By Alexis Preskar and Demetrius Robinson
Governor Mike DeWine has signed into law an emergency bill to provide various relief to Ohioans amid COVID-19. “We believe this legislation will help state and local leaders manage through this global pandemic,” said House Speaker Larry Householder.
The major highlights of the bill are:
- Extending tax deadlines to July 15, 2020 for state personal income tax, school district income tax and state-administered municipal net profit tax, as well as the due date for estimated income tax payments
- Suspending the requirement for employers to withhold municipal tax based on the employee’s “principal place of business” if employees are newly working from home due to the emergency declaration
- Authorizing Governor DeWine to request money from Ohio’s rainy day fund – which totals $2.7 billion – to keep the budget balanced during the fiscal year that ends June 30
- Waiving the one-week waiting period to file for unemployment, along with the requirement to seek work, which confirms a prior order from the Governor
- Extending the time for voters to file an absentee ballot until April 28, replacing the prior June 2 primary. Litigation is expected on this issue.
- Suspending state education testing this year
- Allowing schools to use distance learning to make up for missed days or hours of instruction caused by K-12 closures across the state
- Prohibiting water disconnections
- Addressing the need for certain workers:
- Some state workers – in the departments of prisons, mental health and addiction, veterans’ services, and developmental disabilities – are eligible for re-hire
- Nursing students can obtain temporary licenses to begin working now rather than waiting to pass the licensing exam
- Tolling the statute of limitations for civil and criminal cases that would expire between March 9 and July 20, 2020
- Allowing licensed special education providers to serve students through tele-health and other electronic communications methods
According to state lawmakers, more relief will be coming to help Ohio once the COVID-19 crisis is over.
If you have questions about how the Ohio bill applies to you or other Ohio Coronavirus legislation, please contact KJK’s Corporate professionals.