Pandemic Darlings The pandemic economy, in original documents
Home Source documents Mark Hiner, State Representative — Sponsor Testimony: House Bill 284, House Development Committee

Mark Hiner, State Representative — Sponsor Testimony: House Bill 284, House Development Committee

Summary

Sponsor testimony on House Bill 284 by State Representative Mark Hiner to the House Development Committee, dated June 4th, 2025, and addressed to Chair Hoops, Vice Chair Lorenz and Ranking Member Abdullahi. The testimony states that the bill requires that state-funded projects be constructed with American-made steel and iron, and that House Bill 284 expands a statute whose steel requirement was put in place nearly 50 years ago in the late 70s to include iron. It names McWane Ductile in Coshocton as a company that stands to benefit and states that Texas, Oregon, Florida and others have enacted similar legislation.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Cite this document

“Mark Hiner, State Representative — Sponsor Testimony: House Bill 284, House Development Committee.” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2025-06-04-development-testimony-testimony-9743-6eb4e3b436/, SHA-256 5b145a073bbaa6b0d7d4067f3ae6fd09a5b12df019a732abe5e87c87128d2096.

Full text

                                    Mark Hiner
                                 State Representative
                            Sponsor Testimony: House Bill 284
                              House Development Committee
                                      June 4th, 2025


       Chair Hoops, Vice Chair Lorenz, Ranking Member Abdullahi, and members of the
House Development Committee: thank you for the opportunity to provide sponsor
testimony on House Bill 284.

       House Bill 284 is a bipartisan, common-sense proposal that aims to uplift businesses
and workers across America—and most importantly, right here in Ohio. This legislation is
simple and straightforward: it requires that state-funded projects be constructed
American-made steel and iron.

       This change ensures that Ohio’s infrastructure is built with high-quality, American-
produced materials—materials that support our domestic supply chain, promote
manufacturing jobs, and help ensure our state investments stand the test of time.

       Now, I would love to take credit for the idea behind this bill—but the foundation was
actually laid nearly 50 years ago in the late 70s when the steel requirement was put in
place. House Bill 284 simply expands that statute to include iron, aligning the law with the
original spirit of buying American, and ensuring consistency across the board.

       Being a part of the rust belt, Ohio has a rich history in iron and steel production, and
our state continues to be a leader in these industries. Notably, McWane Ductile, located in
my district -- in Coshocton, is a prime example of the kind of company that stands to bene it
from this legislation. They produce high-quality ductile iron products that are essential for
infrastructure projects, and supporting such businesses means supporting Ohio jobs and
communities.
                                        Mark Hiner
                                    State Representative
       Furthermore, with the processes already established for verifying and enforcing the
use of American-made steel, extending these procedures to include iron will be seamless.
The existing framework provides a clear blueprint, ensuring that implementation of this
bill will be ef icient and effective.

       It's also worth noting that Ohio would not be alone in this endeavor. States like
Texas, Oregon, Florida and a slew of others have enacted similar legislation requiring the
use of American-made iron and steel in public works projects. By aligning with these states,
Ohio reaf irms its commitment to supporting domestic manufacturing and ensuring the
highest quality materials are used in our infrastructure.

       In conclusion, House Bill 284 is about more than just materials; it's about investing
in our state's economy, supporting our workers, and ensuring that Ohio's infrastructure is
built to last. I urge your support for this important legislation.

       Thank you for your time and consideration. I'm happy to answer any questions you
may have.

File and source

File
2025-06-04_development_testimony_testimony-9743.pdf
Size
279,531 bytes
SHA-256
5b145a073bbaa6b0d7d4067f3ae6fd09a5b12df019a732abe5e87c87128d2096
Our copy
2025-06-04_development_testimony_testimony-9743.pdf
Original
No public link identified.
Back to top