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Bill

HB 49

Allow for creation of water improvement districts

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Thad Claggett and 3 co-sponsors

Ohio bill authorizing creation of water improvement districts to manage local infrastructure with dedicated funding authority and localized governance.

Referred to committee
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Bill Summary · HB 49

Legislative bill overview

HB 49 authorizes the creation of water improvement districts in Ohio, which would be special-purpose governmental entities empowered to manage and fund water infrastructure projects. These districts would likely have the ability to levy assessments or taxes on property owners within their boundaries to finance improvements to water systems, treatment facilities, or related infrastructure.

Why is this important

Water infrastructure in many Ohio communities is aging and requires significant capital investment. Creating dedicated districts allows communities to form localized governance structures specifically focused on water system improvements without requiring state or municipal budgets to bear the entire cost. This mechanism enables property owners directly benefiting from improvements to share in both decision-making and funding.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment fairness: Property owners may dispute how assessments are calculated and whether they fairly reflect individual benefits received from water improvements
  • Governance and accountability: Questions about oversight, voting rights (property-owner versus resident-based), and whether district boards would be sufficiently accountable to affected communities
  • Debt authority: The scope of bonding and borrowing power granted to these districts, and who ultimately bears repayment obligations if water revenues decline

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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