As the Ohio House General Government Committee begins its evaluation of occupational licenses, The Buckeye Institute has released its fourth Opening Doors policy brief. In this document, the organization identifies 39 licenses that it believes Ohio should either eliminate or reform in order to enhance economic competitiveness and reduce barriers for residents seeking employment.
“To assist lawmakers in their review of Ohio’s occupational licenses, The Buckeye Institute’s examination has identified 39 licenses that the state can eliminate or reform,” said Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute and author of the Opening Doors series. “Doing so would make Ohio more economically competitive and end the ‘permission-slip’ policies that make it difficult for people to earn a living in the Buckeye State.”
The analysis by The Buckeye Institute reviews the same set of licenses currently under consideration by the committee. Of these, 19 license or certification requirements are recommended for elimination, while another 20 could be modified to better match those in neighboring states such as Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Since 2019, nearly 100 licensing requirements have been eliminated or reduced following recommendations from The Buckeye Institute.
Legislation supported by The Buckeye Institute—specifically Senate Bill 255—requires Ohio lawmakers to review and renew occupational licensing boards at least every six years. If they do not act within this timeframe, those boards will automatically expire.
