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Dear Neighbor, I am honored to serve the Ohioans of the 91st House District. I am focused on doing all I can to help jobs and our local economy grow, creating better opportunities for Ohioans to succeed. May your Christmas be joyful, peaceful and bright and filled with the love of that first Holy Night! If you are ever in need of assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office. Phone: 614-466-3506 Email: Rep91@ohiohouse.gov Sincerely, Bob Peterson State Representative

Legislative Update

Ohio House Passes House Bill 170 - Carbon Capture Regulation Bill

I'm pleased to share that House Bill 170, a bill that I co-sponsored with Rep. Rob-Blasdel, recently passed through the Ohio House. This legislation works to give the state control over carbon capture regulation.

The bill would give Ohio control over Class VI injection wells, used to store carbon dioxide underground, shifting permitting and oversight from the federal government to the state.

Carbon capture and storage is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources and safely storing the CO2 deep underground in naturally occurring rock formations. Currently, companies seeking to build these projects must go through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for permits, a process that can take years and discourage investment.

Similar legislation has already been enacted in North Dakota, Wyoming, Louisiana, and West Virginia.

House Bill 170 now advances to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Sponsor Testimony in House technology and Innovation Committee for H.B. 413

I had the privilege to give sponsor testimony on House Bill 413. This is a simple bill that requires political subdivisions to enter both their expenditure information and their revenues on The Ohio Checkbook site for public review.

It seems very simple that in a world where most people struggle to have faith in their government, that we should open more pathways for citizens to review and understand where their money goes. This is an easy and quick way for counties, cities, villages, etc. to provide more information to the people they serve - increasing the trust that citizens have with the organizations that are serving them.

Introduction of Bill to improve Ohio's Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) Property Tax Savings Program

Representative David Thomas and I recently introduced a bill designed to improve Ohio’s Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) property tax savings program. The bill, which incorporates recommendations from the Ohio Farm Bureau, County Auditors, and farmers, aims to provide more clarity, transparency, and consistency for agricultural landowners across Ohio.

Key provisions of the bill include:

• No More Annual Renewal Forms: Farmers will no longer have to submit yearly CAUV renewal forms.
• Fallow Year Flexibility: The bill codifies the practice of allowing a fallow year for suspected crop conversion, as well as during state-declared emergencies.
• Clarifying Land Use: It affirms that incidental land uses, like barns and driveways, do not disqualify properties from CAUV. It also codifies the Ohio Supreme Court's Maralgate decision on non-commercial land use.
• Wasteland & Residential Land Valuation: County Auditors would have discretion to value wasteland and residential land below CAUV values.
• Multi-County Qualification: Farmers with property in adjoining counties can qualify their land under CAUV, simplifying the process for multi-county operations.
• Improved Access & Transparency: Counties must offer online CAUV applications and notify recipients when values change. Property tax bills will show "CAUV Credit Savings."

House Bill 575 awaits further consideration in House Ways and Means Committee.

In- District Updates

Abbott Image Solutions Economic Development in Highland County

I'm pleased to share that Abbott Image Solutions, LLC, recently announced that they will be relocating to Leesburg, Ohio upon receiving $1.3 million through a JobsOhio Grant. This investment will create 30 new jobs in the community, helping strengthen both the local and county workforce.

I am excited to welcome Abbott Image Solutions to the community. Their decision to relocate to Highland County is a testament to the opportunities the area offers. I look forward to seeing the positive impact they will have on the local economy and workforce.

This relocation was made possible through collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and Highland County Economic Development. OhioSE is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. 

To learn more, click here.

Centrus Economic Development Announcement in Pike County

Centrus will be the only 100% fully American Uranium enrichment facility. Currently, 20% of our needs are nuclear. This insures that the U.S. has the ability to produce the Uranium we need without depending on Russia (which currently supplies 25%).

U.S. Medical Glove Company Announcement in Ross County

I'm pleased to share an exciting announcement from US Medical Glove who chose to expand their business in Chillicothe in the old paper mill facility! Thank you to all the local, state, and federal officials who worked to make this happen. Special recognition to U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, who has relentlessly worked to fill the vacancy in Ross County. It was heartwarming to talk to workers back on the job in their old facility.

Taiwan Trade Delegation

I was excited to visit and meet with the Tiawan Trade delegation after they signed a trade agreement to purchase grain from Ohio!

Farmers, including myself, are proud to not only feed the United States, but also the world.

Message From the House Podcast

In this episode of Messages from the House, Whitney Bowers from the Ohio Farm Bureau and I dive into Senate Bill 100 — a groundbreaking effort to help Ohio farmers and rural small business owners access affordable health care.

Health coverage is one of the biggest barriers to staying on the farm. S.B. 100 creates a new health plan tailored to the unique needs of the agricultural community, allowing farm families to get the care they need without leaving the land they love.

I discussed why S.B. 100 could be the most important agriculture bill of the General Assembly, how the Ohio Farm Bureau’s health plan offers new options for the self-employed, how the connection between health care and keeping multi-generational farms alive, and how this plan supports both small business and rural economic stability.