Ohio lawmakers push Call Center Protection Act
OHIO, UNITED STATES — Ohio lawmakers are renewing their efforts to keep call center jobs in the state. A bipartisan bill, the Call Center Protection Act, would penalize companies that relocate operations overseas while ensuring state contracts prioritize local workers.
Bill aims to retain Ohio jobs
State Representative Lauren McNally has reintroduced and co-sponsored the Call Center Protection Act, which aims to prevent the ongoing trend of call centers leaving Ohio.
The act would also ask companies that are planning to transfer operations to foreign countries to compel the state 120 days before doing so. Otherwise, they would face fines of $10,000 each day for noncompliance. Besides, the offending businesses would be denied access to state tax incentives, grants, or loans within a period of at least five years.
McNally emphasized that the bill ensures the incentives funded by the state’s taxes can be truly profitable for Ohio workers. She said employers are being lured to employ, but some are not honoring that by the government.
Call Center Protection Act challenges outsourcing
The proposed Ohio bill could deter companies from relocating call center jobs overseas, potentially slowing the trend of outsourcing call center jobs. However, global outsourcing hubs remain competitive due to lower labor costs, specialized skills, and scalable operations—factors that may still drive businesses to offshore customer service despite regulatory pressures.
Experts suggest hybrid models, blending onshore oversight with offshore efficiency, could emerge as a compromise.
Previous legislative efforts stalled, but support grows
This isn’t the first attempt to pass such protections. Former representative, a Youngstar Democrat, Michele Lepore-Hagan introduced similar bills twice before, but neither advanced beyond the committee stage.
The latest version, awaiting committee assignment, faces an uncertain fate after last year’s bill died without a hearing in the House Committee on Commerce and Labor. However, bipartisan backing this session could improve its chances.
Supporters argue the measure is critical as more call centers exit Ohio. “We want to stop the bleeding and maintain incentives to come to Ohio,” McNally stated.
The bill also requires the state to publish a biannual list of companies that moved jobs overseas, increasing transparency and accountability for businesses receiving public subsidies.
