Cutrona Cosponsors Bill Providing Emergency Disaster Relief for East Palestine

COLUMBUS—State Senator Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) cosponsored  Senate Bill 9, passed by the Ohio Senate today, that will provide more emergency disaster relief for the people of  East Palestine, still recovering from last year's catastrophic train wreck. The legislation makes sure those residents will not have to pay state taxes on federal relief payments they received to help recover from the disaster.

"Our neighbors in East Palestine have suffered enough, and I want to make sure they are not subject to any more red tape and bureaucratic obstacles to a full recovery," said Senator Cutrona. "I joined Vice President Vance in East Palestine last week to hear first hand what those people need right now, and this legislation will go a long way towards making sure our government is not hurting, but actually helping, these people rebuild their lives and their village."

Senate Bill 9 helps accomplish these goals by declaring an emergency and incorporating changes to federal tax law, taking effect since March 15, 2023, into Ohio income tax law. This will allow residents to file quickly before the tax deadlines, in an expedited way.

The disastrous train derailment in East Palestine happened two years ago this month and led to the Senate's Select Committee on Rail Safety passing new safety standards to commercial trains.