Housing

This bill creates the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act to regulate how online rental platforms handle guarantees for renters. It defines rental home marketplaces as platforms that connect property owners with renters and requires these platforms to back their guarantees with reimbursement insurance policies if they fail to perform. The law mandates that providers must make guarantee terms available online and include clear statements on their contracts explaining that the guarantee is not an insurance contract but is backed by insurance. Additionally, the bill establishes that if a provider cannot fulfill a guarantee within 180 days after a claim is filed, renters can claim directly from the insurance company. The legislation applies to consumer transactions involving these platforms and clarifies that providers are not considered insurance companies under state law.

HB 102 prohibits sex offenders and child-victim offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of a victim’s home or loitering within 1,000 feet of that home. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of sex offenses who are subject to residency restrictions under Ohio law. Key provisions establish clear distance limits: a 2,000-foot buffer for living near a victim’s residence and a 1,000-foot buffer for lingering or loitering. These changes aim to enhance safety for victims by limiting close proximity to their homes.

HB 288 requires private construction project owners to pay contractors on time by amending Ohio's Revised Code (section 4113.61). This directly affects private property developers and project owners who hire contractors for construction work. The key provision establishes a legal obligation for owners to make payments according to agreed-upon schedules, preventing delays without requiring new payment terms. The bill creates a clear standard for timely payment in private construction contracts.

House Bill 126 proposes to prohibit specific types of public nuisance actions. It achieves this by amending existing sections and enacting a new section within the Revised Code (715.44, 2307.71, and 2307.801). The bill's provisions would limit the ability to file certain lawsuits related to public nuisances. This change directly affects who can bring such claims and under what circumstances.