State Rep. David Thomas, a Republican from Jefferson who represents portions of Trumbull County, introduced legislation that he says will modernize and strengthen the state’s tax appeals system.

The bill, Thomas said, would deliver clearer timelines, increase transparency and fairer procedures for taxpayers seeking reassessments or refunds.

“This bill helps give our taxpayers more certainty and more of a fair fight,” Thomas said. “The longer their appeals are delayed, the longer they are not being served.”

The bill is co-sponsored by state Rep. Gary Click, R-Vickery.

The bill hasn’t been given a House committee assignment as of Monday.

The bill would update sections of the Ohio Revised Code and reform processes within the Department of Taxation and the Board of Tax Appeals.

The bill would require a hearing within 180 days of a request with limited extensions, a 30-day taxpayer review period for proposed final determinations and a halt to interest accrual after one year on unresolved reassessment petitions.

The bill would allow settlement conferences to speed up dispute resolution and create a new appeals pathway allowing taxpayers to appeal directly to the Board of Tax Appeals when the Department of Taxation does not act within a year.

The bill also would require the board to issue decisions within 12 months and strengthen the problem resolution officer program with staffing requirements, an online public directory and expanded reporting metrics.

The reforms provide predictability, improve accountability and ensure taxpayers receive timely and fair outcomes, Thomas said.

Thomas served as the House Republican’s point-man on property tax reform and is vice chairman of the House’s Ways and Means Committee.

Of the seven bills sponsored by Thomas that were signed into law in 2025, five of them dealt with property tax reform. The five will save homeowners more than $3 billion over the next three years, change how millage is counted for school districts and permit county budget commissions to control levy amounts.