A look at recent legislative actions and how area lawmakers voted.
OHIO SENATE
H.B. 483: to accelerate already approved income tax cuts, expand a tax break for small businesses, and declare college athletes are not school employees.
Sponsor: Rep. Ron Amstutz (R., Wooster).
Vote: Passed on Wednesday, 24-8.
Area senators: Edna Brown (D., Toledo), no; Randy Gardner (R., Bowling Green), yes; Cliff Hite (R., Findlay), yes; David Burke (R., Marysville), yes.
H.B. 289: to prohibit the creation of new joint economic development zones by local governments and place restrictions on existing zones.
Sponsor: Rep. Kurt Schuring (R., Canton).
Vote: Passed on Wednesday, 30-2.
Area senators: Ms. Brown, yes; Mr. Gardner, yes; Mr. Hite, yes; Mr. Burke, yes
H.B. 487: to delay penalties for schools and educators connected to early report card results as schools implement Common Core standards.
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Brenner (R., Powell).
Vote: Passed on Wednesday, 27-5.
Area senators: Ms. Brown, yes; Mr. Gardner, yes; Mr. Hite, yes; Mr. Burke, yes.
OHIO HOUSE
H.B. 198: to allow property owners to opt out of a tax increment financing district focused on completion of an infrastructure project.
Sponsors: Rep. Jim Butler (R., Dayton) and Rep. Tony Burkley (R., Payne).
Vote: Passed on Wednesday, 83-11.
Area representatives: Teresa Fedor (D., Toledo), no; Mike Sheehy (D., Oregon), no; Michael Ashford (D., Toledo), no; Barbara Sears (R., Monclova Township), yes; Tim Brown (R., Bowling Green), yes; Chris Redfern (D., Catawba Island), no; Rex Damschroder (R., Fremont), yes; Lynn Wachtmann (R., Napoleon), yes; Robert Sprague (R., Findlay), yes; Tony Burkley (R., Payne), yes; Jeff McClain (R., Upper Sandusky), yes.
U.S. HOUSE
H.R. 3361: to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to establish a new process when the FBI seeks a FISA court order.
Sponsor: Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R., Wis.).
Vote: Passed on Thursday, 303-121, with seven members not voting.
Area representatives: Miss Kaptur, no; Mr. Latta, yes; Mr. Jordan, no; Mr. Walberg, yes.
SOURCES: Blade Columbus Bureau, Library of Congress, govtrack.us