Delaware County Review

State Representative Beth Lear, a Republican from Galena, cast her vote in favor of House Bill 54, the House's version of the State Transportation Budget. The bill, which passed unanimously, focuses on funding Ohio’s transportation system without increasing taxes.

Lear highlighted several reasons for her support: "Providing good government at a reasonable cost is what people deserve from their elected officials," she stated. She emphasized the importance of an amendment she introduced to enhance election integrity via the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Additionally, she noted that gas tax revenues would allow increased infrastructure spending without raising taxes or fees. "My colleagues who worked the bill did a great job and made it easy to support their hard work," Lear added.

House Bill 54 is set to fund transportation infrastructure development and maintenance for fiscal years 2026-2027. It garnered bipartisan backing and includes measures aimed at maintaining Ohio’s infrastructure, encouraging economic growth, and improving public safety.

The bill allocates over $393 million for new highway construction projects and creates the Ohio Airport Improvement Program Fund to aid airports not receiving federal grants. This fund aims to enhance airport infrastructure and operations.

For economic development, House Bill 54 designates $15 million annually for the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program, which aids public workforce transportation across rural and urban areas in Ohio. It also increases funding for Transportation Improvement Districts to $9 million each year to foster job creation. In addition, the bill establishes the Division of Advanced Air Mobility within the Ohio Department of Transportation as part of efforts to continue innovation leadership in Ohio.

In terms of public safety enhancements, House Bill 54 provides $382 million for targeted roadway safety improvements over two years. It also commits more than $4.1 billion for maintenance operations on existing highways, including road replacement and bridge upkeep.

Regarding election integrity, House Bill 54 includes a provision that prevents the BMV from offering voter registration services to individuals deemed ineligible based on its records. This measure aims to prevent non-citizens from participating in elections.

Ohio boasts an extensive transportation network with one of the largest interstate systems in the U.S., featuring over 8,000 lane miles. The state ranks third nationally with more than 26,000 bridges and fourth with approximately 5,081 active rail miles.

House Bill 54 now advances to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.