Week in Review August 10, 2026

PDF/Printer-Friendly Version

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.

ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

BlackRock Inc. moved forward Wednesday as OneOhio Recovery Foundation's outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) for $324.5 million in agency assets with board approval of an updated investment policy statement (IPS) officially recognizing the New York-based firm as outside advisor and Chicago-based Northern Trust Co. as account custodian. In Shelby County Commissioner Julie Ehemann's first full meeting as board chair, BlackRock Endowments and Foundations Principal Ned Rosenman and Multi-Asset Director Will Jafari presented OneOhio's proposed IPS amendments for full board approval. Rosenman said the changes would designate the investment firm OCIO for the agency's long-term investment portfolio while keeping Northern Trust as custodian and PNC Bank of Pittsburgh as portfolio manager for operations and short-term investments.

ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Ohio Arts Council (OAC) this week approved 1,013 awards totaling about $23.2 million across several grant programs, the largest single round of awards in council history. The grants use funding included in the FY26-27 budget, HB96 (Stewart), which OAC noted includes a record-high appropriation of more than $53 million for the biennium.

BALLOT ISSUES

The Ohio Ballot Board met Monday and approved the ballot language for Issue 3, the proposed constitutional amendment that would require Ohioans to present photo identification to vote in person. Unlike previous years, when Democrats accused Secretary of State Frank LaRose of writing biased ballot language for proposed constitutional amendments dealing with abortion and redistricting, Monday's meeting saw no fireworks over the adoption of the Issue 3 language.

FY26-27 BUDGET

After capping off a fiscal year where revenue surpluses approached $2 billion, the Office of Budget and Management will revise its forecast for the second half of the biennium, OBM Director Kim Murnieks told Hannah News. OBM released preliminary revenue figures Thursday for July, the first month of FY27, showing total tax collections of $2.58 billion. OBM did not report variances from projections for July because of the updated forecasting, which is scheduled to be available for the August revenues that will be reported in early September. But OBM did per usual provide comparisons to July 2025 collections, when the state brought in about $2.3 billion, meaning taxes generated $259 million or 11.2 percent more last month than a year earlier.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and the DeWine administration are observing Child Support Awareness Month in August and encouraging Ohioans to wear green Wednesday as part of the observance. Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel signed a proclamation in observance of Child Support Awareness Month as well.

DISASTERS

Gov. Mike DeWine this week authorized the use of the State Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) to support 13 counties affected by severe storms that occurred in March. Counties receiving support are Belmont; Caroll; Coshocton; Guernsey; Harrison; Holmes; Knox; Licking; Morrow; Noble; Perry; Tuscarawas; and Van Wert. The storms occurred from March 11-16.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

The DeWine administration and Ohio Department of Development (DOD) announced Monday the next round of applications for the Brownfield Remediation Program opens Tuesday, Aug. 11, with approximately $120 million in grants to be offered to aid in clean up of contaminated properties. The window opens at 10 a.m. on Aug. 11 and will last through 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11. More details are HERE.

EDUCATION

The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) urges drivers to prepare for school buses during the approaching academic year and school districts to ensure they're up to date on bus inspections. "Every student in Ohio deserves a safe ride to and from school, and that safety is a responsibility all drivers share," Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement. "As summer ends, and school buses get back out on the road, I encourage all drivers to stay alert, eliminate distractions and follow the posted speed limit."

Ten career-technical planning districts and Ohio Technical Centers will share in a grant of more than $3 million to establish new manufacturing career-technical education programs in areas where students lack access to such programs, the DeWine administration announced. Collectively, the grants are expected to create about 300 new seats in career-tech programs. In the coming academic year, recipients will work on planning and development, with programs to begin serving students in the 2027-2028 academic year.

ELECTIONS

The Ohio Election Integrity Commission Tuesday held a special meeting to designate another member as chair for hearings on cases involving former House Speaker Larry Householder and his allies, after the current commission chair recused himself from those cases. In eight pending cases dealing with Householder, his campaign committee, his former associates and political action committees started by Householder or his allies, commission Chair D. Michael Crites recused himself, leading the other four members during Tuesday's meeting to unanimously designate Karl Kerschner, the Ohio Senate president's designee on the commission, to serve as chair during hearings on the eight cases.

ELECTIONS 2026

U.S. Rep. Max Miller (R-Rocky River) made a video statement on social media Sunday in which he rebutted allegations of abuse against him by his ex-wife and vowed to continue his re-election campaign. Miller was married to Emily Moreno, the daughter of U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), but they divorced two years ago. In the time since, Emily Moreno has accused Miller of abusing her and their daughter. Both former spouses have sought protective orders against the other. After Miller's social media address, U.S. Sen. Moreno issued a statement sharply critical of Miller, saying he "needs serious psychological help” and should not serve in Congress. Later in the week, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) also called on Miller to resign. Gov. Mike DeWine called the situation with Miller “very sad” but said the ultimate decision about his service in Congress is up to the voters. Meanwhile, Miller referred himself to the U.S. House Ethics Committee for an investigation that he said would clear his name.

Republicans filled a ballot vacancy Monday evening in the 27th House District, but now are faced with finding a new candidate to replace Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), who filed paperwork with the Erie County Board of Elections Tuesday removing his name from the November ballot. Republicans in the district will have until 4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10 to find Swearingen's replacement. Democrats have nominated Easton Retzke for the seat. Meanwhile, Hamilton County Republicans announced they have selected Nancy Aichholz, CEO and founder of That's So Sweet! and host of the That's So Savvy Podcast, to replace Republican Elizabeth Maier on the ballot in the 27th House District. Maier announced she was withdrawing from the race last month, citing family issues. Aichholz will face off against Rep. Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati), who is running for re-election.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton outraised her Republican opponent Vivek Ramaswamy during July, new campaign finance reports showed, but Democrats further down the ballot were outraised by their opponents. Wednesday was the deadline for statewide candidates to report contributions they received during the month of July. It was the first of three monthly campaign finance reports required by law to be filed by statewide candidates only. None of the reports showed any spending activity over the reporting period.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy visited the Ohio State Fair Wednesday, speaking with individual attendees and answering some press questions. Asked about public concerns on data centers, Ramaswamy told reporters he'll have "something coming very soon" on that issue and that he was sympathetic to those concerns. The next day, he released his plan for data centers. Under the plan, data centers would ensure nearby Ohio residents would receive free electricity by providing power or compensation that directly lowers residential electric bills, among other provisions of the plan.

Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Sherrod Brown rallied with women supporters in Columbus Tuesday, continuing to focus on his message of affordability while attacking opponent U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), whom he hopes to unseat in November. The event focused on organizing supporters to go out into their communities and help campaign for Brown, who was unseated by U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) in 2024 after serving three terms.

Ohio credit unions this week sent letters to Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton giving suggestions on an "affordability agenda" that they said would "help lower costs and put more money in the pockets of Ohioans at a time when too many families are struggling to make ends meet." The Ohio credit unions that signed the letter represent the Advocacy Action Committee of the Ohio Credit Union League and credit union members from all corners of Ohio. In the letters, Ohio credit unions offered to work directly with the future governor and their administration to make life more affordable for Ohioans and their families.

The following endorsements were made over the week:

• The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton announced the endorsements of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 23 and the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters.

• The campaign of Democratic secretary of state nominee Allison Russo announced the endorsement of Ohio State Conference of the IBEW.

• Ohio Citizen Acton endorsed Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate; Amy Acton for Ohio governor; Jennifer Brunner and Marilyn Zayas for Ohio Supreme Court; John Kulewicz for attorney general; Allison Russo for secretary of state; Annette Blackwell for state auditor; Seth Walsh for Ohio treasurer; Greg Landsman, Brian Poindexter, Marcy Kaptur, Emilia Sykes and Don Leonard for Congress; Shelby Kimball for the Ohio House; and "No" on Issue 3.

• The Ohio Manufacturers' Association Political Action Committee endorsed Justice Dan Hawkins and Colleen O'Donnell for Ohio Supreme Court.

• The campaign of Democratic secretary of state nominee Allison Russo announced the endorsement of the Ohio Association of the Professional Fire Fighters.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

A stripped-down commission moved 3-0 Wednesday to allow American Electric Power (AEP) to proceed with a major consumer protection withheld from its 2025 data center tariff approved by state regulators but opposed by the Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) and others: a separate energy auction for data centers rejoining AEP's standard service offer (SSO) in order to protect other customers remaining on the default generation plan from the "immediate and concrete risk" of supply-and-demand cost shifts. PUCO Chairwoman Jennifer French and Commissioners Lawrence Friedeman and Dennis Deters voted to approve recommendations #5-7 from the seven principles for Big Data generation supply proposed by AEP earlier this year in the "rare circumstance" a data center might return to the SSO from a competitive retail electric service (CRES).

Energy consumers in more than a third of Ohio counties and some of its largest cities got their first opportunity Thursday to sound off on a $163 million revenue hike proposed by Enbridge Gas Ohio f/k/a Dominion Energy Ohio less than a month after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) denied it an even larger increase and instead lowered rates for 1.2 million utility customers in northern, eastern and northwest parts of the state. The huge majority, or 1.1 million homes, are residential consumers. IN addition to a Thursday public hearing in Akron, future hearings on the rate request are set for Wednesday, Aug. 19 in Cleveland and Monday, Aug. 31 in Lima.

ENVIRONMENT

All 88 Ohio counties have been designated as in attainment of air quality standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the first time in more than two decades, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) announced Tuesday. However, Ohio EPA noted, the federal Clean Air Act requires areas redesignated to attainment to continue to meet standards for at least 10 years, meaning E-Check emission reduction programs will remain in place in Northeast Ohio.

FEDERAL

U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo) was injured Sunday on the way to a church service when the car she was riding in was struck by another vehicle, her office said. Kaptur was "active, alert and being treated for non-life threatening injuries" afterward, her office said.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

A company tied to the prominent Cleveland-area George family is suing state lawmakers and the DeWine administration over cancellation of a grant. Old River Investments Oz Holdings LLC of Cleveland, which encompasses George Management LLC and RG Opportunity Zone Fund No. 1 LLC, filed a lawsuit in late July against Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), Senate GOP spokesperson John Fortney, House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima), Office of Budget and Management (OBM) Director Kimberly Murnieks and several unidentified John and Jane Doe defendants. At issue is $3.5 million for a project in the Flats in Cleveland. According to the lawsuit, the company signed a grant agreement with OBM to use funding from 135-HB2's One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund. But later, lawmakers rescinded that funding.

GOVERNOR

One judicial appointment was made during the week:

• Gov. Mike DeWine's office announced Wednesday the appointment of Beverly Proctor-Donald to the Stark County Family Court, effective Thursday, Oct. 1, to succeed Judge Rosemarie A. Hall, who is retiring at the end of September. Proctor-Donald will need to run for election in November 2028 to retain the seat.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

SciLine, a national nonprofit that helps journalists incorporate scientific information into news stories, sponsored a recent panel on the cyclosporiasis outbreak and the response by states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The panel was moderated by SciLine Journalism Project Editor Elena Renken and featured Craig Hedberg, co-director of the University of Minnesota Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, and Kalmia Kniel, a professor of animal and food sciences at the University of Delaware. Renken said investigators are trying to identify the origin of these cases, which are putting a spotlight on foodborne pathogens and food safety practices.

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff discussed the state's continuing rise in cyclosporiasis cases during a virtual press conference Tuesday, a day after officials in Michigan said that state had seen two deaths "identified as part of the cyclosporiasis outbreak" where both individuals "had significant underlying health conditions that may have been impacted by cyclosporiasis and dehydration." Ohio’s count of cyclosporiasis cases is nearing 5,000 under data released by ODH Thursday, with the number of July cases having risen from 2,797 in a July 28 update to 3,615 as of Aug. 4. There have been seven cases identified so far in August.

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff joined Dr. Robert Frenck, pediatrician and director of the Vaccine Research Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, in urging parents to have their children vaccinated as the start of the next school year nears.

HIGHER EDUCATION

The Ohio Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) this week launched the Ohio Behavioral Health Scholarship (OBHS) Program, a new initiative designed to increase the number of licensed behavioral health professionals serving children, youth and underserved communities across the state. The program will provide $18 million in scholarships to support graduate students pursuing behavioral health degrees at Ohio colleges and universities.

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) gathered with housing organizations Friday at the Ohio Business Roundtable offices for a discussion about the recently enacted federal housing law and what it could mean for Ohio. Congress recently approved the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. Husted's office said the law will allow banks to invest in more community development projects, update definitions related to manufactured housing and improve coordination among the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on housing programs, among other provisions.

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced federal legislation to allow first-time homebuyers to tap leftover college savings for down payments. Husted's First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act, also sponsored by U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), would allow up to $35,000 in leftover college savings from a 529 account to be used tax-free for the purchase of a first home. The 529 accounts typically allow people to save for college and K-12 expenses and avoid paying taxes on any investment earnings. Husted's proposal follows congressional action a few years ago to allow people with 529 accounts to roll over unused savings into a retirement account, with a similar limit of $35,000.

JUDICIAL

Over 1,000 aspiring attorneys from 57 Ohio counties and 25 states sat for the Ohio Bar Examination in Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo last week -- the first administration in four locations. The Court introduced its first-ever regional format last summer by offering the bar exam in the 3Cs and added Toledo to this year's administration on July 28-29.

"The state, if it wanted to, could prohibit the sale of all e-cigarettes -- legal and illegal." The Ohio Attorney General's Office agreed with Central Tobacco & Stuff Tuesday that the Legislature has power to exceed AG injunctions against flavored "vapes" or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) but maintained the state also can limit restrictions to kid-friendly e-cigarettes under Ohio's Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA) and the federal Tobacco Control Act (TCA). The Delaware smoke shop claimed during Ohio Supreme Court oral arguments that the General Assembly could ban all tobacco sales, in keeping with the 5th District opinion appealed by the state, but could not cherry-pick candy-flavored vapes for prohibition -- an interpretation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and TCA which Deputy Solicitor Samuel Peterson labeled "counterintuitive."

MARIJUANA/HEMP

Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson is among dozens of state attorneys general asking congressional leaders to hold fast on hemp restrictions enacted last year in the face of efforts to delay or repeal them. In legislation to end a federal government shutdown in November 2025, Congress included a ban on intoxicating hemp products. The attorneys general say the 2018 Farm Bill included a "loophole" allowing proliferation of these products. "We respectfully urge Congress to continue that leadership by rejecting any effort to delay, repeal, suspend or weaken the November 2025 redefinition of 'hemp' and by ensuring that the redefinition takes effect as enacted and remains in place thereafter," states the letter, addressed to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), U.S. House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK) and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME).

NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES (NCSL)

Hannah News has compiled its comprehensive coverage of the 2026 National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit in Chicago into one document, providing an overview of workshops, speakers and seminars at the event. Topics range from bipartisanship amid the divisive political environment to sports gambling to energy development to voting laws to artificial intelligence and more. The compilation is available HERE and at www.hannah.com.

NATURAL RESOURCES

One of the highest concentrations of rare plants in Southeastern Ohio is now on protected land following the acquisition by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) of nearly 360 acres of property in Jackson County. With a $740,000 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Wetland Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP), the new acquisition adds 193 acres of land to the existing Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve and creates on 164 additional acres the new White's Gulch State Nature Preserve.

OHIO HISTORY

The Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) Wednesday gathered for a conversation centered on the forthcoming Ohio Women's Monument ahead of its unveiling this fall. The public art will depict nine figurative women representing different eras throughout the women's suffrage movement, illustrating the role of women in shaping both Ohio's history and future.

OHIO STATE FAIR

Gov. Mike DeWine continued Friday the tradition of planting trees at the Governor's Grove in the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Park at the Ohio State Fair, including a half-dozen shagbark hickory seedings grown from seeds collected at his home and raised at the new Buckeye State Tree Nursery. DeWine proposed and lawmakers funded creation of the tree nursery in 135-HB101 (Bird), reviving a former growing site in Zanesville. DeWine said in 2024 that he planned to take hickory and walnut seeds from his farm to the nursery, and on Friday ODNR Division of Forestry staff, some of his grandchildren and other children helped him and First Lady Fran DeWine plant the seedlings that resulted along a fence line.

As part of Ohio's yearly celebration of the state's largest industry, agriculture, the Ohio State Fair hosted on Wednesday a joint meeting of the House Agriculture Committee and Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to hear from Ohioans at the local, state and federal levels about agriculture's current position in the state as well as its future. Adam Heffron, executive director of the Ohio Exposition Center and State Fair, told the committee the fair is exceeding the expectations in the Expo 2050 Master plan first laid out in 2019 to plan out the grounds' evolution over the next three decades.

When you think about a state fair, Gov. Mike DeWine said at an event at the Ohio State Fair honoring the 2026 class of Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame inductees, the fair is an opportunity to brag about Ohio. DeWine himself was inducted into the Hall of Fame in tandem with First Lady Fran DeWine on Thursday, along with three other inductees, giving the governor the opportunity to note the progress the fair has made as a showcase for Ohio during his tenure. The DeWines chronicled their history with the Ohio State Fair, stretching back to visits when they were dating in high school, with Fran noting her husband gives her credit for convincing him to save the dairy barn at the fairgrounds from demolition.

PEOPLE

Northway Advisors, a Columbus-based government affairs and lobbying group, announced it has hired Giles Allen, who served as director of policy and legislative affairs for Gov. Mike DeWine.

The Ohio Job and Family Services Directors Association (OJFSDA) announced the hiring of Victoria Rykaczewski as senior policy associate. Rykaczewski previously worked as a legislative aide, serving as senior policy and communications adviser to the ranking member of the House Finance Committee.

Ellie Bain, senior legislative aide to Sen. Susan Manchester (R-Lakeview), has joined CJR Group Inc., the public relations and governance affairs group announced. Bain will help manage state government affairs, the firm said.

The Ohio Housing Finance Agency announced the hiring of Kaylie Ruff as associate counsel and Harrison Zeller as a housing grant analyst, as well as the promotion of Jeffrey Campbell from housing development analyst to bond accountant coordinator.

The Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) announced it has hired Mike Brice as marketing and engagement manager, effective Wednesday, Sept. 2. Brice heads to OEDA from his role as managing editor of the Toledo Blade, a role he's held since 2024.

STATE GOVERNMENT

All items on the regular and no change agendas cleared the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) during Monday's meeting without member questions or public comment.

TAXATION

Ohioans can forego paying sales taxes on some clothing and school supplies from Friday through Sunday as the state reverts to the back-to-school version of its sales tax holiday for this year. From 12 a.m. Friday through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Ohioans can make sales tax-exempt purchases of clothing priced at $75 or less, school supplies priced at $20 or less, and school instructional materials priced at $20 or less.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) this week released the latest update to its study of a potential U.S. 23 and I-71 connector, announcing a preferred route and soliciting feedback ahead of its Oct. 1 deadline to announce a final plan for the project. The proposed preferred route would connect U.S. 23 just north of Waldo and I-71 at State Route 521, taking a path that goes just north of the village of Ashley.

VETERANS

Legislation sponsors were joined by veterans and veteran advocates on Monday to promote legislation they say will close a loophole in current Ohio law that allows unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of seniors and veterans who are trying to receive federal benefits to which they're entitled without being scammed. Reps. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) and Dan Troy (D-Willowick) were flanked by members of both the Ohio and national divisions of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and other veterans organizations to discuss HB961 (Brennan-Troy), what supporters call the V.E.T.E.R.A.N. (Veterans Empowerment Through Ethical Representation and Navigation) Benefits Protection Act.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Friday's Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors meeting saw multiple comments in support of Gov. Mike DeWine's request that the bureau issue a $1 billion dividend during its Aug. 28 meeting.

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