OHIO — Senators at the statehouse are on the same page when it comes to bills focused on energy and the sale of intoxicating hemp.

They unanimously passed a measure that would regulate hemp products and an energy bill that lawmakers said would increase power generation capacity and could lower your utilities costs. 

Both Republicans and Democrats said they want to protect kids from intoxicating hemp, and they share a similar goal of increasing power generation in Ohio. 

The energy bill repeals subsidies for outdated coal-fired power plants. State Sen. Kent Smith, D-Minority Leader, who’s a co-sponsor, said there are two big wins coming out of the energy bill.

What You Need To Know

  • Senators passed hemp and energy bills unanimously

  • Both Republicans and Democrats said they share similar goals of keeping children safe and increasing the power generation for Ohio

  • Lawmakers said the energy bill could lower utilities’ costs if it becomes law

“The Ohio Valley Electric Corp. repeal of the legacy generation rider,” Smith said. “The other thing was the mandatory rate case review, because Sam Randazzo, the reason FirstEnergy bribe Sam Randazzo is, so Randazzo will allow FirstEnergy to not go through the audit.”

Republican State Sen. and President Rob McColley said this bill could be a huge benefit for Ohioans.

“The fact we’re allowing for behind the meter generation,” McColley said. “I think, over the next decade, is going to prove itself to be one of the most transformational energy policies that we’ve allowed in the state in quite some time.”

As for the hemp bill it would ban hemp products being sold if they’re not in a licensed dispensary and it also adds a 10% sales tax.  

State Sen. Nickie Antonio, D-Minority Leader, said there’s a reason why her caucus was on board.

“For me, the consideration was standardization, our children’s safety,” Antonio said. “The fact that these products are being marketed to kids more than anything in these small convenience stores, gas stations.”

There were some concerns about being too regulatory, but the bill still received unanimous support.

CBD store owners came in to testify against the bill, they’ve said the measure could force them to close.

The hemp bill now heads to the house, while the energy bill goes to Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk, and would become law if he signs it.

“When we look at how, frankly, out of control these intoxicating hemp products have gotten, I think anybody who has kids can acknowledge that this needed, desperately needed regulation,” McColley said. “I don’t have a lot of sympathy for some of those businesses that are now being forced to not offer a product that was very clearly dangerous and targeted towards children.”

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