Modify local referenda and initiative signature requirements

HB 985 modifies Ohio's local zoning and municipal governance rules by adjusting the number of signatures required to trigger a referendum on new ordinances or zoning changes. The bill lowers the signature threshold for petitions in unincorporated townships and municipal corporations from thirty-five percent to twenty percent of the total vote cast for governor in the most recent general election. It also updates procedural requirements for public hearings, including specific notice methods such as digital publication and social media announcements, and allows local boards to charge fees to property owners who file zoning amendment applications. These changes directly affect local elected officials, property owners, and voters by making it easier to challenge local government decisions through a direct vote.