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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio House Bill 59 Overhauls Occupational Licensing Regulations, Inspection Fees, and Board Renewals
Last action · February 18, 2026: Re-referred (Government Oversight and Reform)Sponsors: Sarah Fowler Arthur and 33 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio House Bill 59 establishes new fee structures, triennial renewal terms, and background requirements for commercial wildlife operators, wholesale fish permittees, and bird shooting preserves while revising training and compliance rules for school counselors, medical professionals, and motor vehicle owners. The measure also sets exemptions from vehicle emissions testing for newer vehicles, electric cars, and hybrids, and renews ten major state regulatory boards through December 31 of the sixth year following enactment.
Alters compliance costs, training mandates, and license renewal timelines for dozens of licensed occupations and businesses across Ohio beginning with varying effective dates.
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.
Occupational Licensing Boards
Boards are subjected to revised legislative review cycles, reporting requirements, and board member assessments.
Commercial Nuisance Wild Animal Control Operators
Operators face changes in license fees, three-year renewal intervals, and mandatory certification and examination rules.
School Counselors
School counselors serving grades seven through twelve must complete mandatory professional development training regarding building and construction trades every five years.
Motor Vehicle Owners
Vehicle owners benefit from new vehicle, hybrid, and electric vehicle exemptions from emissions testing and gain access to an alternative emissions certification process.
Medical Practitioners and Facilities
Medical practices operating x-ray equipment are subject to revised inspection fee schedules and quality assurance program oversight by certified radiation experts.
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 vehicles are exempt from the motor vehicle emissions inspection program?
What training requirements apply to school counselors regarding building and construction trades?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
7 actions- Feb 18, 2026SenateRe-referred (Government Oversight and Reform)
- Feb 11, 2026SenateCommitteeReferred to General Government
- Nov 25, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced
- Nov 19, 2025HouseFloorPassed
- Nov 18, 2025HouseCommitteeReported - Substitute (General Government)
- Feb 12, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to General Government
Show 1 earlier action
- Feb 4, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced
Version history & redline
4 versions on fileVoting Record
Passed
Total
91
- Yes
- 91
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (88)
64 more members
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Show 1 earlier roll call
Favorable Passage
Total
20
- Yes
- 20
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
How they voted (11)
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
Show 29 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Decentralization of Motor Vehicle Inspections
The legislation establishes a framework for a decentralized E-Check program utilizing local businesses and auto repair facilities alongside an alternative emissions certification process.
Standardization of Occupational Licensing Fees
Numerous statutory sections are amended to update application, renewal, and inspection fees deposited into state operating and regulatory funds.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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