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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The latest on legislative activity at the Ohio Statehouse as lawmakers seek to finish their work on the last voting session of the year (all times local):
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5:55 p.m.
A bill that would create one set of statewide regulations for ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft is headed to Ohio's governor.
The passage of the legislation on Wednesday comes as Uber plans to expand its Ohio workforce by adding 10,000 more drivers in the state next year.
The measure would require ride-sharing companies to apply for a permit with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and mandate that drivers carry $1 million in insurance covering work for such companies.
The legislation allows the coverage to be less when drivers aren't ferrying passengers.
Ohio lawmakers also gave final votes to a bill to prohibit a public employer from asking about an applicant's criminal history on a job application form.
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5:30 p.m.
A budget corrections bill that would make technical revisions and restore some money that certain schools lost in a tax change is headed to the governor.
Under the measure, school districts affected by the lost tangible personal property tax reimbursement would see almost $50 million over the two-year budget.
The bill also contains a variety of other changes, including a provision to provide Wright State University with $220,000 to help with any security upgrades needed before it hosts a 2016 general election presidential debate.
The House and Senate gave their final votes on the legislation Wednesday.
Final House votes were planned on a bill to ban a public employer from asking about an applicant's criminal history on a job application form, and another to set statewide regulations for ride-sharing services.
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4:45 p.m.
A budget corrections bill that would make technical revisions and restore some money that certain schools lost in a tax change has cleared the Ohio Senate.
Under the measure, school districts affected by the lost tangible personal property tax reimbursement would see almost $50 million over the two-year budget.
The bill also contains a variety of other changes, including a provision to provide Wright State University with $220,000 to help with any security upgrades needed before it hosts a 2016 general election presidential debate.
The House, which passed an earlier version, also planned to vote on the measure later Wednesday.
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4:35 p.m.
State senators have approved legislation to restore a sales-tax exemption for residents buying rare coins and precious metal bullion.
The exemption was eliminated following a 2005 scandal centering around Republican fundraiser and coin dealer Tom Noe. Noe was convicted of stealing from a $50 million rare-coin fund he oversaw for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. He's now serving an 18-year prison term.
The collectible-coin industry has been pushing for the exemption to be restored since it was repealed. Collectors argue that the entire industry shouldn't be punished because of one person's actions.
The bill cleared the Senate on a 31-2 vote Wednesday. A separate measure has passed the House.
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4:20 p.m.
Emergency responders in Ohio could provide certain medical treatment to injured pets under legislation that has cleared the Ohio House.
The bill passed on a vote of 89-0 Wednesday. It would allow certain emergency personnel to provide an injured dog or cat with some medical services, such as "mouth to snout," while responding to fires or other emergencies. The responders also could control any bleeding and bandage the animal before it's transferred to a veterinarian for further treatment.
Sponsoring Rep. Tim Ginter, a Salem Republican, said some EMTs and others are unsure if they can provide basic care to a dog or cat while on the scene. He said the measure helps clear up any confusion.
The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.
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4:05 p.m.
The Ohio Senate has approved a bill that would create one set of statewide regulations for ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft.
The passage of the legislation comes as Uber plans to expand its Ohio workforce by adding 10,000 more drivers in the state next year.
The measure would require ride-sharing companies to apply for a permit with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and mandate that drivers carry $1 million in insurance covering work for such companies. The Senate passed the bill 32-1 Wednesday.
The legislation allows the coverage to be less when drivers aren't ferrying passengers.
The companies use smartphone apps to connect drivers with passengers
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3:30 p.m.
A Senate committee has passed a budget corrections bill that would make technical revisions and restore some money that certain schools lost in a tax change.
School districts affected by the lost tangible personal property tax reimbursement would see almost $50 million over the two-year budget.
The bill also contains a variety of other changes, including a provision to provide Wright State University with $220,000 to help with any security upgrades needed before it hosts a 2016 general election presidential debate.
The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill Wednesday, sending to the full Senate for a vote. The House, which passed an earlier version, also planned to vote on the measure later Wednesday.
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2:50 p.m.
Ohio is delivering its formal defense to Connecticut's claim that another aviator beat the Wright brothers as first in flight.
State senators unanimously approved a resolution Wednesday that responds to a 2013 Connecticut law honoring aviator Gustave Whitehead as flying in 1901. That's two years before Dayton residents Orville and Wilbur Wright took their first flight off Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, in 1903.
The dispute over the historical aviators has escalated in recent years. It has included documentation fights among aviation experts and defenses of the Wrights citing the scholarship of major institutions such as the National Air & Space Museum. A 432-page book also was published this summer laying out the case of Whitehead's claim.
The sponsor of Ohio's resolution has suggested that Connecticut is changing history without evidence and Ohio must respond.
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1 p.m.
State senators in Ohio plan to consider a resolution repudiating Connecticut's claim that another aviator beat the Wright brothers as first in flight.
The measure is responding to a 2013 Connecticut law that honored aviator Gustave Whitehead as being two years ahead of Dayton residents Orville and Wilbur Wright's 1903 flight off Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
The resolution was on the state Senate's agenda for Wednesday, the last voting session scheduled for 2015.
Senators also planned to consider legislation to create statewide regulations for ride-sharing services and to restore a rare coins sales-tax exemption.
The House was to vote on a bill that would let certain emergency personnel provide injured dogs or cats with some medical services, such as "mouth to snout," while responding to fires or other emergencies.
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4:30 a.m.
Emergency responders in Ohio could provide certain medical treatment to injured pets under legislation that state lawmakers plan to consider on their final session day of the year.
The Ohio House and Senate are scheduled to hold their last voting sessions of 2015 on Wednesday before breaking for the holidays. The General Assembly's work would then resume in January.
The House planned to vote on a bill authorizing certain emergency personnel to provide an injured dog or cat with some medical services, such as "mouth to snout," while responding to a fire or other emergency situation.
Representatives also will weigh legislation that would authorize probate judges to issue search warrants in criminal matters.
A Senate committee was slated to consider a corrections bill to the state budget.
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