We are going to make sure the legislature doesn’t stray from their main priority of making Ohio a better place in which to do business. Our goal for 2021-2022 is to create policy that further strengthens free enterprise. At the beginning of each new legislative session, the Ohio Chamber develops a list of Public Policy Priorities that make it clear to legislators what Ohio employers expect from their state legislature: A competitive, modern economy will create an environment in which businesses can expand and create jobs with less government interference. When businesses are not stifled, Ohio’s communities thrive and all Ohioans win.
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To respond to the needs of Ohio employers for qualified, well-trained employees by promoting policies that meet the demands of today's workplace by pursuing strategies that link education and workforce development in a seamless system and embed skills-based learning into academic instruction.
To ensure environmental policies and regulations are both based on sound science and comprehensive information and avoid creating unnecessary red tape.
To help address inequality and injustice in America, in June 2020 the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced its Equality of Opportunity Agenda comprised of substantive policy recommendations and private sector solutions. The Ohio Chamber intends to be a leader by doing our part to drive policy action at the state level.
There are many barriers that hold back people of color in their efforts to obtain an education, secure a job or state a business. Systemic inequalities hurt individuals, communities, our economy and our society. Addressing them is the smart thing to do for our economy:
To advocate for an affordable and sustainable market-based health care system that provides access to quality, affordable health care for all Ohioans.
Our members continue to face significant challenges, and a great deal of uncertainty remains due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Because it's still not business-as-usual for our members, it can't be business-as-usual for the Ohio Chamber. Therefore, we will continue to prioritize a public policy response to the pandemic that seeks to assist employers in overcoming the economic disruptions caused by the virus and ensure the survival of as many businesses as possible.
To protect employers' rights to manage their workplace with limited governmental involvement and regulation and to simplify Ohio's employment law statutes in a way that's fair to both employers and employees.
To monitor and evaluate public affairs issues and activities including elections, campaign finance, ethics and lobbyist regulations, when of interest to the business community; and to examine proposed state constitutional amendments or initiative petition efforts that affect the electoral process.
To promote and protect the establishment, growth and vitality of small business in Ohio.
To ensure Ohio's workers' compensation system runs efficiently and effectively for both state-funded and self-insured employers, is effective in providing proper medical treatment for injured employees, and keeps its cost for employers competitive with other states' systems.
