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New Ohio Tax Credit for Multifamily and Single-Family Housing

Client Alert

With economic growth ahead, Ohio’s new biennium budget addressed an expected growing demand for housing within the state.

On July 5, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the 2024-2025 state budget, which created a state low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) to be overseen by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). The credit has a $100 million annual cap and will be claimed over a 10-year period by eventual recipients. The OHFA expect first reservations to be made in early 2024.

The creation of this credit comes at a time when Ohio is poised for continued economic and job development activity with the notable arrival of an Intel large chip plant in Central Ohio. With this economic growth comes increased demand for affordable housing. The credit itself is expected to be used in tandem with other offered state and federal credits to further extend development dollars and create additional units for Ohioans.

LIHTCs provide tax incentives to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for low-income households. LIHTCs were first offered by the federal government in 1986, with an estimated 100,000 affordable rental units being supported through the federal program each year. While program details still need to be developed by the OHFA, the ability for developers to combine state and federal LIHTCs should incentivize development and growing the availability of affordable, low-income housing.

For questions regarding these new low-income housing tax credits or assistance in securing these credits, please do not hesitate to contact BMD Member Jason Butterworth at jabutterworth@bmdllc.com or Attorney Jacob Davis at jrdavis@bmdllc.com.


The Ohio State University Launches Its Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

In response to Ohio’s nursing shortage, The Ohio State University College of Nursing is accepting applications for its new Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program (aBSN). Created for students with a bachelor’s degree in non-nursing fields, the aBSN allows such students to obtain their nursing degree within 18 months. All aBSN students will participate in high-quality coursework and gain valuable clinical experience. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible to take the State Board, National Council of Licensure Exam for Registered Nursing (NCLEX-RN).

Another Transparency Obligation: The FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements

Many physician practices and healthcare businesses are facing a new set of federal transparency requirements that require action now. The U.S. Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Requirements (the “Rule”), which was promulgated pursuant to the 2021 bipartisan Corporate Transparency Act, is intended to help curb illegal finance and other impermissible activity in the United States.

“In for a Penny, in for a Pound” is No Longer the Case for Florida Lawyers

On April 1, 2024, newly adopted Rule 1.041 to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedures goes into effect which creates a procedure for an attorney to appear in a limited manner in civil proceedings.  Currently, when a Florida attorney appears in a civil proceeding, he or she is reasonable for handling all aspects of the case for their client.  This new rule authorizes an attorney to file a notice limiting the attorney’s appearance to particular proceedings or specified matters prior to any appearance before the court.  For example, an attorney can now appear for the limited purpose of filing and arguing a motion to dismiss.  Once the motion to dismiss is heard by the court, the attorney may file a notice of termination of limited appearance and will have no further obligations in the case.

Enhancing Privacy Protections for Substance Use Disorder Patient Records

On February 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) finalized updated rules to 42 CFR Part 2 (“Part 2”) for the protection of Substance Use Disorder (“SUD”) patient records. The updated rules reflect the requirement that the Part 2 rules be more closely aligned with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) privacy, breach notification, and enforcement rules as mandated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020.

Columbus, Ohio Ordinance Prohibits Employers from Inquiries into an Applicant’s Salary History

Effective March 1, 2024, Columbus employers are prohibited from inquiring into an applicant’s salary history. Specifically, the ordinance provides that it is an unlawful discriminatory practice to: