COLUMBUS, Ohio -- State lawmakers are running out of time and still trying to pass several proposed bill into laws -- all before a new party takes control of one chamber of the statehouse.
Thursday marked the last session of the Ohio State Senate of 2008 and when lawmakers reconvene in 2009, Democrats will be in control of the House, while Republicans stay in control of the Senate.
House lawmakers met until 2 a.m. Thursday and passed 18 bills.
The Senate took its turn late Thursday morning well into the afternoon, trying to bring the 127th General Assembly to a close.
The Senate signed off on House Bill 649, which would authorize the Department of Veterans Services to run a program giving veterans a $50 bonus for each month of active duty and a $100 bonus for each month of service in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan or Iraq.
The maximum amount would be a $1,000 bonus for those wars.
The governor has yet to decide whether to sign or veto the bill.
The General Assembly also approved Senate Bill 353, which would help protect and revitalize neighborhoods devastated by the foreclosure crisis.
S.B. 353 allows Cuyahoga County to create a two year pilot land reutilization corporation to acquire vacant properties and other counties will be watching closely.
Also passed was Senate Bill 380, which would reduce the early voting window from 35 days before an election to 20 days.
Calls to the governor's office on Thursday weren't returned and no one at his office would answer which bills he plans to sign or veto.
Stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com for additional information.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail us at stories@nbc4i.com.
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement