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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio Bill Revises Milk Inspection Fees, Mandates Surety Bonds for Large Commodity Handlers, and Appropriates Funding for Agriculture and Higher Education
Last action · May 28, 2025: Referred to FinanceSponsor: Tim Schaffer
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio Senate Bill 201 revises milk inspection fees, requires large s to execute s, and appropriates millions of dollars for agricultural programs, dairy processing grants, and state university research for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
The measure directs tens of millions of dollars in state funds toward agricultural research, local fairs, and water quality protection, while placing new financial security requirements on major s and modifying milk inspection fees for processors and producers.
- The Ohio General Assembly is the state legislature responsible for enacting state laws and approving biennial and supplemental appropriations. context
- The H2Ohio initiative is a comprehensive state water quality program focused on investing in wastewater infrastructure, lead abatement, and nutrient reduction. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Milk processors
Milk processors are subject to inspection fees prescribed by the Milk Sanitation Board.
Large agricultural commodity handlers
Large agricultural commodity handlers must execute and file a surety bond as a condition of receiving their license.
Dairy processing plants
Dairy processing plants operating as of July 1, 2025, are eligible to apply for grants up to $250,000 for efficiency and safety improvements.
The Ohio State University
The university receives direct appropriations for agricultural research and veterinary medicine supplemental support.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum amount a dairy processing plant can receive from the new grant program?
What are large agricultural commodity handlers required to do under the bill?
How long must grant recipients maintain dairy processing improvements?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- May 28, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Finance
- May 14, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Large H2Ohio Fund Transfers and Allocations
The bill mandates a substantial $120,276,066 cash transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the H2Ohio Fund while distributing multi-million dollar operating appropriations across the EPA, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Agriculture.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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