Overview
The year 2020 began with the optimism of advancing numerous pieces of legislation and promises of strong bipartisan cooperation, but activity suddenly halted in March with the onset of shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic – essentially stalling all legislative activity for months. During the remaining months of the 133
rd General Assembly, the Legislature’s attention turned to addressing COVID-19 and the scandal surrounding former Speaker Larry Householder and House Bill (H.B.) 6. The Ohio General Assembly concluded its busy post-election lame duck session on December 22, 2020.
Any unfinished legislation needs reintroduced in the 134
th General Assembly, which officially convened on January 4, 2021. This memo summarizes the 2020 lame duck session and previews what to expect from the 134
Statehouse News Bureau
2020 has been an eventful year in state politics with the controversial energy law known as HB6 garnering much attention from lawmakers at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
The Ohio House finished the bulk of its work with the Republican speaker saying the chamber will not take any action on HB6. The sweeping energy law that bails out nuclear power plants has been linked to the biggest alleged scandal in Ohio politics.
In the course of seven years, HB6 sends $1 billion in subsidies to nuclear plants, $140 million to solar farms, and hundreds of millions of dollars to coal plants, paid for by new charges on every Ohio electric user’s bills. All while cutting green energy mandates.
Energy scandal put off in Ohio
Lawmakers can t agree on solution
MARK GILLISPIE | Associated Press
CLEVELAND – Ohio lawmakers ended their 2020 legislative session without repealing or replacing a scandal-tainted bill that provides a $1 billion bailout for two aging Ohio nuclear power plants, among other provisions.
The Legislature adjourned for the year late Tuesday having failed to reach a deal to fix House Bill 6, the 2019 legislation under scrutiny since then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others were arrested in late July.
Federal authorities say Householder led a $60 million bribery scheme secretly funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to win legislative approval for a $150 million annual subsidy for the nuclear plants, which were once operated by a FirstEnergy subsidiary.
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The Associated Press
CLEVELAND Ohio lawmakers ended their 2020 legislative session late Tuesday without repealing or replacing a scandal-tainted bill that provides a $1 billion bailout for two aging Ohio nuclear power plants, among other provisions.
The Legislature adjourned for the year after sending Republican Gov. Mike DeWine a number of bills for his signature. But after more than four months of negotiations, it failed to reach a deal to fix House Bill 6, the 2019 legislation under scrutiny since then-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four others were arrested in late July.
Federal authorities say Householder led a $60 million bribery scheme secretly funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to win legislative approval for a $150 million annual subsidy for the nuclear plants, which were once operated by a wholly owned FirstEnergy subsidiary.