Judge Temporarily Blocks Statute Barring Local Hiring Laws

CLEVELAND, OH — House Bill 180 will have to wait. In May, Gov. John Kasich in May signed the bill, prohibiting public authority from requiring a contractor to employ a certain percentage of individuals from the geographic area of the public authority for the construction or professional design of a public improvement.

On Tuesday afternoon, Cuyahoga County judge Michael Russo issued a temporary restraining order against the state of Ohio and HB 180. This comes one week after the City of Cleveland filed a lawsuit arguing that the state law illegally preempts Cleveland's home-rule authority under the state constitution and does not have a statewide impact.

Under the current Fannie Lewis law, projects over $100,000 require that 20% of all constructions worker hours performed public projects are performed by Cleveland residents. Failure to meet the requirements results in a fine equal to 1/8 of one percent of the total contract cost for each percentage by which the contractor misses the goal.

Sponsors from rural areas of Ohio argue that laws like the Fannie Lewis law reduce workers chances of winning contracts and construction jobs in bigger cities.