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Lawmakers in Columbus are again trying to make Ohio a one-plate state.

(Photo by Jeff Piorkowski)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- State lawmakers are again trying to get rid of the requirement that Ohio drivers have two license plates on their vehicles.

House Bill 159, introduced Tuesday, would make Ohio the 20th state in the U.S. to require only a rear license plate, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The bill was introduced by Reps. Terry Johnson, a Scioto County Republican, and Bill Patmon, a Cleveland Democrat. So far, 24 other state representatives from both sides of the aisle have joined as co-sponsors.

Legislators have had a long-running debate over whether to make Ohio a one-plate state.

Supporters of the change say it would save the state more than $1 million per year, but law enforcement officials and public safety advocates claim that having two license plates helps people to report crimes and assists officers in traffic investigations.

Under another bill introduced on Tuesday, faculty at state colleges and universities could no longer require students who take their classes to purchase textbooks that they authored or that they or their school get royalties from.

House Bill 160 would also mandate that any textbooks required for a class be offered through at least two suppliers, at least one of which can't be owned by or affiliated with the school.

The proposed rules would not apply to courses that are "exclusively offered" by a particular college or university.

HB 160 was introduced by Rep. Anthony DeVitis, a Republican from Green.