As Introduced

135th General Assembly

Regular Session S. B. No. 249

2023-2024

Senators Reynolds, Craig

A BILL

To enact section 175.50 of the Revised Code to provide grants to qualifying applicants for mortgage, property tax, and utility bill assistance.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That section 175.50 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 175.50. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Homeowner" means an individual who, jointly or severally, has legal or equitable title to owner-occupied housing located in Ohio together with the right to control or possess that housing. "Homeowner" includes a purchaser of housing pursuant to a land installment contract if that contract vests possession and maintenance responsibilities in the purchaser and a person who has care or control of housing as executor, administrator, assignee, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner of that housing.

(2) "Utility" means any of the following:

(a) Natural gas;

(b) Electricity, including renewable resources;

(c) Bulk fuel, including propane, fuel oil, coal, and wood;

(d) Water;

(e) Sewer;

(f) Trash removal;

(g) Broadband internet service;

(h) Property taxes;

(i) Homeowner's insurance;

(j) Flood insurance;

(k) Mortgage insurance;

(l) Fees imposed by the owners association of a planned community in accordance with Chapter 5312. of the Revised Code;

(m) Fees imposed by the unit owners association of a condominium development in accordance with Chapter 5311. of the Revised Code;

(n) Any other utility as determined by the Ohio housing finance agency by rule pursuant to this section.

(B)(1)(a) The save the dream Ohio program is created within the Ohio housing finance agency for the purpose of providing grants to homeowners to pay delinquent or future mortgage payments;

(b) The save the dream Ohio utility assistance plus program is created within the Ohio housing finance agency for the purpose of providing grants to homeowners to pay for the cost of utilities.

(2) The Ohio housing finance agency shall administer the programs created under division (B)(1) of this section using up to ten million dollars of money available to the agency. The programs are not subject to the income limits established by the agency under section 175.05 of the Revised Code.

(C) A homeowner is eligible for a grant under either or both of the programs created by this section if both of the following apply at the time of the homeowner's application:

(1) The homeowner's adjusted gross income, as defined in section 5747.01 of the Revised Code, for the most recently concluded tax year does not exceed seventy-five thousand dollars;

(2) The homeowner is sixty-five years or older, disabled, or a caretaker of an individual who is disabled.

(D) A homeowner may apply for and receive more than one grant under this section, but no person may apply for or receive more than three thousand dollars in grants under this section in a calendar year.

(E) The Ohio housing finance agency shall adopt rules pursuant to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary to administer the grant programs. At minimum, the rules shall include both of the following:

(1) The form and manner in which applications are submitted;

(2) Criteria for determining whether an applicant is disabled or the caretaker of an individual who is disabled.