Ohio House Passes Bill to Update Property Tax Lien Process

COLUMBUS - State Representatives Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe) and Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) are pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives yesterday passed House Bill 92, legislation to restore fairness and accountability for unpaid water and sewer bills owed to a municipal utility.

Current practice allows municipal authorities to place a property lien against landlords for unpaid water and sewer rents incurred by tenants. House Bill 92 will prohibit this practice, requiring municipal utilities to collect past due utility costs from the tenant instead of the landlord if the landlord did not contract for the service or does not occupy the property.

The bill will also prohibit municipal service providers, such as water, sewage, and natural gas, from denying or discontinuing service to a landlord or tenant due to nonpayment by a former tenant, if certain conditions are met.

"At the end of the day, this is simple contract law," said Johnson. "Responsibility should follow the individual who agreed to the service. House Bill 92 ensures that landlords and new tenants are not stuck covering costs they didn't sign up for, restoring fairness to Ohio's utility system."

"House Bill 92 is simple in principle," said McClain. "If you contract for a service and receive that service, you should be responsible for the payment, and any unpaid balance should not be transferred to a third party out of convenience. Implementing best practices in operating a system that holds the responsible payer accountable rather than a convenient third party is what both right and achievable."

House Bill 92 now awaits further consideration from the Ohio Senate.