As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session H. B. No. 188
2025-2026
Representatives Hall, T., Synenberg
Cosponsors: Representatives Williams, Newman, Brennan, Piccolantonio,
Pizzulli, Cockley, Isaacsohn, Jarrells, King, Russo, Brownlee
To enact section 122.1712 of the Revised Code to
create the Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation
Partnership and to make an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 122.1712 of the Revised Code be
enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 122.1712. (A) The Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation
Partnership is created. The partnership shall study potential
means of advancing the following:
(1) Bilateral trade and investment between Ohio and
Israel;
(2) Policy issues of mutual interest to Ohio and Israel;
(3) Business and academic exchanges between Ohio and
Israel;
(4) Mutual economic support between Ohio and Israel;
(5) Mutual investment in the infrastructure of Ohio and
Israel;
(6) Specific industries, emerging technology opportunities
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and, innovation clusters that warrant support from Ohio and
Israel;
(7) Multilateral partnerships between Ohio, Israel, and
other nations regarding the industries, emerging technology
opportunities, or innovation clusters identified in division (A)
(6) of this section, such as partnerships between Israel and
nations in Africa, Asia, Europe, members of the Gulf cooperation
council, and Oceania;
(8) Other issues as determined by the partnership.
(B) The partnership shall consist of the following
members:
(1) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president
of the senate, who have knowledge of, or current or past
involvement in, organizations that promote Israeli affairs, or
have interest in the well-being of trade relations between Ohio
and Israel;
(2) One member of the senate, appointed by the minority
leader of the senate, who has knowledge of, or current or past
involvement in, organizations that promote Israeli affairs, or
has interest in the well-being of trade relations between Ohio
and Israel;
(3) Two members of the house of representatives, appointed
by the speaker of the house of representatives, who have
knowledge of, or current or past involvement in, organizations
that promote Israeli affairs, or have interest in the well-being
of trade relations between Ohio and Israel;
(4) One member of the house of representatives, appointed
by the minority leader of the house of representatives, who has
knowledge of, or current or past involvement in, organizations
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that promote Israeli affairs, or has interest in the well-being
of trade relations between Ohio and Israel;
(5) Eight members appointed by the governor, with the
advice and consent of the senate, who shall include the
following:
(a) One member who represents a state institution of
higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised
Code;
(b) One member who represents the Ohio chamber of commerce
or a successor organization that advances business interests in
this state;
(c) One member who represents the nonprofit corporation
Ohio Jewish communities;
(d) One member who represents the nonprofit corporation
formed under section 187.01 of the Revised Code;
(e) Two members who represent a regional affiliate of the
nonprofit corporation formed under section 187.01 of the Revised
Code;
(f) Two members, who represent Ohio's business community,
from any of the following organizations:
(i) An Ohio local chamber of commerce;
(ii) Ohio business roundtable;
(iii) Ohio manufacturers' association;
(iv) Ohio life sciences.
(6) Three ex-officio members as follows:
(a) The chancellor of higher education;
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(b) The director of development;
(c) The lieutenant governor.
(C) Members of the partnership shall be appointed not
later than ninety days after the effective date of this section.
Members of the partnership appointed under divisions (B)(1) to
(4) of this section shall serve terms of two years or for the
remainder of the member's legislative term, whichever is less.
Members of the partnership appointed under division (B)(5) of
this section shall serve terms of four years. Any vacancy on the
partnership shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment.
(D) Members of the partnership shall serve without
compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses actually
incurred in the performance of their duties, within the limits
of funds available to the partnership for such purposes.
(E)(1) The partnership shall meet and hold hearings at the
places it designates throughout the state.
(2) The partnership shall elect a chairperson from among
the members of the partnership. The chairperson may appoint from
the partnership members of subcommittees and subcommittee
chairpersons at the chairperson's discretion.
(3) A majority of the members of the partnership
constitutes a quorum for the transaction of the business of the
partnership.
(F) Not later than fifteen months after the effective date
of this section, and annually thereafter, the partnership shall
issue a report of its activities during the preceding year, and
any associated findings and recommendations, to the governor,
the president of the senate, and the speaker of the house of
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representatives.
Section 2. All items in this act are hereby appropriated
as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the
credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations
made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year
2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027.
The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to
any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.
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A DEV DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENT
BGeneral Revenue Fund
CGRF1954A4Ohio-Israel Trade and
Innovation Partnership
$5,000,000 $5,000,000
DTOTAL GRF General Revenue Fund $5,000,000 $5,000,000
ETOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS $5,000,000 $5,000,000
OHIO-ISRAEL TRADE AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP
The foregoing appropriation item 1954A4, Ohio-Israel Trade
and Innovation Partnership, shall be used to support the
activities of the Ohio-Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership
established under section 122.1712 of the Revised Code.
Section 3. Within the limits set forth in this act, the
Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts
indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation
made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which
appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from
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operating appropriations contained in this act shall be
accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all
applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act
of the 136th General Assembly.
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