LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A bill to grant the Director of Agriculture exclusive authority to regulate invasive plant species in Ohio that was introduced by Senator Gale Manning, was signed by Governor Kasich on June 5, 2014. The text of this bill, Ohio Senate Bill 192|2013-2014|130th General Assembly, can be found via this link.
At the November 20, 2013 meeting of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, OIPC President David Gorchov provided Interested Party testimony (view PDF) on SB 192. He has also presented Interested Party testimony (view PDF) at the March 11, 2014 meeting of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. That Committee approved SB 192 on March 19, and the bill received full House approval on May 21, 2014. The wording approved by the House was then approved by the Senate ('concurrence') on May 28, 2014. On June 5, 2014, Governor Kasich signed this bill into law. The next step will be the drafting of rules to implement the law.
OIPC continues to be engaged in discussions of this legislation and related issues of regulating invasive plants in Ohio.
At the November 20, 2013 meeting of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, OIPC President David Gorchov provided Interested Party testimony (view PDF) on SB 192. He has also presented Interested Party testimony (view PDF) at the March 11, 2014 meeting of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. That Committee approved SB 192 on March 19, and the bill received full House approval on May 21, 2014. The wording approved by the House was then approved by the Senate ('concurrence') on May 28, 2014. On June 5, 2014, Governor Kasich signed this bill into law. The next step will be the drafting of rules to implement the law.
OIPC continues to be engaged in discussions of this legislation and related issues of regulating invasive plants in Ohio.