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Proponent Testimony on House Bill 669 - Jason Warner, Greater Ohio Policy Center (May 28, 2020)

Summary

Proponent testimony on House Bill 669 (Swearingen-LaRe), the Business Expansion and Safety Act, by Jason Warner, Manager of Government Affairs at the Greater Ohio Policy Center, to the House Commerce & Labor Committee on Thursday, May 28, 2020. The testimony describes the Greater Ohio Policy Center as a statewide, non-partisan not-for-profit and states that bars and restaurants face a challenge in safely accommodating customers and staff while socially distancing. It states that many restaurants have expanded dining areas to on-site parking, sidewalks and town squares, but liquor permit restrictions do not allow serving alcoholic beverages in these spaces. It says House Bill 669 would give business owners greater flexibility.

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“Proponent Testimony on House Bill 669 - Jason Warner, Greater Ohio Policy Center (May 28, 2020).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2020-05-28-commerce-labor-testimony-hb669greaterohiopolicycenter-6bbe08653f/, SHA-256 e48b22c77ffcef3c16f480c09d8d61c0b1a826a3db3b10fe77501afa2292a492.

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                                   GREATER OHIO POLICY CENTER
                                                                       People. Land. Prosperity.

                    House Commerce & Labor Committee
          Proponent Testimony – House Bill 669 (Swearingen-LaRe)
   Jason Warner – Manager of Government Affairs, Greater Ohio Policy Center
                          Thursday, May 28, 2020

Chair Manning, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan, and members of the House Commerce &
Labor Committee, thank you for the opportunity to present proponent testimony in support of
House Bill 669 – the Business Expansion and Safety Act.

My name is Jason Warner, and I am the Manager of Government Affairs at the Greater Ohio
Policy Center (GOPC). GOPC is a statewide, non-partisan not-for-profit who’s mission is to
improve the communities of Ohio through smart growth strategies and research. Our vision is a
revitalized Ohio.

Since March, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way Ohioans live their lives and the
way we think about social interactions. While we are slowly opening back up, challenges
remain. One aspect that we have been told that will not change however, is the need to socially
distance. While it may be easy to do this is some stores and businesses, it remains a challenge
for bars and restaurants to safely accommodate customers and staff.

With weather improving, we have the opportunity to enhance available space for bars and
restaurants by enacting House Bill 669.

Restaurants and bars are among the most important tenants in Ohio’s revitalizing commercial
districts. They are what bring longtime residents and new people passing through into our
historic downtowns and nearby neighborhoods. Our local restaurants and bars were among the
first to relocate into long-vacant buildings, and in many cases, never left, even during the hard
times. Particularly in our older neighborhoods and public squares, these small business owners
are what makes Ohio’s communities so special.

They also face special challenges—they are often in funky old buildings that do not lend
themselves to easy Covid-spurred reconfigurations. We must support them as they help offer a
much-needed sense of normalcy and community.

Many restaurants have already been able to expand their dining areas to on-site parking,
sidewalks, and town squares, but liquor permit restrictions do not allow for the serving of
alcoholic beverages in these spaces.

Enactment of House Bill 669 will provide business owners with greater flexibility to expand their
business at a time many are working to overcome the challenges imposed by a two-month
shutdown, but also to provide customers and employees with a safer, socially-distanced friendly
environment.

We would like to thank Representatives Swearingen and LeRe for sponsoring House Bill 669
and for working to find ways to balance the health and safety of our communities while also
aiding main street businesses across Ohio. Chair Manning and members of the Commerce &

 Greater Ohio Policy Center │ 399 East Main Street, Suite 220 Columbus, Ohio 43215 │ 614-224-0187
                                        www.greaterohio.org
Labor Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of House Bill 669 and I
welcome any questions the committee may have.

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