Week in Review January 12, 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.

AGRICULTURE

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODAg) recently announced a new grant program to help the state's local governments better plan for the state's foremost industry. Two separate grants will allow county governments to apply for a portion of a $1 million grant to develop, update or implement a land use plan or farmland preservation plan. More information about the framework for both grant programs and applications are available HERE. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, Feb. 27, 2026.

The Ohio AgriBusiness Association (OABA) announced the following recipients of its 2026 Industry Excellence Awards:

• 2026 Excellence in Customer Service - Steve Ramseyer, Deerfield Ag Services, Inc.

• 2026 Achievement as an Emerging Leader - Travis Kimmel, Advanced Agrilytics

• 2026 Excellence in Safety & Stewardship - Jed Bookman, Sunrise Cooperative

Award recipients will be recognized at the 2026 OABA Industry Conference later this month on Tuesday, Jan. 27. Winners will receive a plaque and $1,000 cash award, sponsored by Assured Partners, A Gallagher Company.

AMERICA 250-OHIO

To commemorate America's 250th anniversary in July 2026 and throughout the year, the America 250-Ohio Commission along with the Ohio Arts Council have launched an initiative inviting local communities across the state to tell Ohio's story through community art. The initiative, "Murals Across Ohio," will highlight public art reflecting "local culture and innovation" spanning all 88 counties of the state, according to the America 250-Ohio Commission and the Ohio Arts Council.

As the new year 2026 ushers in the 250th anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence, the Supreme Court of Ohio is inviting visitors to examine the founding documents that formed the basis of the nation and of the state itself. A new exhibit within the Visitor Education Center at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center showcases five documents -- the Declaration of Independence (1776), the Articles of Confederation (1781), the Northwest Ordinance (1787), the U.S. Constitution (1789), and the Ohio Constitution (1802) -- and examines the role each played in Ohio's transition from frontier country to a thriving state.

The America 250-Ohio Commission on Wednesday kicked off its schedule of initiatives celebrating the nation's 250th birthday at an event marking the start of Ohio's participation in the semiquincentennial. Doug Preisse, co-chair of the America 250-Ohio Commission, opened the event with a brief history of Ohio's role in the shaping of America. "Ohioans have contributed so much to the United States during the long course of these last 250 years," Preisse said. "Innovation, invention, sports, entertainment, industry at the international forefront, health care firsts and breakthroughs ... Ohio has done it, and continues to do it all," he continued. Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), a member of the commission, and Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) also spoke.

ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

An effort led by former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann to block the state from transferring unclaimed funds to a new fund that will be used for Ohio sports facilities including a new Cleveland Browns stadium won a temporary victory before Christmas after a Franklin County judge put a temporary stay on the move. Dann filed a new action in Franklin County just before the holidays against the provisions of biennial budget HB96 (Stewart) that considered unclaimed funds in the Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund (UFTF) for 10 years or more to be abandoned and permanently escheat to the state and transferred those funds into the new Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund to be used for arts and sports facility projects around the state.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Ohioans owning or leasing certain Hyundai or Kia vehicles may be eligible for compensation and free anti-theft protection as part of a multistate settlement, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently announced. Ohioans seeking compensation or additional information about eligibility and how to file a claim can visit the respective vehicle websites. Information for Hyundai owners is available HERE and information for Kia owners is available HERE.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost recently announced his office has awarded $5.3 million in total grant funds to support addiction treatment for incarcerated Ohioans, including an expansion to provide funds to community-based correctional facilities (CBCFs) which were previously not eligible.

The Ohio Attorney General's Office is soliciting nominations for the 2026 Two Days in May Awards recognizing exceptional service by individuals and organizations that aid and empower crime victims. The Two Days in May conference will be held May 18-19 at Hilton Columbus Downtown. The nomination form includes mandatory guidelines and can be found HERE.

AUDITOR OF STATE

While the theft of taxpayer dollars from Ohio's local governments was not common in 2025, state officials rooted out nearly two dozen cases of fraud at the local government level over the past year. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) within Ohio Auditor of State (AOS) Keith Faber's office secured 23 convictions in 2025 garnering approximately $3.1 million in court-ordered restitution. "The overwhelming majority of public employees do their jobs with the highest level of professionalism," Faber said. "Fraud is rare, but when it occurs, no matter how big or small, it severely erodes the public's trust in our work."

FY26-27 BUDGET

At the midpoint of FY26, state tax collections are half a billion dollars ahead of expectations, according to preliminary December revenue figures from the Office of Budget and Management (OBM). The preliminary December revenue report released Wednesday also included the transfer of $186 million to the General Revenue Fund (GRF) to offset the expense of the expanded sales tax holiday. Including that transfer, December tax receipts exceeded estimates by $61.6 million or 2.3 percent, OBM said.

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

Joby Aviation announced Wednesday it had signed an agreement to acquire a manufacturing facility in Vandalia that is ready for immediate use and spans over 700,000 square feet. According to a regulatory filing by Joby, the building is located at 1669 Capstone Way and will be purchased for $61.5 million. The new building will initially support Joby's plans to double its production to four electric air taxi aircraft per month in 2027 and provide space for significant future growth. Operations there are expected to begin later this year. Joby announced its first manufacturing facility at Dayton International Airport in September 2023.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Lawmakers are urging state officials to increase surprise inspection visits to day care centers as the governor's office outlines steps already in place to combat fraud, amid the national wave of attention sparked by wrongdoing in Minnesota. Investigators have found fraudulent practices spanning child care, autism services, home health care and housing programs in Minnesota, with Somali-Americans linked to many of them. Columbus also has a sizable Somali-American population following resettlement of refugees in the wake of civil war in Somalia in the 1990s. Dozens of Ohio House members signed on to a letter from Rep. Josh Williams (R-Oregon) asking that the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) take several steps to find and deter fraud in the publicly funded child care program, including increased unannounced inspections in Columbus-area day cares, audits and immediate suspension of payments for facilities suspected of fraud. Gov. Mike DeWine's office released a statement week reviewing the steps DCY takes to deter fraud.

Ohioans should be confident the state is regularly on the lookout for fraud in child care but should not expect to get in the door of a care center if they try to take investigations into their own hands, Gov. Mike DeWine said Monday at a press conference he called to address the issue. Amid a federal pause in child care funding, DeWine and Kara Wente, director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), expressed confidence that Ohio is already providing the protections the Trump administration has said it wants to see before it resumes payments. Ohio is not in dire need of funding today but would face challenges sustaining the program should the funding interruption last beyond about eight weeks, they said.

The state will continue to pursue transparency when it comes to the issue of fraud in child care, Gov. Mike DeWine told reporters Wednesday following a Statehouse event.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

The DeWine administration provided year-end numbers on violent crime reduction in 2025, saying the state initiative provided manpower and other resources to 130 sting operations in 23 Ohio communities by partnering with local and regional authorities, yielding 521 felony arrests and 175 confiscated firearms. The governor's Violent Crime Reduction Initiative seeks to bolster the work of local law enforcement by targeting repeat violent offenders committing the most crime. The program leverages real-time crime data and intelligence from all partnering agencies to address communities that need them the most.

Ohio's Organized Crime Drug Interdiction Task Forces seized well over 6,600 pounds of illicit drugs in 2025 led by tens of thousands of prescription pills, illegal marijuana and methamphetamine and including large quantities of fentanyl, which takes only two milligrams -- the size of six grains of salt -- to kill someone. Regional task forces organized under the state attorney general's Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission (OOCIC) confiscated over $75 million in illegal drugs, 440 firearms and $4.1 million in cash last year.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) and Gov. Mike DeWine Friday announced 51 communities across the state will receive nearly $11 million in funding through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support community development projects. The funding will assist infrastructure improvement projects including street repairs, sidewalk improvements, parks and recreation facilities, water and sewer line replacements and community centers, according to DOD.

ECONOMY

A panel at the Columbus Metropolitan Club (CMC) Wednesday said that while there was still some uncertainty in the local and national economies for 2026, some of that has been diminished headed into the year. The discussion opened with economist and Regionomics owner Bill LaFayette delivering his annual "Blue Chip Forecast" on the regional economy. LaFayette began his remarks with an apology, saying that in his 2025 forecast, rather than nudging his estimates of employment growth in the region, "I should have shoved them."

Data recently released by U-Haul measuring how its customers moved between states found Ohio dropped from 14th in 2024 to 43rd in 2025, representing the largest state year-over-year ranking decrease in the report. In-migration measured 49.7 percent, with out-migration at 50.3 percent. Ohio previously ranked 23rd in 2023, ninth in 2022, 24th in 2021 and fourth in 2020. Ranks for neighboring states in 2025 included Kentucky, 17th; Indiana, 25th; West Virginia, 34th; Michigan, 41st; and Pennsylvania, 44th.

EDUCATION

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) recently released a model policy on artificial intelligence (AI) in education for use by local school boards, which will be required to adopt their own policies by the start of the next fiscal year. Under the state budget, HB96 (Stewart), school districts must formally approve an AI policy by Wednesday, July 1. DEW's model policy was developed in collaboration with the state's AI in Education Coalition, which developed a strategy for use of the technology in education.

A trial court decision to freeze the assets of Electronic Classroom of Ohio (ECOT) founder William Lager while the state seeks to recoup money from the defunct online charter school was not a final order and thus not subject to appeal, appellate judges ruled recently. A panel of the 10th District Court of Appeals including Judges Laurel Beatty Blunt, Michael Mentel and David Leland granted a motion from Attorney General Dave Yost's office to dismiss the case shortly before the Christmas holiday.

ELECTIONS

Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence O'Donnell will serve as the interim chair of the Ohio Election Integrity Commission, which took over duties from the Ohio Elections Commission on Jan. 1. Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced O'Donnell's appointment, saying he will serve in the role for the first 90 days, after which D. Michael Crites will take over and serve as chair for the remainder of the term. Crites formally chaired the Ohio Elections Commission but cannot serve on the new commission until the provisions of SB293 (Brenner-Gavarone) take effect 90 days after it was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine. The bill changed qualifications for members of the new Election Integrity Commission, removing a prohibition on their holding an appointed public office.

ELECTIONS 2025

Secretary of State Frank LaRose said this week that 81 races on election day went to an automatic recount, and 72 were decided by 20 votes or fewer in November. The highlights of the election were announced by LaRose as his office completed its post-election audit of the November election. According to the secretary of state, 53 of Ohio's counties had a race go to automatic recount after official results put it within the recount margin. Of the 81 races that went to recount, 32 were within one vote, including 10 tie votes.

ELECTIONS 2026

Rep. Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) Monday released a statement saying she will not seek re-election to the Ohio House for what would have been her fourth and final term. First elected in 2020, Ray has served three terms representing the 66th District. In a statement, Ray said that while it has been an honor to serve the district, "Living out of a suitcase three days a week has become increasingly difficult, and I would like to spend more time working on Medina County issues from my home base in Wadsworth."

The campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy announced Monday that he raised $9.88 million in the second half of 2025 and raised nearly $20 million for the entire year. Friday, Jan. 30, is the deadline for candidates to file their annual campaign finance reports reflecting fundraising activity for the last six months of 2025, though Ramaswamy's campaign released his totals ahead of that deadline.

Republican Carey Coleman recently announced that he is exploring a candidacy for the 13th Congressional District seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron). Coleman spent decades as a local weatherman and as a longtime radio talk show host on WNIR.

Both presumptive major party nominees for governor announced their running mate selections this week. Republican Vivek Ramaswamy picked Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), a move that Gov. Mike DeWine cited in finally issuing his full endorsement of the GOP ticket. Democrat Amy Acton picked David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party and past candidate for attorney general and auditor. Ramaswamy formally introduced McColley as part of the ticket at an event Wednesday in Cleveland, while Acton brought Pepper along for a roundtable discussion in Columbus to mark his joining the ticket.

Count Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) as the latest member of the Ohio House to eye a move to the Ohio Senate. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections shows the term-limited Sweeney as the only candidate so far to pull petitions for the 23rd Senate District - a seat that will be open next General Assembly as Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) is term-limited. Less than a month out from the filing deadline for the Tuesday, May 5 primary, the race for a number of open seats is starting to come into focus, including some familiar names, according to filings and campaign announcements. With the filing deadline falling on Wednesday, Feb. 4, other candidates may still emerge.

Former House Speaker and current Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) announced Monday that he had filed to run for reelection for a fourth and final term before term limits kick in.

David Gedert on Monday announced his bid as a Libertarian candidate for the 9th Congressional District, according to the Toledo Blade. Gedert, who is also known as drag queen Sugar Vermonte, said the slogan for his campaign is "Ohio needs some sugar."

A Cincinnati councilman has entered the state treasurer's race after announcing his candidacy Thursday, while a Republican candidate said he will leave the race due to family reasons. Seth Walsh, a who was sworn in recently for his second term on Cincinnati City Council, announced he will run as a Democrat for state treasurer, saying he will put Ohio's investments to work for all Ohioans. Meanwhile, Lake County Treasurer Michael Zuren announced he is withdrawing from the race. The Republican said on social media that it was a difficult decision. Other Republicans in the race include former Sen. Niraj Antani, former Rep. Jay Edwards, and current Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson).

The following endorsements were made over the week:

• The U.S. Senate campaign of Democrat Sherrod Brown announced the endorsement of Communications Workers of America (CWA) AFL-CIO District 4.

• The Ohio Senate campaign of Republican Zac Taylor announced the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Amelia)

• The Supreme Court campaign of Republican Colleen O'Donnell announced the endorsement of Ohio Value Voters.

EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT

After a delay due to the federal government shutdown, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) announced Wednesday that Ohio's unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent in November, down from 4.8 percent in September.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

FirstEnergy will pay out well over a quarter billion dollars in the next two weeks to end the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO) five-year probe into corporate dealings behind the 133-HB6 (Callender-Wilkin) bribery scandal. Commissioners on Wednesday approved without changes a December agreement increasing the company's total obligation to $287 million -- 98 percent of it going directly to ratepayers. The pre-Christmas settlement is nearly $90 million more than the $186.3 million in restitution ordered by commissioners in November to resolve their investigation and audit of FirstEnergy's handling of charitable and political spending, corporate separation, distribution modernization rider (DMR) and delivery capital recovery (DCR) rider and their HB6 connection to $61 million in government bribes.

The Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) has joined the state's largest electric distribution utility (EDU) to oppose administrative rules backed by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) that purportedly force industrial and residential customers who do not net-meter to subsidize customer-generators who do -- the important and growing energy model of "distributed generation." OCC and American Electric Power (AEP) say proposed Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) language promulgated by PUCO in November for net metering's five-year rule review "cost-shift[s]" distribution or wire charges they claim should be paid by distributed generators onto the backs of all other ratepayers that cannot or do not participate in net metering.

ENVIRONMENT

Three Ohio fish processing companies have signed the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (GSGP) 100 Percent Great Lakes Fish Pledge, committing to use all parts of the fish they handle, according to a statement Tuesday detailing the initiative. The pledge falls under GSGP’s 100 percent fish initiative, an effort to increase the value of fish material by identifying other value uses like fish leather, meal and oil. GSGP said the work will help increase revenue, create new jobs and support rural economic development while reducing emissions and improving the resilience of Great Lakes fisheries.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) issued Director's Final Findings and Orders (DFFO) Thursday to Bunting Bearings and the Fulton County Land Reutilization Corporation requiring environmental sampling, lead dust suppression measures and community engagement. Ohio EPA sent a community notice earlier this week alerting the public that air monitor testing results from November and December showed elevated levels of lead in the air caused by demolition at the Bunting Bearings site in the village of Delta, according to a statement released by Ohio EPA.

FEDERAL

In an op-ed published in The Hill this week, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) discussed new federal legislation he is introducing to allow states to address the benefits cliff that can occur when an individual receiving public assistance loses a significant amount of support due to a small increase in income. Husted's "Upward Mobility Act" would create a pilot program for states to combine funding from several federal anti-poverty programs into a single funding stream that Husted said will eliminate contradictions and barriers.

GAMING/GAMBLING

Ohio's sports betting market has quickly grown into one of the most lucrative among U.S. states since the industry launched with 28 approved operators at the beginning of 2023. Sports betting data clearinghouse Research Ground (RG) says that since 2023, Ohio has quickly emerged as a major player in the U.S. sports wagering landscape largely because of the state's competitive field of operators and a diverse betting audience, spread among a higher-than-average number of sports leagues and teams. In November 2025 alone, the Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) reported that the state's online and retail sports gaming outlets combined took in over $133 million, the most in any month since the opening of the state's sports betting market.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Former State Rep. Terry Tranter died Monday, Dec. 22, at the age of 81. He served in the Ohio House from 1976 until he was defeated for re-election in 1992. A Democrat, he chaired the House Judiciary and Criminal Justice Committee. In 2012, he sought a comeback but lost to former Rep. Denise Driehaus in the Democratic primary. Funeral services were held on Friday, Dec. 26. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Annie Myers Scholarship at Saint Ursula Academy.

GUNS

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is co-leading 26 U.S. states in supporting six-time California Olympic medalist and competition skeet shooter Kim Rhodes' Second Amendment lawsuit against the state's restrictions on ammunition purchases. Yost and Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador filed a friend-of-court brief in the 9th Circuit of Appeals in San Francisco Monday opposing California's background check and interstate ban on ammunition purchase as unprecedented in U.S. history.

HANNAH NEWS

Hannah News Service this week introduced HannahTranscribe, a new tool that provides searchable transcripts of legislative hearings, allowing Hannah clients to quickly find relevant discussions without reviewing hours of video. HannahTranscribe captures and indexes every word spoken during a hearing, making it easier to find legislation, testimony, and debate as it unfolds. Users can search across all hearings or narrow results by session, chamber, committee, or date. Transcripts are generated from live video and may contain minor spelling or formatting inaccuracies. The transcripts are provided as a research aid and should be verified against the official video or record when precision is required. Continue to follow the daily Hannah Report for in-depth coverage of that day's committee hearings. For questions or to schedule training, contact Hannah News at sales@hannah.com.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced Wednesday, Dec. 31 that Ohio had its first flu-associated pediatric death of the 2025-26 flu season, a teenager in Greene County. Flu activity generally peaks between December and February, and this season saw an increase beginning in late November 2025 that became more rapid in recent weeks. Seasons typically have between one and seven pediatric deaths.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Monday they have changed the childhood immunization schedule, following a directive by President Donald Trump to examine other nations' practices in relation to the U.S. system. The update retains the current system of grouping childhood vaccines in three categories, all of which are required to be covered by insurance companies without cost-sharing. Under the new schedule, the shared clinical decision-making basis is now recommended for influenza, COVID-19, rotavirus, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and hepatitis B immunization.

Ohio will get roughly the average award amount in the first round of distributions from the $50 billion federal Rural Health Transformation Program, an initiative of federal HR1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced 2026 funding awards, with Ohio in line for $202 million, compared to the average of $200 million, high of $281 million and low of $147 million.

A new flu strain is infecting a greater number of Ohioans than last year's more severe flu season, with correspondingly higher numbers of people hospitalized, according to the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of ODH, convened a press conference Wednesday to talk about this year's flu season and newly announced federal changes to the recommended vaccination schedule for children.

Scott Wiley, recently the CEO of the Ohio Society of CPAs (OSCPA), is the new CEO of the Ohio Health Care Association (OHCA), which represents nursing facilities among other long-term care businesses. Wiley led OSCPA for more than a decade and also was CEO of CoreNet Global, an international association representing corporate real estate and workplace executives. Former OHCA Executive Director Pete Van Runkle retired last year.

HIGHER EDUCATION

The University of Cincinnati (UC) was recently given $3.4 million to support its College of Nursing along with its Division of Student affairs. The donation, from alumnus Stephen Helman in honor of his mother's nursing career, allocated $2.5 million to the creation of the Dorothy Wehmeyer Helman Student Excellence Endowment Fund, which UC said will support student scholarships, internships and co-ops at the College of Nursing.

Gov. Mike DeWine has appointed Suzanne Kiggin to serve on the Ohio State University (OSU) Board of Trustees following her husband, Michael Kiggin, who resigned from his position in late November 2025.

Four University of Dayton (UD) past chairs of the school's Board of Trustees are contributing to the development of a new student Health and Wellbeing Center scheduled to open in fall 2026, the university announced recently. With nearly $5 million in donations from prior chairs Mary Boosalis, Steve Cobb, Rick Omlor and Dave Yeager, along with their spouses, the new Health and Wellbeing Center will include new spaces for both the UD Student Health Center and Counseling Center and future improvements to UD's recreational facility, the RecPlex, the university said in its announcement.

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) recently announced it is now taking applications for a $100 million loan program supporting housing construction in rural areas under the Residential Development Revolving Loan Fund (RDRLF) Program. The program helps municipalities with critical infrastructure needed for more single-family home construction. It provides low interest loans covering up to 50 percent of eligible infrastructure development, repair, or upgrade costs, with support of up to $30,000 per single-family home included in the project served by the new or improved infrastructure. Applicants can be counties, municipal corporations and townships in counties with populations under 75,000 whose number of privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in the previous calendar year is below the statewide county average for that period.

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) recently announced $18.7 million in grants have been awarded through the Homeless Crisis Response Program to foster housing stability and combat homelessness across Ohio. The grants will support 52 nonprofit and local government agencies across the state, assisting with homeless prevention, rapid re-housing and emergency shelter services, according to DOD.

JUDICIAL

The Ohio judiciary and other state court systems constitute the most trusted branch of government, the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) reports. NCSC's 2025 State of the State Courts poll finds 62 percent of registered voters have a "great deal" or some confidence in state courts, compared to 57 percent for governor's offices and 59 percent for state legislatures. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 29, or Gen Z, lead other age groups in optimism about state courts.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Ohio Clerk of Courts Association (OCCA) announced its leadership for 2026 selected at the organization's Winter Conference in December. Licking County Clerk of Courts Olivia Parkinson was named OCCA president for 2026.

MARIJUANA/HEMP

The legality of cannabis and the growth of the cannabis industry in Ohio could be on the ballot for Ohioans again in 2026. Following Gov. Mike DeWine's signing of SB56 (Huffman), organizers from Ohioans for Cannabis Choice (OCC) recently began the referendum process with the Ohio Secretary of State's (SOS) office and the attorney general to place a repeal of certain sections of the bill on the statewide ballot in November 2026.

NATURAL RESOURCES

After the presents that once sat beneath have been handed out and the ornaments and lights have been put away, the bare Christmas tree may be the last remnant of the recent holiday season past. However, that once-live tree can still be repurposed back to nature to offer one last present in the form of a habitat for a number of species of animals, including birds, mammals and even fish, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). That live-cut tree can be returned to nature for small songbirds, including cardinals, chickadees and wrens, as well as miniature mammals, including rabbits and chipmunks. Repurposed trees can even provide valuable shelter for overwintering insects like bees, moths and butterflies.

More than 100 species of trees dotting the landscape at the Ohio Expo Center & State Fairgrounds have garnered the space renewed accreditation as a level two arboretum by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. "The Natural Resources Park has been recognized as an arboretum for 10 years, and it's such a wonderful place for people to learn about the great outdoors and relax in some shade at the Ohio State Fair," said Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz. "We're proud to have this accreditation and to share the love of trees with all Ohioans."

Ohio's marina owners, operators, staff and recreational boating industry professionals are invited to the shores of Lake Erie to learn practical strategies to help protect Ohio's waterways. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Office of Coastal Management and the Ohio Sea Grant College Program have opened registration for the 10th Annual Ohio Marina Conference at The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Ohio holiday traffic deaths headed up with 26 fatalities over Christmas and New Year, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reports, compared to the previous three holiday seasons. Over a total of 10 days, OSHP says, as many as 17 people perished in auto accidents between Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 at midnight and Dec. 28 at 11:59 p.m., and nine more died between New Year's Eve, Dec. 31 at midnight and Jan. 4 at 11:59 p.m. Those periods did not include the two-day gap of Dec. 29-30.

The Governor's Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is hosting a three-part webinar series in January addressing antitrafficking topics and trends in recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The series, hosted by the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS), was developed in conjunction with national, state and local partners including Austin, TX-based Allies Against Slavery; Irving, TX-based The Jensen Project; the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC); Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY); Columbus-based Gracehaven and Columbus-based Freedom a la Cart.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

The 2026 "Road to Zero" Community Traffic Safety grants through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are now available to support projects and research to improve roadway safety, address disparities in mobility safety and access, and work toward achieving zero traffic safety fatalities. According to the National Safety Council, applications are due by Friday, Jan. 16, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

According to the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC), public employers received a 1 percent reduction in their premium rates effective Thursday, Jan. 1. It is expected to save them nearly $2 million in premiums during 2026 and was approved in August.

WORKFORCE

With revised work requirements set to take effect in the coming weeks for those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) is highlighting career supports available for Ohioans. Federal HR1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill, will require some people previously exempt from work requirements to comply with them. For example, the age-related exemption increases from 55 to 65, while the exemption for caregivers now only applies for those with children under age 14. Others previously exempt, including veterans, homeless people and those aging out of foster care, will soon have to meet the requirements as well. Work requirements take effect in February, meaning recipients will start having to demonstrate compliance in March.

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