As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session S. B. No. 184
2025-2026
Senator Reynolds
To enact sections 122.634 and 122.635 of the
Revised Code to establish residential economic
development districts and to create a grant
program for housing developments within such
districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 122.634 and 122.635 of the
Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 122.634. The housing accelerator fund is created in
the state treasury. The fund shall consist of money appropriated
to it by the general assembly and all other money received for
the purposes of section 122.635 of the Revised Code. All
investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.
The director of development shall use the money in the fund only
for the purpose of providing grants under section 122.635 of the
Revised Code.
Sec. 122.635. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Major economic development project" means a project
in this state that meets both of the following criteria:
(a) The project is reasonably expected to create, retain,
and attract jobs or otherwise improve the economic well-being of
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the area surrounding the project site;
(b) At least seven hundred million dollars in private
investments are committed to establish, expand, renovate, or
occupy a facility as part of a single project at a designated
project site, including investment in new buildings, additions
or improvements to existing buildings, machinery, equipment,
furniture, fixtures, and inventory.
(2) "Major workforce housing project" means a project that
reserves at least one hundred units, designed for residential
occupancy by at least one hundred individuals or families living
independently from each other.
(3) "Pro-housing development policy" may include any of
the following:
(a) Having a process in place to increase the rate at
which permits for housing developments are reviewed;
(b) Having a pre-approval process in place for an
expedited review of permits for a diverse range of housing
developers;
(c) Subsidizing or decreasing costs related to water or
sewer connections and extensions for major workforce housing
projects;
(d) Acquiring and readying sites that are ready to be
financed and built upon by developers;
(e) Reducing or eliminating impact, inspection, and plan
review fees for housing developers;
(f) Adopting a zoning plan that includes promoting higher
density, small lot size, and minimum setback requirements;
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(g) Developing a comprehensive plan that promotes diverse
residential development options;
(h) Having no or minimal parking requirements for
developments that include residential units;
(i) Conducting a traffic study, improving water or sewer
infrastructure, improving roads, or permitting both rigid and
flexible pavement types;
(j) Developing partnerships to expand the provision of
sewer and water services to new areas;
(k) Promoting the use of non-traditional building
structures such as modular or manufactured homes.
(4) "Residential economic development district" means all
parcels of land within a twenty-mile radius of a major economic
development project.
(B) A county, township, or municipal corporation that is
fully or partially located within a residential economic
development district may apply for a grant under this section in
the form and manner prescribed by the department of development.
The county, township, or municipal corporation may submit the
application independently or in collaboration with a housing
developer or one or more other counties, townships, or municipal
corporations. The application shall, at minimum, include
documentation or other evidence that proves, to the satisfaction
of the department, that the applicant has done or has imminent
plans to do both of the following within the district:
(1) Adopt and implement pro-housing development policies;
(2) Approve a major workforce housing project.
(C) The department shall review applications and award
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grants under this section on a rolling basis, to the extent that
funds are available. The department shall evaluate applications
and determine the amount of each grant awarded in accordance
with scoring metrics that give preference to counties,
townships, and municipal corporations that:
(1) Adopt more pro-housing development policies in terms
of both quantity and impact;
(2) Allow for higher density, smaller lot size, smaller or
no side yard setbacks, and minimal open space.
(D) If a county, township, or municipal corporation is
approved for a grant under this section based on imminent plans
to adopt and implement pro-housing development policies and
approve a major workforce housing project, the department shall
confirm that the county, township, or municipal corporation
follows through with those plans, as described in the grant
application, before disbursing grant funds. A grant recipient
shall use the funds only for the following purposes:
(1) Providing capital for housing development through
grants or loans;
(2) Acquiring and readying sites for development;
(3) Providing financial assistance for housing-related
infrastructure projects including road improvements and water or
sewer connections;
(4) Addressing additional service or public safety needs
due to increases in population;
(5) Any other purpose deemed appropriate by the director
of development.
(E) The director of development shall adopt rules in
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accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to implement
and administer this section. The rules shall address application
procedures, scoring metrics, grant distribution, and state model
zoning plans that include density, lot size, and setback
preferences.
(F) The general assembly, in enacting this section, hereby
declares its intent to encourage major workforce housing
projects in areas of the state that otherwise would not attract
such developments and to increase home ownership among Ohioans.
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