Week in Review June 22, 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 Expositions Commission (OEC) recently announced "Honmoon Princesses: A Tribute to Demon Hunters" as the final act to join the 2026 Ohio State Fair concert lineup. The female K-pop group is set to take the stage on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., OEC said, noting the free, non-ticketed concert will take place inside the air-conditioned WCOL Celeste Center in Columbus. The event is included in State Fair admission. Advance-sale tickets are available for $9 per person HERE.

AMERICA 250-OHIO

Secretary of State Frank LaRose unveiled a limited-edition "I Voted" sticker that will be used this year in commemoration with the United States' 250th birthday "and Ohio's role in preserving and strengthening American democracy." Each of Ohio's 88 county boards of elections will receive a limited supply of the new stickers for use during the 2026 General Election. Voters who cast a ballot in person during early voting or on Election Day will receive the commemorative sticker while supplies last.

Freedom 250's Freedom Plane National Tour is set to make a stop in Dearborn, MI this summer as part of a nationwide traveling exhibition featuring historical founding documents in recognition of the nation's semiquincentennial. The initiative is the latest to be announced by Freedom 250, President Donald Trump's organization carrying out commemorative events alongside America 250. The tour will land at the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Michigan from Tuesday, July 9 through Friday, July 26. Museum admission is not required to view the exhibition, which will be free to the public, according to the museum website. Additional information regarding Freedom 250's Freedom Plane National Tour can be found HERE.

The state commission spearheading commemorative semiquincentennial festivities across the state, America 250-Ohio, recently announced several scheduled events in line with its theme for June, "Ohio Outdoors: Exploring Ohio's Natural Resources." Todd Kleismit, executive director of America 250-Ohio, said, "When people explore Ohio's parks, trails, waterways and wildlife areas, they not only support their own physical and mental well-being but also develop a deeper appreciation for protecting these spaces for future generations." The centerpiece of the month's theme is the Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail, a self-guided trail designed to help visitors explore the lake, river and the canals that connected them. The tour is one of six immersive travel trails designed to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The trail map can be viewed HERE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General Andy Wilson, who previously worked as an aide to Gov. Mike DeWine on criminal justice and public safety matters, expressed differences with his old boss on the death penalty in a statement Wednesday, after DeWine's announcement this week that he now opposes capital punishment. DeWine made a long-forecasted policy statement Tuesday, announcing that he no longer believes execution serves as a deterrent, given that condemned inmates wait decades for their sentences to be carried out and oftentimes die of other causes or are removed from Death Row by the courts. Wilson's statement indicates he understands DeWine's motivations but still finds a place for capital punishment in Ohio's justice system and would not want to see DeWine use clemency powers to overturn existing sentences.

Wilson and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a settlement proposal Wednesday in federal court that would resolve a lawsuit filed earlier this year against OhioHealth that alleges the large hospital system engaged in anticompetitive practices in its contracting with health insurers. OhioHealth operates more than a dozen hospitals and hundreds of other care sites, with several in Central Ohio and others ranging from Van Wert to Cambridge to Athens to Circleville. Federal and state authorities accused OhioHealth of preventing insurers from sharing information with patients about the cost of the availability of alternative providers and encouraging patients to choose lower-cost providers for comparable care. The settlement targets "steering" in insurance contracts, defined in the settlement to mean "a payor providing any incentive to that payor's members to seek care at specific providers or types of providers." It also prohibits contract terms meant to limit transparency in terms of providing information on price, cost, quality or patient experience.

FY27-28 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS

Gov. Mike DeWine Monday signed the $3.7 billion FY27-28 capital budget bill, SB450 (Cirino) - his last. In a statement, he said, "The projects outlined in this budget will improve our parks, county fairgrounds, and historical sites; upgrade schools and classrooms to support the future workforce; promote safe and independent living for Ohioans with disabilities; continue building the mental health care system; and more. This capital budget impacts all Ohioans today and for the future." Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel added, "This capital budget is about investing in the things that make strong communities possible. It reflects our commitment to creating opportunities for Ohio families in every aspect. From schools to workforce development, to local infrastructure and community spaces. These investments will serve Ohioans for years to come."

While lawmakers and the administration have officially inked this cycle's capital appropriations budget, one significant category of construction project funding is still on ice because of pending court action, and could remain so well into 2027. Finance committee leaders of the House and Senate at one point contemplated running parallel legislation alongside the capital budget process to appropriate $400 million in sports and cultural facilities money set aside in the operating budget. But the funding source for those projects -- unclaimed funds sitting with the state for at least a decade -- is now tied up in a lawsuit before Judge Julie Lynch of Franklin County Common Pleas Court. Two men with unclaimed funds listed in the state's database, John Reid and Steven Ling, filed a lawsuit in December to challenge the provision of the operating budget, HB96 (Stewart), allowing unclaimed funds to escheat to the state and be directed to stadium projects. They are represented by the law firm of former Attorney General Marc Dann.

CITIES

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday the results of the latest operation stemming from the state's sustained Violent Crime Reduction Initiative, which he said takes actionable steps toward making Ohio's cities safer. This latest operation, conducted in Cleveland on Wednesday, led to 11 arrests on felony charges and the confiscation of eight illegally possessed firearms. Agencies that participated included the Cleveland Police Department (CPD), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU), Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department (CCSD) and United States Marshals Service. Since the beginning of 2026, law enforcement agencies have conducted more than 33 violent crime reduction operations in 21 communities across the state. Those operations have resulted in more than 240 felony arrests and 130 illegal firearm recoveries.

CIVIL RIGHTS

As a commemoration of the day on June 19, 1865, when Black slaves in Galveston, TX were finally notified of their freedom more than two years following President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, Juneteenth serves as a reminder of all that Black people in the U.S. have fought for. At an event on the Ohio Statehouse lawn on Thursday raising the Juneteenth flag, Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland) told a crowd of more than 100 current and former legislators, Statehouse staff and leaders and members of the Black community in Columbus and throughout Ohio that Black people must also follow through with work to reinforce those achievements. "Today we gather at the People's House," said Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus), who led the event, "a place that once precluded Black Americans, confined our community to segregated spaces, and made laws without regard for impact on African Americans. Yet today, we stand here proud to honor our ancestors' sacrifices and the progress that they made possible."

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

The Ohio Department of Public Safety's Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) and Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office announced Monday the indictment of a New York retailer accused of stealing more than $600,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from Ohio residents. According to OIU, Hot Spot Convenience 2 in Brooklyn, NY and its principal operator, Raed Subhi Abu Mohammad, fraudulently obtained the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) permit number of a legitimate retailer, then used it to conduct fraudulent transactions on compromised SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards from March 2024 to January 2025. According to OIU, across more than 2,800 transactions, more than $643,000 in SNAP benefits were stolen from Ohio recipients, including $260,000 from Cuyahoga County.

DEATH PENALTY

Because condemned inmates wait decades on Death Row and are more likely to die of other causes or have their sentences overturned in court than to be executed by the state, Ohio's capital punishment law is not an effective deterrent and should be repealed, Gov. Mike DeWine argued Tuesday. "I no longer believe that the death penalty is a deterrent to murder. The moral justification that I had for voting for the death penalty simply no longer exists," DeWine said. "I believe Ohio should abolish the death penalty," DeWine said. "The Legislature can take this action, and I believe they should take this action. If the Legislature does not want to make that decision, they can leave it up to a vote of the people of the state of Ohio." After more than a year of hinting at a forthcoming position statement on capital punishment, DeWine called a morning press conference to lay out in detail the rationale for his decision, including a historical review of the modern death penalty law and its application. He began with his time as a county prosecutor who lacked the option of pursuing the death penalty because the U.S. Supreme Court had struck down the prior law, and his subsequent work as a newly minted state senator to revive the capital punishment law, which again took effect in the fall of 1981.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) announced Monday local leaders can now begin submitting nominations for the Opportunity Zone 2.0 program, which redesignates qualifying census tracts every 10 years. Nominations can be made through 4 p.m. on Friday, July 10. The state is projected to receive 258 Opportunity Zone designations which provide tax incentives to investors who make investments that will generate new jobs, housing and business growth. Nomination forms are available on DOD's website HERE. Ohio can nominate up to 25 percent of eligible census tracts for inclusion in the 2.0 map, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

The JobsOhio Board of Directors met Wednesday, with President and CEO J.P. Nauseef saying economic development efforts are off to a "good start" so far in 2026 as JobsOhio has closed 98 projects expected to create over 4,000 new jobs, retain nearly 12,000 existing jobs and drive $3.4 billion in fixed capital investment around the state. He gave further details on recently announced projects which received tax credits after being brought to the Ohio Tax Credit Authority by JobsOhio and its regional partners. Nauseef specifically mentioned OPmobility Exterior USA, Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and Aerovironment Inc., saying Hikma's expansion reflects work to grow the state's pharmaceutical and life sciences sector and the Aerovironment expansion demonstrates the importance of Ohio's military assets.

ECONOMY

Ohio's unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in May, down from 3.9 percent in April, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) said Thursday, as Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment decreased 2,400 over the month, from a revised 5,687,400 in April to 5,685,000 in May. ODJFS said the number of workers unemployed in May was 218,000, down from 232,000 in April. The number of unemployed has decreased by 61,000 in the past 12 months from 279,000. The April unemployment rate for Ohio decreased 1.0 percentage point from 4.7 percent in May 2025. The U.S. unemployment rate for May 2026 was 4.3 percent, unchanged from 4.3 percent in April 2026 and unchanged from 4.3 percent in May 2025.

ELECTIONS 2026

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton raised more money than Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy in the latest campaign finance reports, but Ramaswamy has nearly quadrupled her spending after launching an advertising blitz earlier this year. Friday was the deadline for 2026 candidates to file their post-primary campaign finance reports disclosing activity from April 16 through June 5. According to reports filed with the secretary of state's office, Acton reported $5.36 million in contributions, $2.23 million in expenditures, and $8.1 million on hand. Ramaswamy reported nearly $4.6 million in contributions, $8.6 million in expenditures, and $26.77 million on hand. He has also lent his campaign $25.65 million.

In other statewide races, Auditor Keith Faber reported $149,002 in contributions, $77,664 in expenditures, and $2.54 million on hand in his campaign for attorney general. His Democratic opponent, John Kulewicz, reported $224,709 in contributions, $129,205 in expenditures, and $393,889 on hand. Secretary of State Frank LaRose reported $84,001 in contributions, $52,009 in expenditures, and $876,348 on hand in his state auditor campaign. Opponent Democrat Annette Blackwell reported $67,417 in contributions, $20,121 in expenditures, and $140,986 on hand. Treasurer Robert Sprague reported $376,864 in contributions, $867,777 in expenditures, and $632,011 on hand in his campaign for secretary of state. Opponent Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) reported $171,509 in contributions, $96,357 in expenditures and $147,862 on hand. Former Rep. Jay Edwards (R-Nelsonville) reported $41,642 in contributions, $680,304 in expenditures, and $41,457 on hand for his state treasurer campaign. Democrat Seth Walsh reported $52,757 in contributions, $136,351 in expenditures, and $28,394 on hand.

Ad spending in support of Democratic challenger Sherrod Brown is closing the gap with spending in support of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) ahead of the November election. Since the beginning of May, Brown's campaign has spent nearly $6.5 million on broadcast, cable and desktop/mobile advertising in markets blanketing the state, led by $1.67 million in the Cleveland-Akron market alone. The campaign has also spent over $1 million combined in the Columbus market on broadcast, cable and CTV ads combined and over $866,000 among all media in the Cincinnati market.

While the Brown campaign is the largest spending entity by far since May, numerous PACs in support of Husted have nearly kept pace in the same timeframe. The next four highest-spending entities buying ad time in the Brown-Husted race are pro-Husted, according to data from AdImpact, which tracks political ad spending. Since May 1, that includes the Husted Victory PAC ($2,088,675), Americans for Prosperity Action ($1,162,769), the Husted for Ohio Senate campaign ($800,432) and the Ohio Flyer PAC ($229,019).

Democratic attorney general nominee John Kulewicz Wednesday released an internal poll that suggested a statistical tie in the race. The poll was conducted from Tuesday, June 2, through Thursday, June 4, by Tulchin research among 600 likely voters. In a matchup with Republican attorney general nominee and current Auditor of State Keith Faber, both candidates earn 34 percent with 32 percent of respondents undecided.

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), chaired by former Attorney General Eric Holder, announced this week a series of state-level elections it plans to support in the 2026 election cycle, including a number of statewide Ohio elections. NDRC named 14 states that it said it will "at a minimum" focus its resources on, including the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and Ohio Supreme Court races.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose Wednesday announced the relaunch of his "Ready for November" initiative as his office ramps up for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. Building on operational successes and shortcomings gathered from each election since 2020 and 2024, the 2026 Ready for November initiative will provide election officials with a series of training opportunities and resources featuring staff from the Ohio Secretary of State's Office and Ohio's 88 county boards of elections, LaRose's office said. The 2026 initiative includes the following:

• Regional Readiness Seminars.

• Ohio Tabletop the Vote.

• Law enforcement and homeland security briefings.

• The Ohio Election Readiness Training Institute.

• EVA, an AI-powered election administration assistant.

• After action reviews.

The following endorsement was made over the week:

• The campaign of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton announced the endorsement of the Greater Cincinnati Building and Construction Trades Council.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

Nuclear fuel services provider Centrus Energy Corp. and advanced nuclear technology company Oklo announced Thursday they've signed a letter of intent for Centrus to provide fuel to Oklo's planned 1.2 GW clean energy campus, dubbed Aurora, in Pike County. The planned Aurora facility was previously the subject of an agreement with social media company Meta under which Oklo will support Meta's data centers. Under Thursday's agreement, Centrus will provide Oklo with enough domestic high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for up to five of Aurora's powerhouses for multiple years and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2029. Centrus' HALEU will come from the American Centrifuge Plant, also in Pike County, which was the subject of a September expansion announcement. An Oklo release said the agreement anticipates a definitive future contract and brings together domestic fuel supply, planned advanced nuclear power generation, customer demand and project execution in the Southern Ohio region. It also strengthens Oklo's fuel certainty at a time when domestic HALEU is one of the "central constraints" for the advanced nuclear sector.

ENVIRONMENT

The Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) late last month approved $10.2 million in low interest loans for 11 projects to improve wastewater and drinking infrastructure across the state.

ETHICS

Charged with ensuring that government business in Ohio is conducted with impartiality and integrity, the Ohio Ethics Commission (OEC) has issued its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting the hundreds of written opinions and advisory requests the agency handled during the past year at all levels of government and public institutions throughout the state. Among the main accomplishments that OEC brought attention to was its clarification of the definition of "domestic partner" and associated recusal requirements pertaining to "family hire" restrictions in the Ohio Revised Code. The full OEC 2025 Annual Report can be found HERE.

GAMING/GAMBLING

Addressing Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) members at Wednesday's meeting, Interim Executive Director Andromeda Morrison thanked agency staff who've supported her since she succeeded Matthew Schuler on June 1 and said it has been a "very successful transition." Morrison, previously the deputy executive director, was named to the interim role in May after Schuler said he would be retiring. The commissioners heard a motion to amend sports gaming rule 3775-16-03 to remove credit cards as a permissible funding method for sports gaming accounts, as the industry has broadly moved away from allowing their use and it would align Ohio standards with that established direction. The change also helps reduce fraud risks and limits patrons' ability to wager money they don't currently possess. The motion was approved, so OCCC staff will begin the filing process and bring the change back for final approval.

The Ohio Lottery Commission (OLC) met Thursday, with updates on their finances for the previous month as well as their support for educators. OLC Giving Back Program Administrator Molly Fanta detailed the Ohio Lottery's Community Impact Program and their "Giving Back" efforts within it, including providing funds for teachers' school supplies and literacy programs as well as $100 gift cards to bus drivers as a way of showing appreciation for their work. Additional information on those efforts is available HERE. In addition, OLC Financial Program Manager Fran Mach reported that the total traditional ticket sales for May were $361.8 million and $11 million, or 3 percent, lower than May 2025. Draw-based games brought in $162.1 million, down $2.4 million or 1.4 percent; while net scratch-off ticket sales were $199.7 million and saw a decline of $8.7 million or 4.2 percent.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

While the House and Senate took action on dozens of bills on the way out the door for the General Assembly's summer break, a few notable bills did not make it over the finish line. The House is expected to take up a concurrence vote soon upon its return on Senate amendments to school bus safety bill HB3 (Willis-C. Thomas), which among other provisions would allow school districts to use stop-arm cameras to catch drivers who illegally speed pass a stopped school bus. House Clerk Brad Young told Hannah News that the message from the Senate did not arrive until after the chamber had adjourned. No other House bills are awaiting concurrence, but a number of Senate bills reported out of committee have yet to go to the full House floor, including SB318 (Cutrona) to authorize a law enforcement agency to provide school resource officer services to a chartered nonpublic school, which was reported out by the House Education Committee.

They differ in the extent of their backup plans, but both the House and Senate have penciled in just four confirmed voting sessions for the remainder of 2026, all in the lame duck period. If-needed dates are much more of a factor in the Senate, which has allowed for the possibility of sessions Wednesday, Sept. 16, Wednesday Sept. 23 and Wednesday, Oct. 7, all with if-needed committee meetings set for the preceding Tuesdays. Otherwise, the Senate is expected to return for committees Monday, Nov. 9 and session Tuesday, Nov. 10. Hannah’s schedule can be found HERE.

The Ohio Statehouse will host the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Geological Survey for Statehouse Fossil Fest on Thursday, June 25, with a day of fun dedicated to fossils. The program is free and open to all ages. The day will feature hands-on activities in the Statehouse Atrium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a guided fossil tour of the Statehouse and grounds from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is presented in cooperation with the Orton Geological Museum, the Karl E. Limper Geological Museum, the Cincinnati Museum Center, and the State Library of Ohio. Members of the public can find full event details for Statehouse Fossil Fest and other Earth Science Summer events HERE.

Reps. Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) and Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp) together with Sens. George Lang (R-West Chester) and Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) recently announced the creation of the bipartisan, bicameral Developmental Disabilities (DD) Legislative Caucus. According to the organizers, the DD Legislative Caucus will serve "as a collaborative forum dedicated to advancing policies, sharing experiences, and supporting initiatives that improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families across Ohio." The Developmental Disabilities Legislative Caucus plans to meet quarterly moving forward after having held its first meeting in May.

GOVERNOR

Gov. Mike DeWine said Tuesday that the legislative priorities in the final half-year of his administration will focus on securing initiatives that he believes have been successful and improving public safety. Addressing other priorities, DeWine said he would continue to draw attention to initiatives he supports to demonstrate the value of their lasting beyond his time in office. He mentioned specifically the OhioSEE program, which he proposed to bridge the gap between children identified as needing attention in routine school vision screenings and those who actually end up getting an eye exam and glasses. Part of Ohio's grant award through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program will go to expanding the program statewide.

The governor signed the following bills:

• SB262 (Blessing) to require a public authority or other party to a construction contract to note variations from an industry standard form. Eff. in 90 days.

• SB263 (Roegner) to make changes regarding the treatment of professional employer organizations and alternate employer organizations under the Unemployment Compensation Law. Eff. in 90 days.

• SB273 (Koehler) to enact the Keep Them Safe Act and to make an appropriation. Eff. immediately.

• HB359 (C. Thomas-Gross) to clarify the statewide emergency alert system in cases of missing autistic or developmentally disabled children and to name the alert the Joshua Alert. Eff. in 90 days.

GREAT LAKES

Researchers at the University of Toledo (UToledo) have found a promising strategy for restoring the population of lake sturgeon in the Maumee River and Lake Erie. In response to years of overfishing, pollution and habitat loss for lake sturgeon throughout the Great Lakes, researchers in a collaborative study compared baby lake sturgeon raised at a traditional hatchery in Wisconsin to lake sturgeon raised at a "streamside" facility at the Toledo Zoo that used Maumee River water. Joint collaborators in the research included the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Geological Survey, UToledo and Michigan State University along with the Toledo Zoo. ODNR has noted that recent advances in the restoration science of lake sturgeon could successfully reestablish self-sustaining spawning population of the species in Lake Erie's historically spawning tributaries. ODNR published a plan for restoring lake sturgeon within the Lake Erie watershed in November 2025, which is available HERE.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recently issued guidance to health care providers in the state in regard to cases of Ebola caused by the Bundibugyo virus (BVD) identified in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, noting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice to reconsider nonessential travel for DRC and a Level 2 Notice to practice enhanced precautions for Uganda. Federal partners have implemented entry restrictions and public health entry screening for travelers from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, with South Sudan included in these public health measures due to its proximity to DRC and significant cross-border travel. ODH, in coordination with the CDC and local public health departments, is monitoring travelers returning to Ohio from affected areas. While the current risk to the U.S. remains low, ODH said health care facilities should ensure they have systems in place to identify recent travel, evaluate exposure and symptom risk for Ebola, and implement appropriate infection prevention and reporting measures when indicated.

On either side of a contentious public issue, if one becomes too focused on the argument of one side, ultimately the entire conversation can be lost. Real issues can be addressed if both sides are open to the facts of a matter, are able to hear the concerns of the other side and then strike a balance between those concerns and the available solutions. That strategy could be useful in a great number of debates in the political world, and that was the advice given Friday to the Cleveland City Club concerning vaccine hesitancy by Dr. Peter Salk, son of Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine in the 1940s and 1950s that ultimately eradicated the scourge of polio for nearly every country in the world. The story of the elder Salk's development of a polio vaccine is a story of a collective triumph over a threat, said City Club moderator Arthur Lavin, whose organization Grandparents for Vaccines educates grandparents nationally on the importance of childhood vaccinations as vaccine hesitancy is currently on the rise.

A recent report by personal finance website WalletHub placed Ohio 36th in the nation and fifth among its neighbors in best states for nurses. West Virginia led them at sixth nationally, followed by Pennsylvania, 22nd; Indiana, 31st; Kentucky, 34th; and Michigan, 37th. The five highest states were Maine, New Hampshire, Washington, Oregon and Arizona. The five lowest were South Dakota, Mississippi, Alabama, North Dakota and Oklahoma. States were also ranked on two subcategories, with Ohio 19th nationally and fourth among neighbors in opportunity and competition, and 44th nationally and fifth among neighbors in work environment.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Lawmakers carved out $25 million in the state's capital budget to help Ohio's only public historically Black university, Central State University (CSU), regain its financial footing under the condition that it first relinquishes facility oversight authority to the Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) or another governmental third party. Another nearly $4.2 million was appropriated for the university's "typical capital budget appropriation" in the capital budget, SB450 (Cirino). While the entirety of funding allocated to the university is reserved for basic renovations, CSU will not be able to access most of those funds until a supportive facility management arrangement with a state entity is established and certified to the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), according to the Office of Budget and Management. The provision states that $25 million will be held back, with the remaining approximately $4 million exempt from the certification process.

Marion Technical College earlier this year earned national recognition as a 2026 Bellwether Award winner for its partnership with Columbus State Community College, an initiative that ultimately secured millions in additional funding to better serve students in need, Marion Tech said in a statement. Marion Tech was recognized in the Planning, Governance and Finance category for its "Growth through Grants" initiative -- a program leveraging collaborative planning and external funding between Marion Tech and Columbus State to expand innovation and improve student success outcomes.

ODHE Chancellor Mike Duffey recently announced that nine colleges and universities in Ohio have had their Collegiate Purple Star designation renewed for continuing their efforts to support students with military backgrounds. The campuses were in the second cohort of Collegiate Purple Star awardees that received the designation in May of 2023. Schools must apply for renewal after three years. In addition, the University of Findlay received the Collegiate Purple Star designation for the first time. A total of 51 colleges and universities across Ohio have an active Collegiate Purple Star designation, ODHE said. The list of participating schools can be found HERE.

Ohio State University's former President Walter "Ted" Carter Jr. was found to have tried to get military podcaster Krisanthe Vlachos a job at the University of Nebraska during his tenure at that institution, according to media reports. Carter served as Nebraska's president from January 2020 through late 2023 before joining Ohio State shortly thereafter. According to Ohio State's internal investigation, Carter's relationship with Vlachos began in the spring of 2023 when he was still serving as the head of Nebraska's system. Nebraska confirmed it had reviewed emails and other records potentially relevant to Ohio State's report. For now, the university does not see the need for further review.

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

Nearly 1,500 apartments for families, older Ohioans and individuals at risk of homelessness will be either rehabilitated or created after the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) awarded conditional commitments to more than two dozen housing developments in the state last month for 2026 Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). OHFA announced in May that 25 Ohio developments were awarded more than $39.1 million in 10-year federal 9 percent LIHTC credits, enabling the creation or preservation of 1,468 apartments throughout the state.

Housing advocates and an economist teamed up Thursday to discuss the release of a report outlining how duplexes could play a role in addressing not just housing supply and affordability concerns but also influence family wealth-building and the needs of vulnerable populations. The Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO) and Scioto Analysis issued the report titled "Twin Goals: How Duplexes Can Build Family Wealth and Return Affordability to Central Ohio" and convened a panel of housing and development officials and regional residents to discuss its implications. Carlie Boos, AHACO executive director, and Rob Moore, principal at Scioto Analysis, said duplex ownership was a historical pathway to small business development and financial stability for working-class people, but are now disfavored by zoning codes. A copy of the report is available HERE.

JUDICIAL

The Ohio Supreme Court's Board of Commissioners of the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (LFCP) determined that 22 former clients of five attorneys in three Ohio counties were eligible for reimbursement.

The Ohio Fair Courts Alliance Monday released a new animated video that it said shows "what it means to truly have fair courts that work for everybody." Former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor called the video "informative, engaging, and effective in conveying its message." O'Connor added, "One particularly valuable feature is the explanation of some of the differences between the federal judicial system and Ohio's judicial system." The alliance, which bills itself as "a nonpartisan coalition of organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens dedicated to cultivating a court system that exemplifies equity, fairness, and justice for all," asked judges and others to give their perspective on fair courts.

The Supreme Court of Ohio is currently recruiting volunteer tour guides for the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in support of the Court's mission to educate the public about the judicial system and the architectural significance of the historic building. The center welcomes nearly 15,000 visitors annually. The Moyer Judicial Center, a landmark constructed in the 1930s, is celebrated for its Art Deco architecture and its Native American, Beaux-Arts, and Classical design elements. Volunteer tour guides lead scheduled groups through the first two floors of the facility, showcasing these artistic details and providing insight into the building's history. Community members interested in applying are encouraged to submit their applications directly to the Civic Education office HERE. Self-guided tours are also available during standard Court hours without prior appointment.

MARIJUANA/HEMP

A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday to block enforcement of new hemp restrictions in SB56 (Huffman) on the basis of interstate commerce. "Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that SB56 violates the dormant commerce clause by prohibiting out-of-state companies from offering their products for sale unless they source and distribute those products closely in Ohio. While the state of Ohio contends SB56 is facially neutral because it prohibits both in-state and out-of-state companies from selling hemp-derived products with a THC concentration of greater than 0.3 percent, they do not dispute that, in order to obtain a license to sell those products, companies must obtain, transfer and dispense those products from locations within the state of Ohio only," wrote Judge Jeffrey Helmick of the Northern District of Ohio. Helmick issued a temporary restraining order lasting 14 days to block "criminal, civil, administrative or regulatory enforcement action" against the plaintiffs, 10 companies that make hemp-derived beverages or other products. The companies sued dozens of county and municipal prosecutors' offices to block enforcement of the law, which took effect in March.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) encourages Ohioans to grab a fishing rod and enjoy the outdoors during Father’s Day weekend, when residents age 16 and older may fish in public waters without purchasing a fishing license. The license-free weekend runs Saturday, June 20 through Sunday, June 21, the only such weekend of the year. For the weekend, public waterways include Lake Erie and any of the state public lakes, streams and rivers.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

Changes at regulatory levels and economic factors like inflation and tariffs are affecting a growing number of nonprofits in the same ways they're affecting the larger business community, according to Phil Washburn of The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio. Speaking at Wednesday's Columbus Metropolitan Club forum on the "Annual State of Nonprofits," Washburn said his organization is seeing that the nonprofit sector has to adapt and come up with new solutions as the ways many organizations in the sector operate "are really changing under our feet." Washburn said both nonprofits and businesses fill needs in their communities by providing goods and services to move the community forward, but the distinction that's often missed is the thinking that money isn't important to nonprofits when it actually is.

POLITICS

Numerous Democratic Ohio officials Friday denounced news of an FBI raid at the Ohio Organizing Collaborative (OOC). Multiple media outlets reported the FBI visited and questioned people at OOC's Cleveland office. The group leads efforts on economic justice, criminal justice reform and voting rights. "Let's call this what it is: voter intimidation," said U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Columbus). "We are in the home stretch of the midterm election season, and Republicans are reaching for the oldest trick in the book: fear. When they can't win fairly, they play dirty. This sends a chilling message to communities that have spent generations fighting for a seat at the table. Ohioans are outraged! But if the goal is to scare people out of participating in our democracy, let me be crystal clear: it won't work.”

Ohio is the home state of two very different Republicans with a national profile who separately represent two different paths for the future of the party, Manhattan Institute pollster Jesse Arm told the Cleveland City Club on Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance is right now the "odds-on favorite" to be the Republican presidential nominee in 2028, said Arm, representing a natural continuation from the party's era defined by President Donald Trump and building a bridge with blue-collar, working-class voters that Trump brought into the Republican Party. Arm compared Vance to Ohio's Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. While Ramaswamy is definitely of the Trump era, according to Arm, he represents more of a "libertarian nationalism," not backing away from traditional conservative ideas of free market economics, the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, and pursing technological dynamism. Arm called Ramaswamy's libertarianism and nationalism a "natural combination" the GOP can coalesce around.

Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou was unanimously re-elected to a new four-year term Friday as the state party met to swear in new members and elect officers. Triantafilou was first elected chair in 2023 to fill out the unexpired term of Bob Paduchik, who stepped aside after the 2022 election cycle.

STATE GOVERNMENT

A cost-saving roof upgrade for the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in downtown Columbus has transformed into a tribute to the Buckeye State just in time to help celebrate America's 250th birthday this summer, the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) announced Wednesday. After 50 years, the skyscraper's original concrete slab on the rooftop needed to be removed and replaced to address some water intrusion issues, a project expected to cost about $4 million, DAS explained. Instead, members of the DAS Property and Facilities team selected a PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) polymer overlay system that cost much less, about $234,000. Most of the savings came from avoiding the labor and expense of removing the half century old concrete, hauling debris down 41 floors, installing new waterproofing, and lifting new concrete 629 feet to the roof. However, due to safety concerns, roof access to the Rhodes Tower cannot be granted. A picture can be found HERE.

TAXATION

The Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) announced the launch of a new series of online courses meant to help small business owners understand and manage their tax responsibilities. Available through the Ohio Virtual Tax Academy, the self-paced training courses provide guidance using interactive content, real-world scenarios and knowledge checks to reinforce learning, ODT said.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission Monday heard updates from staff on various initiatives and upcoming projects that look to cut down on trucks' trying to evade tolls, to improve the commission's customer service operations, and to implement an advanced traffic monitoring system. Some of the initiatives are already under way, while commission staff are reviewing options on the others. Brian Kelley, senior manager of toll technology for turnpike commission, discussed the efforts to improve vehicle identification to catch truckers that attempt to hide license plates from cameras and other technology to evade tolls.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Suzanne Kiggin, the former senior V.P. of operations at American Signature, Inc., began her appointment as chair of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's (BWC) Board of Directors this week by reappointing standing committees at an ad hoc meeting Wednesday and reconvening Thursday for its regular monthly gathering.

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