Columbus – State Senator Jay Hottinger (R-Newark) announced that the Ohio Senate today unanimously passed S.B. 310, authorizing the distribution of $350 million of federal CARES Act funding to local communities across Ohio for COVID-19 pandemic-related expenses.

This funding will be made available to counties, municipalities and townships for necessary expenses associated with the current public health emergency and will be distributed based on the proportion of Local Government Fund revenue allocated to them in 2019. 

"It is imperative that we get these dollars to our local governments as quickly as we can to further assist local jurisdictions in responding to COVID-19 related expenses," said Hottinger. "Senate Bill 310, which I co-sponsored, will ensure that local communities on the front lines have much needed resources available to them."

The County Commissioners Association, Ohio Mayors Alliance, Ohio Municipal League and Ohio Township Association voiced their support for S.B. 310.

The legislation passed with an emergency clause, making the bill effective immediately upon being signed by the governor. The bill now moves to the Ohio House for consideration. For more information on S.B. 310 click here.