the right direction for our state. Signaling to the nation that Ohio is open for business.
⬇️Read more below:

https://www.mahoningmatters.com/regional-news/ohio-bills-seek-universal-occupational-license-reciprocity-1970009

Team Jena Powell

‘Tis The Season To Be Thankful

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INTRODUCTION

It’s the best time of the year! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry (early) Christmas — we hope your holiday was incredible.

This Thanksgiving season I had the pleasure of spending the day with family and friends, gathered around my family’s dinner table eating the traditional favorites and talking about what we are thankful for. One of the many traditions my family has is that right after the Thanksgiving Day meal, we go outside and play a large game of street hockey. Although I realize that every family probably doesn’t play street hockey, we all have wonderful traditions and reasons to be thankful.

The past month has been incredibly busy in Columbus. We dropped three new bills, voted the Small Business Funding Act (HB 312) out of the house with 92-0 unanimous support, and had our first hearing of the Tax Code Streamlining & Correction Act (HB 197) in the Senate, among other things.

Enjoy reading through this newsletter about bills, policy, and how our office is fighting to be your voice in Columbus. As always, thank you for allowing me to represent you.

— Jena Powell

Crowdfunding Bill Unanimously Passes Ohio House

COLUMBUS – Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) announces the unanimous passing of her Small Business Funding Act, HB 312, which passed 92-0 on Tuesday, November 19th.

Rep. Powell says, “As a business owner and entrepreneur myself, I know the challenges that business owners in our state face. 82% of business failure is due to a lack of capital.”

“When we remove barriers for raising needed capital through crowdfunding, we tell business owners that government will not be an additional barrier to fulfilling their American dream in our communities,” continues Powell.

HB 312 will allow businesses in Ohio to raise up to $5 million per year through intrastate equity crowdfunding. Ohioans will be able to invest in Ohio businesses, and Ohio businesses will have a more efficient option for raising capital through crowdfunding.

License Reciprocity Press Conference

On November 19, we held a press conference with Representative George Lang (R-West Chester), Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), and Senator Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) to unveil companion bills that will implement full occupational licensing reciprocity in Ohio.

Organizations present included The Goldwater Institute from Arizona, The Buckeye Institute, NFIB Ohio, Americans for Prosperity-Ohio, and the Foundation for Government Accountability.

I am on a mission to make Ohio the most business-friendly state in the nation, and this piece of legislation is moving Ohio a step in the right direction by removing barriers to employment.

Part of solving the workforce shortage in Ohio is helping people enter the workforce faster, and encouraging people who already hold licenses in other states to want to move to and/or work in Ohio. After the lengthy process and the financial investment that people have already gone through in another state to receive their license, they don’t want to have to add to that an extensive wait in Ohio. Current law discourages qualified individuals from moving to our state, filling needed jobs, and investing in our communities.

We know that Ohio is an incredible place to live. We want people to be able to move here and invest in our communities. One of the barriers to this happening is the fact that Ohio currently does not recognize out-of-state licenses. If we recognize out-of-state licenses, we will send a bold message to the rest of the country that Ohio is open for business – come and practice your trade in our communities.

I was delighted to have the Franklin Monroe fourth grade class come and visit the Statehouse last week! Remember, you too can join our office at the Statehouse for tours and to watch a House floor session. Reach out to our office to schedule your visit!

WHERE WAS JENA IN NOVEMBER?

November 3 …… Spoke at 40 Days for Life Rally

November 4 ….. Constituent Office Hours

November 5 …… Voted!

November 6 …… Press Conference with Attorney General Yost on Human Trafficking Legislation

November 7 …… Spoke at Human Trafficking Awareness Panel in Troy

November 10 …… Presented Commendations to Veterans at the Covenant at Sugar Grove Church

November 11 …… Veteran’s Day Parade in Darke County

November 13 …… Spoke to Young CPAs

November 19 …… Press Conference on License Reciprocity

November 19 …… HB 312, Small Business Funding Act, passes the House

November 28 …… Celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Once again, thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter. I hope it has served as a helpful update to you regarding we are doing in Columbus and throughout the district.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office with any questions at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Jena Powell

Jena Powell

PRESS CONFERENCE: Occupational Licensing Reciprocity Reform

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Last week Rep. George Lang (R) and Rep. Jena Powell (R) had the pleasure of unveiling legislation to allow reciprocity in Ohio for out-of-state license holders. 

This year, Arizona became the first state to broadly recognize out-of-state licenses. Ohio can become the second state in the nation to do so with this legislation.

Part of solving the workforce shortage in Ohio is helping people enter the workforce faster, and encouraging people who already hold licenses in other states to want to move to and/or work in Ohio.

After the lengthy process and the financial investment that people have already gone through in another state to receive their license, they don’t want to have to add to that an extensive wait in Ohio. Current law discourages qualified individuals from moving to our state, filling needed jobs, and investing in our communities. 

We know that Ohio is an incredible place to live. We want people to be able to move here and invest in our communities. One of the barriers to this happening is the fact that Ohio currently does not recognize out-of-state licenses.  If we recognize out-of-state licenses, we will send a bold message to the rest of the country that Ohio is open for business. Come and practice your trade in our communities.

We can be on the leading edge and solving the workforce shortage in our state by passing this critical legislation.

To read more check the Dayton Daily News article here.

Jena Powell

Rep. Powell Sponsor Testimony: Cosmetology Reform Act

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Rep. Powell Sponsor Testimony: Cosmetology Reform Act

Below is sponsor testimony given to the House State and Local Government Committee

Chairman Wiggam, Vice Chair Stephens, Ranking Member Kelly, and members of the House State and Local Government Committee, thank you for the opportunity to present sponsor testimony on HB 399.

The Cosmetology Reform Act will comprehensively reform Ohio’s occupational licensures as well as cosmetology and barber laws, and seeks to make Ohio the national model in this area.

This bill seeks to: (1) focus on cosmetology student success in entering the beauty industry with less debt and greater ability to repay student loans; (2) facilitate a continuous workforce development pipeline for salons; (3) reduce the amount of unnecessary regulations placed on members of the cosmetology industry, and make it easier for Ohioans to begin or expand their business in the state. From small business owners to aspiring cosmetologists, mostly women and minorities, this legislation would remove significant barriers to success.

This legislation is written to accomplish the following goals:

  1. License mobility/reciprocity – Ohio is open for business.  The license reciprocity language creates license mobility and facilitates movement between different states for a more mobile workforce.  It strives to minimize the tendency of stylists to drop out of the industry or go underground due to a lengthy license transfer process, and enables multi-state employers to relocate employees, increasing their career opportunities.  Three states, Arizona, Montana, and Pennsylvania, recently passed legislation to remove barriers to work for all active licensees from other states to begin working within days, not months when moving into those states.
  2. Allows on-demand scheduling and working outside a salon – Several beauty industry licensees need to provide on-site cosmetology services for weddings, films and special occasions around the state outside of a bricks and mortar salon.  Our legislation ensures that the Ohio State Cosmetology and Barber Board (OSCBB) can ensure such services can be performed on-site and with reasonable requirements for licensees to ensure public safety.
  3. Lowers state mandated licensure hour requirements. Lower the Ohio requirement for cosmetology licensure hours from 1,500 to 1,000; reduce hair designer licensure hours from 1,200 to 800; and reduces barber hours from 1,800 to 1,000.  Independent research and successful models in New York, Massachusetts, and now Vermont and Texas, show there is no justification for requiring more than 1,000 hours of education for cosmetology or barber licensure.
  4. Provides Licensees with 1,500 hours of training an Intermediate License – This change ensures that all licensees that have completed 1,500 by the effective date of this bill will receive an intermediate license.  It also provides public and private schools the opportunity to establish a higher level of training for future licensees as an elective course without being state required hours.
  5. Creates a cosmetology apprentice process for licensure – Several private schools of cosmetology have closed their doors in the last 4 years.  This is leading to significant concern for small salons across the state to ensure a steady stream of new licensees are becoming licensed in Ohio.  The apprenticeship program in our bill is modeled after more than 20 states, like Wisconsin, Tennessee and Alabama.  This program will provide salon owners the opportunity to become a provider and future cosmetology licensees the ability to work and earn a wage while working toward licensure rather than taking on student loan debt.
  6. Sets schools of cosmetology up for success and consistency across state lines – One area focuses on requiring pre-graduate testing for public and private school students.  Two states, Arizona and Illinois, recently enacted such changes.  This change not only gives students the opportunity to get remedial training if they fail, but allows graduates to be licensed immediately upon graduation, moving into the workforce sooner to earn wages, pay taxes, and begin repaying loans.  In addition, the bill authorizes distance learning to provide maximum flexibility for students to learn when and where convenient and lowers the cost for schools traditional on-site, bricks and mortar classrooms.

As most of you have heard me say, I am on a mission to make Ohio the most business-friendly state in the nation. One of the biggest steps we can take in that direction is to stop overregulating individuals in our state. It is time we move forward to make Ohio a more attractive place for individuals to live, work, play, and raise families in our communities.

Thank you again for the opportunity to present HB 399, the Cosmetology Reform Act, and I am happy to answer any questions from the Committee at this time.

Team Jena Powell

Rep. Powell Introduces Cosmetology Reform Act

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Representative Powell (R-Arcanum) Wednesday filed House Bill 399 – Cosmetology Licensing Reform Legislation.

Rep. Powell says, “I am on a mission to make Ohio the most business-friendly state in the nation, and one of the biggest steps we can take in that direction is to stop overregulating individuals in our state.”

“As a state, it is time we move forward from the past policies of overregulation, and move forward to make Ohio a more attractive place for individuals to live, work, play, and raise families in our communities,” continues Powell.

H.B. 399 will lower the state mandated licensure hour requirements from 1,500 to 1,000 for cosmetologists, from 1,200 to 800 for hair designers, and from 1,800 to 1,000 for barbers. It will authorize distance learning for cosmetology school students, and allow on-demand scheduling and working outside a salon to increase flexibility and training experience for students.

As always, if you have any questions about this or any other state government concern, please reach out to our office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Jena Powell

Ohio House Passes the “Tax Code Streamlining and Correction Act”

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Ohio House Passes the “Tax Code Streamlining and Correction Act”

COLUMBUS— State Representatives Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) and Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) today announced the Ohio House passage of House Bill 197, “Tax Code Streamlining and Corrections Act”; HB 197 makes over 100 changes to update the laws governing taxation. The legislation makes our tax code accurate and clear by fixing errors.

HB 197 updates the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) sections by addressing typographical errors, incorrect cross-references, removing obsolete sections, and rearranging organizational defects.

“The Tax Code Streamlining and Corrections Act is not a flashy bill, but corrects over 100 errors in the tax code,” said Powell. “Today, with a single bill, the Ohio House is fixing decades of accumulated mistakes and errors embedded into our tax laws…mistakes which undermine our legal code.”

“Ohioans and businesses will have a better opportunity to prosper with a clear and accurate tax code,” said Merrin.

This bill has garnered support from the Ohio Society of CPAs, the County Treasurers Association of Ohio, the County Auditors Association of Ohio, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce.

HB 197 passed the Ohio House unanimously and now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov or Rep. Merrin’s office at 614-466-1731 or Rep47@ohiohouse.gov

Jena Powell

September: Constituent Liaison In-District Office Hours For State Rep. Jena Powell

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Monthly In-District Office Hours

COLUMBUS –
Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) will again be sending a constituent liaison from her Columbus office to be in-district this upcoming Monday, September 9th. No appointments are necessary – individuals and families can feel free to show up and talk to the liaison about any government questions or concerns you may have.

“I know government can be hard to navigate alone,” says Powell. “Our office’s constituent liaison does a wonderful job of helping you work through specific issues. If you want to meet with me personally, as always call our office and we’ll set up a time.”

This Monday, September 9th, a constituent liaison will be at the Troy-Miami Public Library in Troy from 10am-11:30am. Rep. Powell’s constituent liaison will then be at the Arcanum Public Library in Arcanum from 12pm-1:30pm on Monday.

To schedule a personal meeting with Rep. Powell, or if you have any state government concerns you can give our office a call at 614-466-8114 or email Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Jena Powell

Op-Ed: Cut the Bureaucratic Red Tape and Fix the Workforce Shortage

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In our community, we know that Ohio is a wonderful place to live. As our Columbus office says when you call in, “It’s a great day to live in Ohio!” 

While we love living in Ohio, there are things we can do to make Ohio a more attractive place to live and work. Right now, we have a workforce shortage in Ohio. One way to help families, businesses, and individuals in our state is through initiating license reciprocity in a way that will cause Ohio’s economic climate to thrive.

License reciprocity says that if you hold an occupational license in another state, you can come and practice that occupation here in Ohio without having to go through the whole education, training, and testing component again. For example, if you are an electrician in Indiana, and you want to work in Ohio and/or move to Ohio, right now you would have to apply for an occupational license in Ohio take a test, pay a fee, and jump through bureaucratic hoops.

The House recently passed temporary license reciprocity for members of the military and their immediate family members. We want to expand this reciprocity for every individual whose license is held in good standing in their state. If we allowed for license reciprocity, that Indiana electrician would need to show Ohio’s licensing authority his Indiana occupational license, and after receiving an Ohio-reciprocal license, would be allowed to practice his trade in Ohio.

Cutting through red tape will allow workers to use their skills, and will encourage businesses and entrepreneurs to move to Ohio. License reciprocity will bring more business and more income to our state. This is something that our office is excited to be researching and working on. If you have any questions, let me know.

-Jena Powell, State Representative