03/05/2026

Ohio Bill Targets Property Tax Foreclosures for Older Homeowners

Ohio lawmakers are considering legislation that would prevent counties from foreclosing on certain homes owned by older residents struggling with rising property taxes. House Bill 443 would prohibit tax foreclosures on homes owned by residents age 65 or older if the property is valued at $750,000 or less. Supporters say the bill responds to growing concern that property tax increases could place some older homeowners at risk of losing their homes.

The proposal recently received its second hearing in the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee, where lawmakers approved an amendment requiring eligible homeowners to pay at least the same amount toward delinquent taxes as they paid the previous year. The change is intended to prevent misuse while protecting residents who cannot keep up with increasing tax bills. A nonpartisan fiscal analysis estimates the bill could affect about 27% of homeowners facing tax foreclosure, though the actual impact on local tax collections may be smaller because relatively few delinquent cases proceed to foreclosure.

Read the full coverage in the Dayton Daily News.