Voters in Ohio approved a ballot measure, An Act to Control and Regulate Adult Use of Cannabis (the Act), which legalizes recreational marijuana. The law takes effect on Dec. 7, 2023.

The City of Columbus, Ohio, has enacted an ordinance to prohibit certain employers from inquiring about an applicant’s pay history. The ordinance takes effect on March 1, 2024.

Various jurisdictions have increased their minimum wage rates. If applicable, you must increase the pay rate for exempt and/or non-exempt employees to meet the new minimum wage. For New York, the pay rate increase is effective on or before December 31, 2018. For all other jurisdictions and federal contractors, the increase is effective on or before January 1, 2019. An updated poster is not required provided that the employer has the most recent poster already on display. If needed, employers should order a new minimum wage poster. The minimum wage rate is based on the employee’s work location.

Employees with valid concealed weapons permits now have the right to bring their licensed firearms into company parking lots.  You can no longer ban these employees from transporting or storing their firearms or ammunition inside their privately-owned vehicles as long as (1) the firearm is locked in the trunk, glove box, or an enclosed compartment within the vehicle, (2) the firearm and ammunition remain in the vehicle when the employees are in their vehicles, and (3) the vehicles are parked in a permitted location. You can still prohibit employees from carrying weapons in company-owned buildings and vehicles.

Effective January 1, 2017, several Ohio villages have enacted municipal income taxes on both residents and non-residents working in the villages.  Please note that the Marengo, Ohio new income tax was effective on December 1, 2016.

A new tax has been imposed on employees living or working in the Village of Lyons.

Ohio has joined the growing list of states legalizing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. The law takes effect on September 6, 2016, although the state must now go through the process of creating and implementing a regulatory program before its constituents can begin dispensing medical marijuana. That process is expected to take up to two years.