House Bill 246 Interested Party Testimony — House Commerce & Labor Committee (May 21, 2025)

Summary

Interested party testimony on House Bill 246, provided written only on May 21, 2025, to the House Commerce & Labor Committee by the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Ohio, with Andrea Ashley, Vice President of Government Relations, named as the contact. The testimony states that AGC of Ohio actively opposed the prior E-Verification legislation during the last General Assembly and that House Bill 246 represents a substantial improvement. It lists key provisions of this version, including simplified and clearer definitions, the inclusion of labor brokers, a tiered penalty system based on the number and recurrence of violations, and expanded discretion for the Attorney General and the courts.

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Full text

                               HOUSE COMMERCE & LABOR COMMITTEE
                                        HOUSE BILL 246
                                  INTERESTED PARTY TESTIMONY

                               Provided Written Only on May 21, 2025
                   Contact: Andrea Ashley, Vice President of Government Relations
                            Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Ohio


Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Lear, Ranking Member McNally, and Members of the House Commerce &
Labor Committee:

The Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Ohio appreciates the opportunity to provide testimony as
an interested party on House Bill 246.

AGC of Ohio is a statewide construction association representing large and small contractors, including
open shop (nonunion) and union firms. Our members are engaged in commercial building and industrial
construction, delivering projects such as hospitals, offices, schools, wastewater treatment plants,
warehouses, manufacturing facilities, mixed-use developments, and other vertical structures. These are
nonresidential contractors that operate in both the public and private sectors.

During the last General Assembly, AGC of Ohio was among the few organizations that actively opposed
the prior E-Verification legislation. That bill included unclear and inconsistent definitions, focused more
on administrative requirements than on addressing the actual hiring of unauthorized workers, and
included penalties that risked unintended consequences for well-intentioned employers.

We believe House Bill 246 represents a substantial improvement. Key provisions in this version include:

   •   Simplified and clearer definitions;

   •   The inclusion of labor brokers, whose work within the nonresidential construction industry
       requires particular attention and treatment;

   •   A tiered penalty system based on the number and recurrence of violations, appropriately targeting
       those who knowingly hire unauthorized workers or repeatedly fail to comply with E-Verification
       mandates; and

   •   Expanded discretion for the Attorney General and the courts, allowing for more balanced
       enforcement.

We appreciate the sponsors’ and proponents’ willingness to engage with industry stakeholders
throughout the drafting process. Their collaborative approach has resulted in legislation that better
addresses the complexities of the construction industry while prioritizing enforcement against bad
actors.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide this testimony.


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