Dear Neighbor,
It's an honor to serve as your State Representative for the 63rd Ohio House District.
I invite everybody to read more about what I'm working on at the Statehouse by visiting my webpage here, or checking out my previous newsletters here.
God Bless,
Adam Bird
State Representative
Ohio's 63rd House District
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Data Center Statement
Dear Constituents:
Many of you have reached out to my office in recent months with a range of questions and concerns about the impacts of data centers, including infrastructure capacity, energy demand, environmental sustainability, health concerns, land use, and fiscal impacts.
House Bill 646 established safeguards to protect ratepayers, improve transparency, and promote responsible use of energy and water resources. However, there were two major areas in the bill that gave me concern.
One: The bill’s language on non-disclosure agreements. I introduced House Bill 695 earlier this year that would prohibit certain local elected officials from entering into non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). I felt strongly that when it comes to these major economic development projects, local communities deserve honesty and transparency. Non-disclosure agreements often keep communities in the dark.
However, I don’t believe the provision about NDAs in House Bill 646 goes far enough. It still impedes the public’s ability to know details about data center growth in the community when the only avenue they have to know whether an NDA was signed, or what provisions were included in negotiations, is based on the filing of a public records request.
Two: House Bill 646 includes language that would lower the state Sales and Use Tax exemption available to data centers to not exceed a 50%. While this sounds like a positive thing for Ohioans, the legislature completely removed the data center sales tax exemption in the state operating budget last year, but it was ultimately vetoed by the Governor.
Since then, the Governor has put a pause on any new tax exemptions for data centers after it was revealed that the sales tax exemption for data centers cost the state more than $1.5 billion in foregone revenue last year.
I voted to eliminate the sales tax exemption for data centers completely in last year’s budget and do not believe locking in a 50% exemption cap is a good enough deal for Ohioans.
For these two reasons, I was not in full support of the latest version of House Bill 646.
At this point, conversations about the bill are continuing in earnest based on a strong and shared desire to reach solutions that make sense for Ohio communities and support economic development. I welcome your feedback as this effort continues.
Sincerely,
Adam Bird
State Representative, 63rd House District
House Bill 472 - Requiring Photo ID for Absentee Voting: Vetoed
In Rep. Bird is disappointed to share that a bill he voted in support of, House Bill 472, legislation that further strengthens election integrity by adding photo ID requirements for mail-in absentee voting and ensuring that the requirements for in-person voters match those for mail-in voters, was vetoed by the Governor on Wednesday.
Through House Bill 472, mail-in absentee voters would have had multiple opportunities to verify their identity: when requesting a ballot, when returning their voted ballot, or during the existing four-day cure period after Election Day. The bill also modernizes the process by creating an online portal where voters can request absentee ballots and securely submit photo ID.
Accepted forms of identification include an Ohio driver’s license or state ID, U.S. passport, military or National Guard ID, and Department of Veterans Affairs ID card.
EXEMPTIONS: In the bill, reasonable exemptions are maintained for voters with sincere religious objections, military and overseas voters, and those with severe medical and mobility issues.
Rep. Bird Applauds Nearly $700 Million of Direct Property and Sales Tax Relief to Ohioans
Rep. Bird is a co-sponsor of House Bill 479 - legislation that now includes an amendment to direct budget surplus funding for community projects, property tax relief, and other key priorities across the state.
House Bill 479 includes appropriations for the following:
- $350 million providing property tax relief to Homestead Exemption recipients
- $320 million for an expanded sales tax holiday August 1-15, 2027
- $310 million for the Health and Human Services fund
- $200 million to fund community projects included in the Capital Budget in lieu of issuing debt
- $35 million to bolster Ohio’s Budget Stabilization fund, bringing its balance over $4 billion
Through this amendment, Ohio House Republicans have prioritized investments that return money to taxpayers, assist working families, and strengthen local communities.
Additionally, Ohio House Republicans have championed several pieces of legislation to help lower property taxes for Ohioans, including five pieces of legislation that were signed into law that work to curb tax hikes and deliver direct property tax relief, totaling more than $3 billion in savings.
House Bill 479 was signed and is now enrolled.
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