COLUMBUS – The Ohio Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee today voted in support of House Bill 172, legislation that would revise the laws regarding self-storage units.
Sponsored by State Representative Brett Hillyer (R-Uhrichsville), House Bill 172 updated the following statues in the Ohio Revised Code in regards to self-storage units:
- Clarifies the definition of “owner” to include “owner/agent” in order to permit local employees to take the actions required of the statute.
- Authorizes the use of e-mail and private delivery services to the methods of delivering notices.
- Permits the sale of property to take place via an online auction and adds the requirement that no fewer than three bidders must register, view, or attend a sale similar to in-person auctions in current law.
- Allows an owner/operator to halt an action to enforce a lien if payment it received from a person other than the occupant. Current law does not allow this discretion of the owner/operator.
- Adds “trailer” to be treated the same as vehicles and watercraft and adds discretion on when an owner/operator must tow.
“The time is now for Ohio to align its statues with those of neighboring states that support the current industry practices and new available technologies,” said Hillyer. “I look forward to seeing House Bill 172 on the Senate Floor.”