Login | June 07, 2025
Bill to provide temporary property tax relief those who’ve had valuations rise
KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News
Published: June 6, 2025
A Loveland state lawmaker has proposed temporary property tax relief to Ohioans who have seen their property valuations rise upwards of 40 percent in some cases in recent years.
Rep. Jean Schmidt, a Republican, is championing a bill that would limit 2024 property taxes to 2022 levels and 2025 manufactured-home tax liability to 2023 levels.
“As you know, Ohio saw an unprecedented increase in property valuations in numerous counties across the state,” the lawmaker said during a Ways and Means Committee hearing in the Ohio House of Representatives. “Some county valuations––recommended by the Ohio Department of Taxation and not their local auditor––reached more than 30 percent.”
She said Clermont County property owners have seen a 43 percent increase.
“My office has heard from many people inside and outside of Clermont County about how they are hurting from these increases,” Schmidt continued. “They feel it most in their wallets because they are paying a far higher property tax than they’ve seen before. I hear how some people have to move so they can afford to own a home, while others are afraid they cannot afford their groceries or other necessities because they have to pay their property taxes.”
According to analysis by the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, House Bill 89 would authorize the reduction in real property and manufactured-home taxes on any property owned continuously by the same owner from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024.
For real property, the reduction equals the amount by which tax liability in the 2024 tax year exceeded tax liability in 2022 tax year, while the reduction for manufactured homes equals the amount by which manufactured-home tax liability in 2025 exceeded the tax liability in 2023.
Analysis noted the difference in application is a result of manufactured-home tax is payable on a current-year basis, rather than in arrears.
“For owners that have paid the taxes due in 2025, the amount by which those taxes should have been reduced under the bill will be deducted from future tax payments,” attorney Zachary Bowerman wrote for the commission.
Schmidt characterized the legislative measure as a quick remedy to a statewide problem.
“I had had hoped that this bill would have seen more attention last General Assembly, because it would have provided much needed relief to many across Ohio,” she continued. “I am glad that I can speak on it today because this problem is still going on. These increased values haven’t disappeared. People are still hurting.”
Schmidt said she figured there was enough time to pass the bill and give homeowners some measure of relief––even if temporary.
According to the bill, each county auditor must certify the amount of the reduction on each property and manufactured home to the county treasurer not more than 15 days after the bill’s 90-day effective date, and the reduction requires no application by the property or homeowner.
In instances in which a property owner already paid their 2024 or 2025 taxes, the bill requires the auditor to deduct the reduction amount from future tax bills.
“Passing HB 89 would give the legislature time to make the longer-lasting, largescale changes to remedy this problem for good,” she said. “This bill would also communicate to our constituents that we are taking their struggles seriously and actively working to create lasting change.”
HB 89 awaits further consideration by the committee.
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