Ohio House Passes Reps. Fowler Arthur, Klopfenstein Bill to Modernize Amusement Ride Inspection Fees

COLUMBUS - State Representatives Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) and Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) this week announced that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 433, legislation to modernize the state's amusement ride inspection fee structure.

"Ohio has long prided itself on maintaining strong standards for amusement ride safety, but our outdated fee structure placed an unfair burden on small, family-owned businesses," said Rep. Fowler Arthur. "House Bill 433 brings that system into the 21st century by aligning inspection fees with the actual resources required to ensure rides are safe."

Under current law, all amusement rides, regardless of size, complexity, or inspection time, are charged the same permit fee. As a result, small operators of inflatables and portable rides have been subsidizing the cost of inspecting larger, more complex attractions such as roller coasters and major amusement park rides. House Bill 433 establishes a new fee structure that more accurately reflects the time and cost required to inspect each ride type, ensuring a fair and sustainable system for both regulators and operators.

"This legislation isn't about raising fees," said Rep. Klopfenstein. "It's about making sure every operator pays their appropriate share so that Ohio's amusement ride safety program can continue to operate effectively and efficiently."

House Bill 433 now moves to the Ohio Senate for consideration.