Support Amendment 2479 to SB 19
Give Ohio school districts a voice when predatory development shifts massive costs onto neighboring taxpayers.
Amendment 2479 creates a fair process allowing school districts to petition for territory transfers when large-scale residential developments — like Heath Hills — are approved outside their control and create significant financial, operational, and infrastructure burdens.
This common-sense reform protects Ohio schools, taxpayers, and communities from unsustainable growth. It ensures that the city approving the development shares responsibility for the students it creates.
About Amendment 2479
Amendment 2479 to SB 19 would create a process allowing a school district to request the transfer of territory to a neighboring school district when large-scale residential development is expected to create a significant negative financial impact on the district.
Under the amendment, a school board could petition the State Board of Education to transfer territory if evidence shows the development would strain the district’s finances, facilities, transportation systems, infrastructure, or educational resources.
The amendment specifically allows consideration of:
- Proposed housing density and number of homes
- Zoning approvals for residential construction
- Traffic and infrastructure impacts
- Building capacity and transportation concerns
- Financial projections tied to state funding and projected enrollment growth
- Whether another nearby district could absorb students with less overall impact
The amendment would require at least 75% approval from the local school board before submitting a transfer request. It would also allow the State Board to approve territory transfers in situations where most residents of the annexing city already live within that city’s school district, the affected district objects to serving students generated by the new development, or there is clear evidence of significant financial harm.
In summary, Amendment 2479 is intended to give school districts additional tools to address situations where large residential developments approved outside their control could create major financial and operational burdens on schools and taxpayers.
A Guide for Contacting State Legislators
Introduce Yourself
- • Your name
- • Where you live
- • How long you have lived in the area
- • Your connection to the issue (parent, taxpayer, Granville Schools alumni, business owner, etc.)
Explain Why You Support Amendment 2479
- • Development decisions creating major financial impacts on neighboring school districts without representation
- • Lack of local control for communities bearing long-term costs
- • Pressure on school districts already near capacity
- • Increased strain on roads, utilities, and infrastructure
- • Need for balanced, transparent regional planning
Ask Legislators to Support the Amendment
- • Support Amendment 2479 to Ohio SB 19
- • Protect taxpayers and school districts from unsustainable financial burdens
- • Encourage fair representation and accountability in development decisions
- • Support responsible growth that considers school capacity and infrastructure
Keep the Tone Respectful
The most effective messages are personal, authentic, respectful, solution-oriented, and written in your own voice. Focus on community impact rather than politics. Thank legislators for their time.
Email The Representatives Below Today
The amendment is effectively “stuck” and risks not receiving a hearing unless meaningful public pressure is applied immediately.
Key Legislators to Contact
Critical First Step: House Education Committee
Amendment 2479 must first be voted on and advanced out of the House Education Committee. This is the highest-priority vote right now — a committee vote is expected in the coming days.
Without Education Committee support, the amendment cannot move forward with SB 19.
Ohio House Education Committee MembersPrimary target
Ashtabula / Ashtabula County and parts of Geauga County (northeast Ohio)
Green Township / Hamilton County (Cincinnati suburbs, southwest Ohio)
Parma / Cuyahoga County (Cleveland suburbs, northeast Ohio)
New Richmond / Brown County and parts of Clermont County (southwest Ohio)
Vickery / Sandusky County and Seneca County (northwest Ohio)
Xenia / Greene County (near Dayton, southwest Ohio)
Avon / North Ridgeville area / Lorain County (northeast Ohio)
Amherst / Lorain County (northeast Ohio)
Troy / Miami County (west-central Ohio, north of Dayton)
Gahanna / Franklin County (Columbus suburbs, central Ohio)
Marietta / Washington County, Meigs County, and parts of Athens County (southeast Ohio)
Solon / Cuyahoga County (Cleveland suburbs, northeast Ohio)
Jackson Township / Canton area / Stark County (northeast Ohio)
Next Step: House Rules & Reference Committee
After passing the Education Committee, the Rules & Reference Committee controls which bills and amendments are scheduled for a full vote on the House floor.
Their support is essential to get Amendment 2479 before the entire House before summer recess.