Bill > HB138

This bill authorizes the creation of tourism promotion districts in Ohio, allowing municipal corporations, townships, or counties to establish special zones where lodging businesses can be assessed a fee to fund supplemental services and improvements aimed at promoting tourism. The bill provides a comprehensive framework for creating these districts, including detailed requirements for district plans, public hearings, and governance. Key provisions include the ability to levy benefit assessments on lodging businesses, form a nonprofit district management association to oversee the district's activities, and potentially issue revenue bonds to fund improvements. The districts would have a term of 3-5 years (or up to 10 years if revenue bonds are involved), and would require at least two-thirds of the district management association's board to be lodging business owners. The bill establishes strict guidelines for how the assessment revenues can be used, requires annual reporting, and provides mechanisms for dissolving a district under certain circumstances. The goal is to create a collaborative mechanism for lodging businesses to collectively invest in marketing and infrastructure that can boost tourism and overnight lodging stays.

Business and Industry

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb138