As the Ohio Senate Government Oversight Committee reviews Ohio House Bill 238, The Buckeye Institute has released a policy memo urging lawmakers to reduce occupational licensing requirements. The memo is part of the institute's ongoing efforts to eliminate what it sees as unnecessary barriers to workforce entry.
In its paper, "Opening Doors III: Occupational Licensing Reform in Ohio," The Buckeye Institute identifies 47 licenses that should be eliminated or reformed. Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at the institute, highlighted that "[n]early one in five Ohio workers are subject to occupational licensing requirements." He argues these requirements "limit job opportunities, restrict economic improvement and career choices, impose bureaucratic costs, and effectively act as government permission slips to work in certain professions."
Lawson commended the Ohio House for removing the two-year post-secondary education requirement for real estate brokers and adjusting license durations and renewal fees. He suggested further improvements could be made by reducing the hours required for cosmetology and barber licenses.
The reforms are part of broader changes initiated by Senate Bill 255, which mandates regular reviews of occupational licensing boards. Since its adoption in 2019, several licenses have been reduced or eliminated based on recommendations from The Buckeye Institute.
Ohio House Bill 238 aims to continue this reform process by aligning with recommendations from "Opening Doors III" and extending some provisions such as license duration adjustments for various occupations. The bill seeks to make Ohio more economically competitive by easing entry into professions like real estate appraisal and private investigation.
The Buckeye Institute advocates for adopting these reforms to remove barriers that particularly affect low-income individuals, minorities, and those with criminal records. They argue that current policies delay workforce participation and discourage entry into certain professions.