| State Representative Derek Merrin is serving his third term in the Ohio House after being appointed in 2016. He represents the 47th district, which includes portions of Lucas and Fulton Counties.
As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Merrin is a strong advocate for lower taxes, simplifying the tax code, and promoting transparency. He currently serves on the Financial Institutions, Civil Justice, and the Technology and Innovation Committees.
Rep. Merrin previously served as Chairman of the House Health Committee where he advocated for policies to reduce health care costs, promote price transparency, and better patient access through fewer regulations.
He successfully repealed the sales tax on prescription eyewear effective July 1, 2019, saving taxpayers $45 million annually (HB116). Furthermore, he successfully championed the repeal of Financial Institution Tax on Small Business Investment Companies (HB 592), the Epinephrine Accessibility Act (HB 101), the Down Syndrome Non-Discrimination Act (HB 214), and eased the process for homeowners to challenge their property value (HB 118). In 2019, Rep. Merrin's Fuel Tax Transparency Act requiring stickers on fuel pumps displaying the state and federal fuel taxes became law through the Transportation Budget (HB 62).
In 2020, Rep. Merrin successfully sponsored the Anthony Dia Act (760) making it easier for children and spouses of law enforcement and military service members killed in the line of duty to access college tuition waivers. Also, he won a victory to expand the Forever Buckeye Program (HB 371) to ensure those earning a GED in Ohio had the same access to in-state tuition benefits that other students have when moving back to Ohio. Furthermore, his Theft Victims' Restitution Act (HB 66) become law making it easier for victims of theft to recover restitution for accounting costs incurred when determining their financial losses.
In 2021, Rep. Merrin successfully changed the law providing Ohioans an option to choose an eight-year driver's license rather than a four-year license, which will significantly reduce visits to the BMV's throughout Ohio. He won on reducing mortgage lenders tax burden (HB 150), which was believed to be the highest in the nation at the time.
In 2022, Rep. Merrin's Ballot Uniformity and Transparency Act (HB 140) became law making it easier for voters to understand the fiscal impact of tax and bond levies. Also, Rep. Merrin's reform to Ohio's Board of Revision law (HB 126) was signed into law limiting the power of local governments to challenge property values to increase property taxes on property owners.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toledo and Master of Public Administration degree from Bowling Green State University.
Rep. Merrin served two years on Waterville City Council. Two years later, he was elected mayor of Waterville at 21 years old, becoming the youngest mayor in Ohio serving from 2008-2011.
Representative Merrin resides in Monclova Township. |