March 2, 2026

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This report reflects the latest happenings in government relations, in and around the Ohio statehouse. You’ll notice that it’s broad in nature and on an array of topics, from A-Z. This will be updated on a weekly basis.

Please feel free to share it with anyone else you believe may find it of interest, as well. Also, please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions, concerns or if we can be of any assistance.

ABORTION/REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

The Ohio First District Court of Appeals Wednesday upheld a trial court ruling finding 133-SB27 (Uecker) unconstitutional, though the court sided with the state on allowing certain sections of the bill updating definitions to stand. Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Alison Hatheway in April 2021 issued a preliminary injunction against the law, which required tissue from surgical abortions be cremated or interred. Last year, the court issued a permanent injunction against the law. The state appealed the ruling to the First District Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, arguing that the Reproductive Freedom Amendment to the Ohio Constitution would not apply to the law because it addresses conduct after a completed abortion. However, Judge Jennifer Kinsley, writing for the unanimous majority that included Ohio Supreme Court candidate Marilyn Zayas, rejected that argument, finding that the plain text of the amendment prohibits any state action that burdens, penalizes, or discriminates against the right to an abortion, regardless of what stage of the abortion process the state action covers.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is urging parents across the state to enroll in Instagram's parental supervision tools as the platform prepares to launch a new alert system to help address teen mental health concerns. Beginning next week, Instagram will notify parents who use the features if their teen repeatedly searches for terms related to suicide or self-harm within a short period. Yost said he encourages parents to use the alerts as an opportunity to talk openly with their children about mental health and online activity.

Capital appropriations funding requests for FY27-28 from more than 20 departments, commissions and agencies of state government submitted to the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) are now available for review. In response to a public records request, OBM provided the documents to Hannah News. The requests were submitted in the fall as the administration began developing its plans for the FY27-28 capital budget. Lawmakers have also recently opened up the process for local communities and organizations to request project funding. Those seeking funding must have their proposals in to lawmakers' offices by Thursday, March 12, and lawmakers will then submit the projects they are supporting to their chamber's finance committee by Thursday, March 26. Senate Finance Committee Chair Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) has indicated he foresees a vote in June on the capital bill for this cycle.

After the Wednesday House session, House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said he expected this session's capital budget to be somewhat smaller relative to those of the past few cycles, noting that the dynamics of pandemic-era economic stimulus that made the most recent budget much larger than usual are no longer at play. He indicated May and June as the likely timeframe for introduction and passage of the capital budget.

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) is hoping for $350 million in the upcoming capital budget, most of it to be dedicated to completion of the new Miami Valley Behavioral Healthcare Hospital in Trotwood. "The $275 million request will complete construction of this 208-bed facility, ensuring that individuals with acute mental illness can receive timely, high-quality care close to home, alleviating system burden and barriers to care in the region," states DBH's request letter to the Office of Budget and Management (OBM). The next biggest chunk of DBH's request, $36.5 million, is for updates to Northwest Ohio Behavioral Healthcare Hospital (NOBH), located in Lucas County.

The Ohio School for the Deaf (OSD) and Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB) are seeking $5 million toward a bridge project to connect their two campuses, enabling the schools to more easily share services by eliminating the need to use public roads to travel between them. The neighboring OSD and OSSB sit on opposite sides of Bill Moose Run, a stream and ravine running through North Columbus. But on foot or in a car, people traveling between the two go about two miles along public roads. "Staff frequently travel between campuses multiple times per day, and a direct connection will reduce fuel use, vehicle wear and tear, and travel time. School districts transporting students to both schools will also benefit from reduced time and fuel costs," states the budget request from Ohio Deaf and Blind Education Services, the umbrella agency for the schools. A project engineer has provided a preliminary estimate for the bridge of $12 million, according to the request. Engineering and planning funds were included in the prior capital budget bill.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth's (DCY) Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review has found the second leading cause of maternal mortality to be related to mental health issues, according to Mona Prasad, a specialist in maternal fetal medicine at OhioHealth and panelist in a recent Columbus Metropolitan Club forum centered on women's health. Prasad was joined by Jatu Boikai, founder and CEO of the Central Ohio Postpartum Extended Respite Center; Kamilah Dixon, clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; and Shilpa Padia, co-medical director of oncology at Mount Carmel Health System. The discussion focused on the challenges facing women's health care, from "gaps in public understanding of perimenopause and menopause to inequalities in maternal care." They talked about progress in women's health care as well.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

The Ohio Inspector General's Office (OIG) recently announced a Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted 11 people and the BridgePort Digital corporation on 93 counts including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, conspiracy, theft, forgery, telecommunications fraud and tampering with records, stemming from an OIG referral to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office in 2024. The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) sent a complaint to OIG about BridgePort Digital, which had been an online IT training provider in the TechCred grant program. OIG's investigation found BridgePort Digital colluded with other companies to receive $1.09 million in improper TechCred reimbursements, with that money split among them.

DEATH PENALTY

Speaker of the House Matt Huffman (R-Lima), speaking with reporters this week said his caucus hasn't had much discussion on the death penalty although if it were raised, he would "vigorously" oppose getting rid of the death penalty for "a lot of reasons" and he figures there would be more members of his caucus who may feel similarly. House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) was also asked about the death penalty, saying he doesn't believe the government should "be in the business of killing people."

EDUCATION

The State Board of Education (SBOE) will likely make its decision on the next superintendent of public instruction during its March meeting, a SBOE spokesperson told Hannah News following the conclusion of the board's special meeting Monday dedicated to interviewing the remaining five applicants for the position. Last week, Hannah News was informed that Shawn Braman, superintendent of Northwest Local School District, had withdrawn from the selection process, leaving Larry Hook, superintendent of Forest Hills Schools; Julia Simmerer, senior executive director of teaching, leading and learning at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW); Jeffrey Greenley, superintendent of Belpre City Schools; DEW official John Shepard; and Philip Wagner, superintendent of Johnstown-Monroe Schools to be considered. The board's next meeting is set for Monday, March 9.

March 9 also marks the next chapter for Paul Craft, soon-to-be former superintendent of public instruction, who has taken a position with the federal government as the director of the U.S. Department of Defense/War Education Activity, according to the Pentagon. They touted Craft's "unique combination" of military command and education experience, noting his service in the Ohio Army National Guard alongside his experience serving as Ohio's superintendent of public instruction. Craft will succeed Beth Schiavino-Narvaez.

The guidelines set forth by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) concerning name, image and likeness (NIL) contracts for high school student athletes are the "best of the best," according to Luke Fedlam, a practicing attorney representing professional athletes across the sports industry who provided opponent testimony on HB661 (Bird-Odioso) during the House Education Committee meeting Tuesday.

Fedlam told the committee that OHSAA's NIL bylaws had been drafted with the "knowledge and experience" of other states that had passed regulations on NIL contracts. According to Fedlam, OHSAA's NIL bylaws provide prohibitions on certain types of products and promotions and address when, where and how a student athlete can engage in NIL activity, reflecting the regulations he said has compiled "the best thinking that's out there."

The DeWine administration recently recognized business advisory councils around the state, which were awarded Business-Education Leader Awards for 2026. All Ohio school districts and educational service centers have a business advisory council made up of school, business and community leaders who work to ensure educational opportunities align with local and state workforce needs. "We are proud to celebrate the Business Advisory Councils that are making a real impact preparing students for the opportunities waiting for them beyond graduation," said Gov. Mike DeWine. "Aligning education with the needs of our communities is essential to Ohio's future. That's why we continue to support increased access to career and technical education, while also emphasizing career-connected learning opportunities in every Ohio classroom. When our students gain the skills they need to succeed in today's workforce, we empower them to reach their full potential."

Members of the House Education Committee heard proponent testimony from several individuals Tuesday during its hearing on SB19 (Brenner), an education intervention bill seeking to address the state's student mathematic achievement gap. Those who testified said it would ultimately raise math scores for students across the state, an education statistic that has fallen below pre-pandemic levels, despite recent academic gains, according to Chad Aldis, vice president for Ohio Policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

The House Education Committee also heard proponent testimony on HB523 (Brennan-Manning), legislation that would compensate student teachers pursuing their education degree in Ohio. The witnesses who testified said the legislation, if passed, would address the state's teacher workforce shortage by providing compensation to student teachers, who currently go without pay.

ELECTIONS

The House approved two bills Wednesday regarding how local communities conduct their elections, with mostly Republican backing. The chamber voted 63-27 to approve SB63 (DeMora-Gavarone), which would prohibit the use of ranked-choice voting and sanction communities that adopt it through withholding of Local Government Fund (LGF) money. While the bill got a large majority in the Senate and backing from about half of Democrats, only Reps. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) and Dan Troy (D-Willowick) sided with the majority in the House. "Ranked choice voting is a complex system of voting that presents significant implementation problems," said Rep. Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth), chair of the House General Government Committee, which led deliberations on the bill. The bill now returns to the Senate which must agree to changes before sending it to the governor for his signature.

Drawing a similarly small level of bipartisan support was HB503 (Roemer-Workman), which would require voter approval to decrease or repeal municipal income tax reciprocity credits, allow voter initiatives to institute or increase such credits, and bar the submission of combined ballot questions to modify both tax rates and reciprocity credits. Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield), who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown), joint sponsors of the bill, said the legislation stemmed from concerns by constituents about "double taxation." Rep. Dan Troy (D-Willowick) "cautiously" supported the bill, at least in part because of adoption of his amendment to commission a study by the Ohio Department of Taxation, in consultation with stakeholder groups, on the broader municipal income tax system. He said the complexity of the system merits further examination, just as lawmakers had done with property taxes in the prior General Assembly. Democrats joining Troy in supporting the bill included Reps. Derrick Hall (D-Akron) and Bride Sweeney (D-Cleveland).

ELECTIONS 2026

Hannah News published the updated list of candidates for all state House of Representatives, state Senate, congressional, and statewide races on the ballot this year, following the official certification of their candidacy this week by the secretary of state and local boards of elections. The deadline for write-in candidates has also passed.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

FirstEnergy customers will have another 20 years to pay off storm damage to company infrastructure following a decision on rehearing by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Specifically, it will be 2051 before ratepayers in Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison service territories pay off $245 million of previously deferred infrastructure repair costs -- a potentially mixed blessing, says the Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC). OCC supports the reduced sticker shock in monthly customer bills from PUCO's originally approved five-year amortization period but says a generational shift in utility repayments will require sustained scrutiny by the state.

Green Choice Energy committed one of several fatal errors when it rang up department veteran and sitting Chief Barbara Bossart of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) Reliability and Service Analysis Division in an unsolicited marketing call that commissioners say violated both the Ohio Revised Code and administrative code, the Ohio Supreme Court said Tuesday, upholding their core findings.

A PUCO investigation followed the phone call and other customer complaints, leading to PUCO's 2023 order and justices' newly minted ruling for the state. The New York-based renewable provider must now leave Ohio, recalculate stated utility rates, and pay a whopping civil forfeiture still under review based on assorted transgressions against other customers -- a "precedent-setting" message to the retail energy supply industry that affirms the Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel's (OCC) statutory role in ratepayer protections, OCC said in a follow-up statement.

Nuclear fusion has long been the subject of hope, speculation, false starts, and economic constraint on a largely clean and limitless source of electricity markedly different from fission -- the older technology of existing nuclear plants that produces energy by splitting rather than fusing atoms and that leaves comparatively large amounts of radioactive waste. Fusion research has continued over the last century and heated up in recent years as a utility-scale technology producing more net value than it consumes, culminating late last year with regulatory approval of Microsoft-driven Helion Energy, Inc.'s project due south of glacial Lake Chelan in Washington state. It will be world's first commercial fusion plant, say backers, generating 50 megawatts (MW) by 2028 if all goes to plan. The president followed in late December by announcing a merger of his Truth Social parent company, Trump Media and Technology, with another fusion developer, TAE Technologies, to power the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Rep. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) pushed Thursday for Ohio to get in the game now and become the fusion powerhouse of the Midwest. He joined with founder Brian Yinger of Columbus Fusion Company at the Statehouse to unveil draft legislation creating the 11-member Ohio Fusion Energy Working Group. The governor would appoint all members to identify state regulatory gaps in utility-scale "fusion energy" -- the bill's preferred legislative term that omits the word "nuclear."

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

House legislative leaders cited miscommunication as the culprit for last week's narrow failure to advance tax conformity legislation in time for filing season, and the chamber easily mustered the votes Wednesday to clear the proposal. Without debate, the House agreed to reconsider last week's vote on SB9 (Blessing), and went on to approve the emergency clause 84-7 and the bill itself passed 86-7. Last week, the emergency clause vote failed to reach the necessary supermajority threshold after a Democratic amendment was ruled out of order. House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) predicted the eventual outcome ahead of Wednesday's session, referencing "clarification and better communication across the aisle." House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) said the two sides had "productive conversations" about moving forward priority bills.

Also passing Wednesday were the following bills:

• SB18 (Reynolds-Craig), designating Feb. 14 as "Cardiovascular Health Awareness Day." It passed unanimously.

• SB101 (Blessing), regarding liens, memorandums of trust and residential real estate contracts. It passed 89-0.

• SB137 (Johnson), requiring hospitals to provide overdose reversal drugs. It passed 80-9.

• HB58 (Pizzulli), increasing oversight for recovery housing providers. It passed 92-0.

• HB332 (T. Mathews-Hiner), creating a linked deposit program for small companies in the defense sector. It passed 88-5.

• HB428 (D. Thomas-Williams), lifting residency requirements for certain municipal officials. It passed 88-0.

• HB479 (Schmidt), addressing the physician supervision requirements for professionals administering contrast media used in medical imaging. It passed 88-0.

• HB500 (T. Mathews-Ritter), to add JROTC and NDCC programs as approved career-technical education programs. It passed 91-0.

• HB532 (K. Miller), specifying the obligation to children services agencies to take certain children into custody in certain circumstances. It passed 87-1.

• HB541 (McClain), naming part of Rt. 42 in Morrow County as the "Deputy Daniel 'Weston' Sherrer Memorial Highway. It passed unanimously.

The mental and behavioral health of Ohio's first responders isn't just a personal matter for those individuals, it's also a public safety issue for people living in the state. In the first meeting of the year on Monday of the newly named Ohio Legislative Behavioral Health Caucus (OLBHC), Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) said first responders are repeatedly exposed to high-stress situations that can take a large toll on the individuals responding to those situations over a long period of time. That increased risk for first responders can lead to higher health care expenses and increased impacts on first responders' families, which can then affect workforce stability and public safety, and Robb Blasdel said being proactive allows the Legislature to protect the critical first responder workforce. OLBHC was formerly called the Ohio Legislative Mental Health Caucus, and Monday's meeting was the first following a change made in HB96 (Stewart) that "better represents the broad spectrum of behavioral health issues addressed by lawmakers."

Port authorities and other local government officials Wednesday testified in opposition to a bill that would move decisions on granting potential sales tax exemptions to economic development projects to the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (OTCA) should a local port authority deny that project or not move quickly enough on it. Rep. Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) proposed HB147 last year, saying in his sponsor testimony that he had spoken with contractors and developers about their concerns regarding the challenges working with port authorities. He noted that applications for tax exemptions vary greatly based on the port authority, and said the bill seeks to bring "clarity, consistency, and fairness" to the process.

The Capitol Square Foundation Tuesday evening sponsored the latest in its "Capitol Conversation" series, this time with CBS Sunday Morning's Jane Pauley. The event also gave the foundation the opportunity to update attendees on the progress on the Women's Monument, with artist Brenda Councill narrating a video showing not only the process for the creating and casting of the bronze figures and pedestals that will be a part of the monument to women who have shaped Ohio and the nation, but also explaining the symbolism behind the many creative decisions behind the elements of the monument. All the proceeds from the evening's event will go to support the Ohio Women's Monument, which will be installed on the Statehouse grounds in September 2026. A groundbreaking to mark the beginning of the installation will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25 on the South Plaza.

In other legislative action, the House Health Committee reported out HB437 (Rader-Schmidt) which addresses cardiac monitoring for youth and HB578 (Creech-Schmidt) which requires reporting tick-related diseases to the Department of Health; and the House Veterans and Military Development Committee reported out HB292 (T. Mathews-Santucci) which creates the Ohio Defense and Space Commission; and SB244 (Roegner-Timken) designating “Abbey Gate Remembrance Day.”

HANNAH NEWS RACES TO WATCH

Four Democrats are in the running for the Democratic nomination for the 18th House District being vacated by Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland), who is term limited. Contained in Cuyahoga County, the district includes parts of East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, University Heights and Warrensville Heights. The district leans Democratic with a roughly 88 percent Democrat political index, according to 2022 demographic data compiled by Dave's Redistricting App. The winner of the Democratic nomination has a likely chance of winning the House district seat. Gabe Crenshaw, president of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights (CHUH) School Board, Samuel Grube, previous intern in the Shaker Heights mayor's office, Davida Russell, secretary-treasurer of the North Coast Area Labor Federation (AFL-CIO) and Peter Hoffman, previous candidate for the Cuyahoga Democratic Central Committee are all on the ballot for the Democratic nomination for this seat.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The first year of funding from the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Fund included in federal budget bill HR1 sent over $200 million to Ohio last month to combat hospital closures and a lack of health care access in rural areas, among other issues. But Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff said the state will still have to push hard to get results from the programs that money is funding to gauge if Ohio is spending the money in the right ways. The ways in which ODH is starting to use those RHT funds since they were released last month by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) got much of the House Health Committee's attention on Wednesday as Vanderhoff discussed the department's FY26-27 budget. He said that ODH has received a lot of national recognition for both the OhioSEE initiative and Ohio's efforts to expand school-based health centers (SBHCs), noting that CMS Director Mehmet Oz was particularly interested in the state's progress with both programs.

The U.S. Department of Justice and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost allege in a new lawsuit that major hospital system OhioHealth is using its dominant position to carry out anticompetitive practices in negotiations with insurers. Yost and DOJ announced the federal lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio Eastern Division, on Friday. OhioHealth operates more than a dozen hospitals and hundreds of other care sites. The lawsuit alleges the system's practices violate the federal Sherman Act and Ohio's Valentine Act. "When competition is blocked, consumers end up being the biggest losers," Yost said. "My office stands with the Justice Department in our determination to eliminate these types of unfair practices and protect Ohioan's wallets."

The Ohio Controlling Board Monday approved funds for a comprehensive LexisNexis risk analysis assessment of programs managed by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), but one lawmaker objected to the open-ended funding of the request next fiscal year. Rachel Johanson, representing ODJFS, told Sen. Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati) that the first $750,000 in the request is to perform the risk assessment of the programs ODJFS oversees, and the $2.5 million for the FY27 is to "operationalize" what the assessment finds. She said the range up to $2.5 million in the request is due to ODJFS' not knowing what the assessment will find and what will be needed.

ODH announced Wednesday there was a potential measles exposure at John Glenn International Airport on Wednesday, Feb. 18 between 6 and 9 p.m. People who were at the airport then and have been vaccinated have a very low risk of getting sick, according to ODH, while those who were there during that period and have not been vaccinated should be "very careful" in watching for any signs and symptoms through Wednesday, March 11. People who do develop symptoms should immediately stay home away from others and call their health care provider, letting the provider know of the potential measles exposure so precautions can be taken during their appointment.

HIGHER EDUCATION

A key supporter of higher education changes in SB1 (Cirino) is taking another crack at monitoring universities' compliance with the new laws, saying elements of the budget meant to verify adherence lacked sufficient detail. "SB1 created the rules. What it did not do is lay out a highly detailed enforcement ladder," said Rep. Tom Young (R-Washington Township), chair of the House Workforce and Higher Education committee and sponsor of HB698. "The escalation mechanics were not deeply structured, and that's a very, very important aspect of what we're trying to do." Earlier in the day he convened a press conference to explain his desire to pass the bill. He insisted that the bill is not meant to be punitive. "This is about governance, clarity, fiscal stewardship and ensuring that the laws passed by this General Assembly are implemented as written," he said.

Miami University (MU), Butler Tech Career Center and OhioMeansJobs Butler County recently opened a new Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub, a $31 million collaboration MU said will foster "a national model for manufacturing education." "This hub is more than just a building," said Miami President Gregory Crawford. The facility spans approximately 375,000 square feet.

The University of Mount Union recently announced Hall of Fame alumnus Rick Hairston as the first head coach of its new varsity women's flag football program. The university decided to add women's flag football to its list of athletics after considering the growing popularity of the sport, Mount Union said. The school’s first ever women's flag football season will begin in the spring of 2027, becoming the university's 26th intercollegiate sport.

The Ohio State University's (OSU) Chase Center for Civics, Culture and Society recently received a $5 million Transformative Citizenship Education Grant from the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH), with funds being dedicated to four "important initiatives," the university said. The grant brings the center's total funding to more than $11 million since it began operating a year and a half ago; supporter investments in the center now total $28 million, OSU said. According to Chase Center Executive Director Lee Strang, the grant was requested to fund the following initiatives to improve the university's capacity to address the needs of civics education and leadership:

• Planning, launching and refining undergraduate academic programs providing civics education.

• Attracting, retaining and supporting a "multi-disciplinary" faculty.

• Supporting the center's programming.

• Growing the Chase Society student program, an effort promoting the center's student community and serving as a "key mechanism to develop students as citizens."

JUDICIAL

A new report released by Common Cause Ohio Thursday found that outside groups unaffiliated with any candidate spent nearly $6 million in political advertising in the 2024 Ohio Supreme Court races. The group said in a call with reporters that, while that amount pales in comparison to other races such as the 2024 U.S. Senate race, the amount of outside money has been increasing in court races in Ohio and across the country in recent cycles. Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio, called the release of their "Buying the Bench: Uncovering Dark Money Donors in the 2024 Race for Ohio Supreme Court" report a "labor of love." She said the group wanted to release an examination of court spending in the 2024 Ohio election during that election but decided to release it later so they could follow the money and get the full picture.

LOBBYISTS/ASSOCIATIONS

Public affairs firm MAD Global Strategy Group announced that Bridget McAuliffe has joined as senior vice president in its Ohio office. McAuliffe brings extensive experience in lobbying and strategic advocacy at the state and federal levels, with particular expertise in health care policy and cross-industry government relations, the firm said. She has represented hospitals, long-term care providers, behavioral and mental health organizations, developmental disability providers and pharmacy interests. Her work also spans workforce development, energy and natural resources, public utilities, transportation and public safety, along with advocacy efforts focused on homelessness and suicide prevention.

MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM

The Ohio Department of Taxation released on Wednesday a request for public comment on several adult use marijuana rule changes related to marijuana omnibus bill SB56 (Huffman), which was signed into law at the end of 2025. The text of the proposed rule changes, as well as a business impact analysis and tax alert for 5703-43-01, can be seen HERE under the Adult Use Marijuana Tax section of the page.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources' (ODNR) cinematic ode to the state's natural wonders, "Ohio: Wild at Heart," is now available for schools statewide to screen in classrooms. "Ohio: Wild at Heart" tells stories of conservation efforts throughout the state and explores Ohio's natural playgrounds, with the underlying message, "When we take care of nature, nature takes care of us." In the film, Ohio State University football legend Archie Griffin narrates conservation success stories from around Ohio, including the reintroduction of the bald eagle and trumpeter swans, the work of ODNR naturalists and program leaders, the changing of seasons and more. The 45-minute documentary has started screening on IMAX screens and in standard theaters across the state for the general public. More information about locations to see "Ohio: Wild at Heart" outside of the classroom, either individually or for larger groups, can be found HERE.

The ODNR Division of Forestry recently approved grant funding for nearly 100 fire departments in the state's rural areas through the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) grant program. VFA grants focus on supporting rural fire departments that often face tight budgets. The funds may be used to purchase equipment including all-terrain vehicles, wildfire water tanks and pump units, wildfire and structure fire safety equipment, radios, tools or other items to support fire department operations and development.

Nearly three dozen individuals in eastern Ohio have been convicted of over 50 wildlife violations related to the unlawful sale of donated venison meant to go to local food pantries, according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife (DOW). DOW's recently concluded investigation discovered numerous wildlife violations by Rodney Shields, owner of Rod's Custom Deer Processing in Harrisville in Harrison County.

PENSIONS

In the coming month, appellate judges will hear arguments in a case that could force another change in leadership of the State Teachers Retirement System Board (STRS), soon after separate litigation forced the ouster of now-former Chair Rudy Fichtenbaum. Proper interpretation of constitutional rules governing legislative procedure is at the heart of the lawsuit lodged by STRS beneficiaries against state leaders who voted to overhaul the board's structure at the 11th hour of the biennial budget process. The plaintiffs and Attorney General Dave Yost's office recently filed briefs laying out their positions in the case now pending in the 10th District Court of Appeals, where judges have already declined to stay the trial court ruling that put HB96 (Stewart) provisions changing the board structure on hold. Yost's office recently filed a motion to waive oral arguments in the case, in the hopes of resolving the case "expeditiously." But 10th District judges followed up this month by nonetheless scheduling oral arguments for Tuesday, March 24.

Regarding the recent ouster of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Board of Trustee chair, Rudy Fichtenbaum, in a fiduciary breach case, Speaker of the House Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said the direct issues in that case were not what drove the now-frozen STRS board reforms lawmakers included in the operating budget. He said those factors had more to do with issue of having people who are direct system beneficiaries making decisions on behalf of the pension fund. "The changes that we made to the STRS board in the budget were to recognize the fact that individuals who are receiving pensions who get to vote on how much money they get have a different worldview than people who are actuaries and want to make sure that the fund is healthy for a long period of time," Huffman said.

Local public officials offered differing perspectives to a House committee Wednesday on the prudence of having political subdivisions pay both employees' and employers' share of contributions to state retirement systems. The House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee took testimony on HB473, legislation from Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) to prohibit these so-called pension pickups and establish that payment of employee contributions cannot be negotiated with public employee unions. The policy is a more expansive version of the language regarding pension pickups for school administrators that lawmakers included in the biennial budget, HB96 (Stewart), but which Gov. DeWine struck out via line-item veto.

PEOPLE

Department of Commerce Director Sherry Maxfield announced Thursday the retirement of Kevin Allard, superintendent of the Division of Financial Institutions, effective Friday, Feb. 27. According to the department, Allard's departure marks the culmination of a 40-year career with the division working to improve the strength and stability of Ohio's financial services industry. Allard began his career with the division in 1986 as a bank field examiner following his graduation from the University of Akron. Over the next four decades, he became chief examiner, deputy superintendent and superintendent.

Maxfield then announced the appointment of Ingrid White as interim superintendent for the division. White has served as the division's deputy superintendent for banks since November 2017, where she has overseen the regulation of Ohio's banks and licensed money transmitters. Before joining the division, she spent eight years with the New Hampshire Banking Department in roles including hearings examiner, general counsel and deputy commissioner where she supervised banks, credit unions, mortgage and consumer finance operations. She also has worked as an attorney in private practice.

POLITICS

The Ohio Republican Party's State Central Committee Friday voted overwhelmingly to endorse Treasurer Robert Sprague in the Republican primary for secretary of state over Marcell Strbich, but declined to endorse in the Ohio treasurer's race between Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and former Rep. Jay Edwards. In legislative races, the State Central Committee followed most of the recommendations of the campaign committees for the legislative caucuses with a few exceptions, most notably choosing to endorse businessman Larry Kidd in the 93rd Ohio House Republican primary over current Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill), the former House speaker. The committee also endorsed Keith Faber for attorney general and Frank LaRose for auditor, but neither have contested primary races.

The Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) this week released the results of its nine-county listening tour of rural voters, finding participants frustrated that state leaders, candidates and party officials often talk about rural voters, but do not talk "to" rural voters. ODP's Rural Caucus held the listening sessions on Saturday mornings in nine counties across the state beginning in October and ending in December. ODP said everyone was invited to the event regardless of party affiliation, and the audiences ranged from nine people to more than 45. Its findings said that participants expressed feeling ignored, sidelined or taken for granted. ODP further said the results suggest that the frustration of rural voters was not rooted in the rejection of Democratic ideas, "but in a perceived absence of authentic engagement, follow-through and presence after elections." ODP said a secondary dominant theme was economic uncertainty, particularly relating to employment, public education and rural economic decline.

POLLS/STUDIES

Bowling Green State University's (BGSU) Democracy and Public Policy Network released the findings from its first national-web-based poll Tuesday showing voters remain concerned about the economy and the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs. Among poll respondents, Trump has a 41 percent job approval rating, and has a net favorability rating of -19 percentage points. While most respondents said they did not regret their vote for president in 2024, 13 percent of Trump voters said they did. The poll also found 59 percent of respondents believe the country is on the wrong track, while 34 percent say it is moving in the right direction. Among their top issues, 42 percent identified the economy as the most important issue, followed by 32 percent who listed threats to democracy, 31 percent who said health care, 31 percent who said immigration, and 29 percent who said inflation. More than half of respondents (55 percent) believe the economy has gotten worse in the last year, while 28 percent said it is better.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Gov. Mike DeWine's state park safety group has reached general consensus on a pilot project with drones as first responders (DFR) to reduce operational and tax burdens on law enforcement, fire and EMS jurisdictions near state parks, or at least South and Middle Bass Islands and Hocking Hills. The Public Safety in State Parks Working Group, co-chaired by Director Andy Wilson of the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Director Mary Mertz of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), vetted solutions to safety concerns at the state's bigger parks recently in anticipation of its final meeting in March, when members will hammer out final recommendations.

Wednesday the Ohio Department of Public Safety's Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) announced the accreditation of 14 additional agencies. Besides the Cleveland State University Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), Ohio's two dozen fully accredited jurisdictions now include one of the state's largest sheriff's office in Summit County, followed by sheriffs in Delaware, Fairfield, Gallia and Ottawa County and police departments in Beachwood (Cuyahoga County), Beaver Township (Mahoning), Boardman Township (Mahoning), Bridgeport (Belmont), Hamilton Township (Franklin), Independence (Cuyahoga), Medina (Medina) and Miami County Parks District.

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) announced Thursday several of its core offices, facilities and the community correctional facilities (CCFs) in the state had all received reaccreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA), with all receiving a 100 percent compliance rating on mandatory standards. DYS described the ratings as reflecting its "unwavering commitment to safety, security and industry best practices." The offices and facilities which successfully completed the process included the following:

• DYS Central Office.

• DYS Bureau of Parole.

• Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility.

• Miami Valley Juvenile Rehabilitation Center.

• Montgomery County Center for Adolescent Services (CAS).

• Butler County Juvenile Rehabilitation Center.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

The House Technology and Innovation Committee heard from a range of witnesses Tuesday on the Data Center Study Commission proposed under HB646 (Click-Deeter). In interested party testimony, Buckeye Institute Senior Research Fellow Greg Lawson outlined how data centers pose job, tax, local government and national security implications given their role in development of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing technology, among other areas while Ohio Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Rick Carfagna added, also in interested party testimony, that Ohio's innovation economy was growing and data centers were helping fuel that, but elected officials are hearing public concerns on how data centers affect energy demand, water use, other environmental effects and how data centers fit into the fabric of existing neighborhoods.

The House Technology and Innovation Committee held its first hearing Tuesday on HB650 (Workman), which initially proposed a "Frontier Technologies and Quantum Computing Commission" to study the economic, ethical and security implications of that technology for Ohio. The committee, however, approved an amendment to rename the commission" and altered how members would be appointed. In her sponsor testimony, Workman said there is a current "technological revolution" involving AI, quantum computing, advanced automation, biotechnology and next-generation cybersecurity that is reshaping industries. She added they are converging and accelerating each other, and technology is evolving faster than traditional policy frameworks are designed to adapt.

[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2026 Hannah News Service, Inc.]