Week in Review March 23, 2026

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

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

ABORTION/REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

The House Health Committee voted Wednesday to approve legislation creating a new waiting period law for women seeking abortions, about a year and a half after litigation blocked the prior waiting period law over conflicts with the voter-approved abortion rights amendment to the Ohio Constitution. Under HB347 (Odioso-Williams), except in cases of medical emergency, doctors would have to meet with a woman at least 24 hours ahead of an abortion to provide specified information and document informed consent. Doctors could face civil liability, damages and professional discipline for failing to do so.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Messaging apps that can automatically remove received messages from a recipient's device -- including Signal, WhatsApp and Snapchat -- should not be used for public business, according to the most recent edition of the Ohio Sunshine Laws Manual, released by the Office of Attorney General (AG) Dave Yost on Monday. "Self-destructing messages are for movie characters, not public officials," Yost said. "Using disappearing messages will only self-destruct your career and your credibility." The manual references the role of “secret communications” as evidence in the trial that led to the ouster of State Teachers Retirement System Board Chair Rudy Fichtenbaum.

BALLOT ISSUES

A group of Ohioans has submitted a proposed constitutional amendment to Attorney General Dave Yost that would ban data centers in Ohio. The proposal, which would add a new Section 36a to Article II of the Ohio Constitution, states that the "construction of a data center is hereby prohibited." It further defines a data center as "one or more buildings or physical facilities or infrastructure, located on a single real property parcel or on contiguous, adjacent, or otherwise aggregated real property parcels that: (1) Are used primarily or exclusively for digital information services such as the management, storage, processing, and dissemination of electronic data and information through the use of computer systems, servers, networking equipment, and related components, including equipment cooling systems; and (2) Has an aggregate monthly demand or peak load of greater than 25 megawatts, however derived from any energy source, or a combination thereof." Yost has until Thursday, March 26, to rule on whether the proposed summary of the initiative is a "fair and truthful" representation of the ballot language.

FY27-28 CAPITAL APPROPRIATIONS

The Ohio Adjutant General's Department has requested $51 million for capital budget projects, including $13 million in state funds and $38 million from the federal government. The department also requested language to allow the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) to increase state appropriations for fully federal-funded projects in coordination with federal spending in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2027 and 2028. A memo submitted for the request noted the department has "one of the largest real estate and property footprints among all state agencies" with 55 facilities, training sites and buildings in 36 counties. That is a "consistent planning and fiscal challenge," representing efforts to remain a community-based entity and meet demands of a contemporary workforce, changes in organizational structure and the effects of new or emerging threats.

Work that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) calls "critical" to repair dams at multiple state parks and other locations are leading the department's capital improvements budget request for the next two years. Nearly $50 million of ODNR's capital budget request for FY27-28 seeks funds to repair Class I dams at Cowan Lake and Lake Logan state parks and other dams, which the department says are vital to prevent a failure that has a high risk of loss to both life and property.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

The Ohio Supreme Court is announcing an intergovernmental partnership with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) to help juvenile courts, children's services and community stakeholders to collaborate on child welfare. The Court and DCY will host a series of regional sessions on interagency cooperation entitled "Building Stronger Systems Together." "This immersive, team-based workshop builds on progress from the statewide Summit on Children and Kids Summit," the Court says of its 2023 and 2025 gatherings.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Director Annette Chambers-Smith will conclude her administration at the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) next week to revive the role of special advisor to the governor on criminal justice formerly held by current Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Andy Wilson. Chambers-Smith, who has served the department in various roles for two decades, will officially begin her new duties on March 29, when DRC Assistant Director Ed Banks will take over as interim director.

EDUCATION

A resident of Forest Hills Local Schools in Hamilton County wants the Ohio Supreme Court to rule on her right to access records on the district's plans for responding to immigration enforcement at schools. Lisa Daly, through counsel, asked the board in February to supply "any plan, memorandum or outline" addressing how the district should respond to the presence on school property of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.)

Following presentations last week on the state of Ohio's requirements for institutions of higher education that are preparing educators to teach students to read using the science of reading, representatives of several of those institutions told the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee on Tuesday how their efforts on science of reading compliance have gone. Miami University, the University of Akron, Wright State University (WSU), the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University (BGSU) and Ohio State University (OSU) were each found to address 73 of the 73 metrics of the audit performed by the University of Texas at Austin's Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk.

ELECTIONS 2026

Ohio Supreme Court justices are being asked to wade in to an Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee race in which Secretary of State Frank LaRose has already had to intercede. The women's seat for the 19th Senate District on the Republican committee features a contest between Melanie Leneghan and Rebecca Nourse. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose recently directed the Delaware County Board of Elections to hold a new vote on Nourse's candidacy because Leneghan, a county board member, had participated in the vote in violation of the ethics policy LaRose's office established for local elections officials. Meanwhile, Delaware County resident Velva Dunn has filed a challenge to Leneghan's candidacy for the position, citing Leneghan's ownership of a home in South Carolina as a basis to challenge her voter registration in the county and thus her eligibility to run for the seat. Two other elections board members recused themselves from considering the challenge, leaving the board short of a quorum and unable to decide, prompting Dunn to sue to compel action.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose Wednesday announced his office had released a 2026 voter information toolkit that he said would help to educate voters about recent changes to Ohio's election laws. He also called on community leaders across the state to help share the information. The toolkit is HERE.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose Tuesday issued a new directive to county boards of elections regarding cybersecurity, the seventh such directive of his administration. The latest directive reinforces physical and cybersecurity protections for critical elections infrastructure while warning that foreign cyber threats require constant vigilant. The directive, 2026-20, requires counties to review their compliance with security standards ordered in previous directives, to participate in a cybersecurity audit, and address any findings by Aug. 31, 2026. The 2026 audit will evaluate each board's incident response plan and readiness to respond to potential cyber incidents, with cybersecurity specialists from the secretary of state's office assisting counties in addressing any identified issues, the secretary of state's office said.

Secretary of State Frank LaRose has removed Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate Jeffrey M. Kanter from the Tuesday, May 5 primary ballot after a protest was filed against Kanter's candidacy, the secretary of state's office confirmed.

The following endorsements were made over the week:

• The campaign of U.S. Sen. Jon Husted announced the endorsements of 61 Republican members of the Ohio House, including Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima).

• Ohio Right to Life endorsed David Taylor, Michael Rulli, David Joyce and Mike Carey for Congress; Jim Hoops, Craig Riedel, Zac Haines, Beth Lear and Ryan Rivers for Ohio Senate; and Brian Stewart, Mike Kahoe, Edward Schimmel, Sue Grabowski, Christina Hagan, Brian Lorenz, Andrew Brenner, Shawn Stevens, Jean Schmidt, Brian Lampton, Patti Rockey, Ben Weber, Jeff McClain, Gary Click, Jason Stephens, and Ron Ferguson for Ohio House.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued a report on advanced transmission technologies (ATT) mandated by energy overhaul HB15 (Klopfenstein), and the House Energy Committee brought in presenters to discuss the report and those technologies at its hearing Wednesday. The report defines advanced transmission technologies as follows: "Software or hardware technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability or safety of an existing or new electric transmission system, including grid-enhancing technologies such as dynamic line rating, advanced power flow controllers, and topology optimization; advanced conductors; and other technologies designed to reduce transmission congestion, or increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or safety of an existing or new electric transmission system. At the hearing, Ohio's top grid experts for government, utilities and Big Data led House members in a technical discussion of the technologies driven by two overlapping conclusions. The PUCO and Google agreed transmission cables' first major upgrade since the early 1900s offers the quickest, cheapest and most reliable load expansion for the state's digital and manufacturing economy. Google, American Electric Power (AEP) and CTC Global -- an advanced cable producer and Google partner -- meanwhile, pointed in their own way to regulatory and industry gridlock slowing industry adoption of ATT.

Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) Maureen Willis alerted agency board members Tuesday about double-digit increases in electric transmission billing riders proposed by FirstEnergy and American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio. Willis said the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is currently reviewing Basic Transmission Cost Rider (BTCR) rates for both electric utilities.

The natural gas provider to JPMorgan Chase headquarters and affluent neighborhoods in north Central Ohio will more than double operating income and increase its rate of return (ROR) over 70 percent as part of a new rate hike approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). Unopposed by the Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC), Suburban Natural Gas's agreement with commission staff will quadruple two infrastructure billing riders on June 30 of this year and raise residential electric bills in southern Delaware County, adjacent Marion County and Henry, Lucas and Wood counties in Northwest Ohio an average of $4.73 per month.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Vice Chair Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) of the Senate Judiciary Committee announced the introduction Friday of "Hailey's Law" in memory of the Indiana teen abducted in January after an online gaming chat with a Columbus man and then sexually exploited and murdered in Ohio. The bill will mandate parental consent and stronger safety features for minors to participate on gaming platforms. Reynolds gathered with Hailey Buzbee's aggrieved father, Beau Buzbee, and President Dave Rife of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation (OSPF) in a Statehouse press conference to press the need for legislative action on Internet gaming controls.

Reps. Ashley Bryant Bailey (D-Cincinnati) and Anita Somani (D-Dublin) Tuesday unveiled the Ohio Menopause and Hormone Therapy Coverage Act, a bill they said would align the state's insurance standards with updated federal guidance and current clinical evidence regarding menopausal hormone therapy. "This legislation is about making sure that women across Ohio can access ... the care that their doctors recommend at a cost that they can actually afford and without unnecessary barriers standing in the way," said Bryant Bailey during a news conference focused on the new bill.

Despite changes in sub HB1 (King-Klopfenstein) accepted in November 2025 that decreased the distance from critical infrastructure that is considered protected property and expanded its exemptions to property divestment requirements to include lawful residents and green card holders, among other changes, opponents to HB1 told the House Public Safety Committee on Tuesday that the sub bill still targets people from certain countries without proof of risk, and it may hurt Ohio's economy and workforce by making the state seem unwelcoming. Proponents of HB1 on Tuesday told the committee that the bill's proximity restrictions are still needed to protect military bases and other critical infrastructure from foreign adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Wednesday’s House session included passage of HB730 (Stewart), the capital reappropriations bill, which was amended in committee to include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) administration funding for counties in response to federal program changes; HB646 (Click-Deeter), to create the Data Center Study Commission; HB92 (Johnson-McClain), regarding unpaid municipal utility bills; HB173 (D. Thomas), regarding utility submeterers; HB84 (Demetriou), regarding enforcement of age limits for obscene internet content; HB533 (K. Miller), regarding vehicular homicide and assault, HB432 (Brownlee-K. Miller), a road naming bill, HB125 (T. Hall-Creech), regarding school attendance; and HB464 (Richardson), regarding military  child care providers; and HB578 (Creech-Schmidt); and concurrence with Senate amendments HB229 (Deeter) regarding pharmacy benefit managers.

After Wednesday's House Session, Speaker Rep. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told reporters that it probably would be appropriate to have representatives of trade unions on the Data Center Study Commission established in HB646 (Click-Deeter), despite a floor amendment from Rep. Erika White (D-Toledo) to do just that being tabled during the session. "You know, the issue here was, we take something all the way through committee, we have lots of hearings. We do all of those things," Huffman said. "And the other part to this is, if the other side had known about this or thought about this even yesterday, we could have brought it up in caucus and said, 'Sure, let's do that.' But instead, we found this out this morning. And I like to dissuade people from surprises on the floor, whether it's our members, which sometimes that happens, or the other side."

Speaking with reporters Wednesday following the House Rules and Reference Committee, House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said a veto override on data center sales tax exemptions wouldn't be likely until May or June. Huffman discussed the challenge of identifying whether there will be 60 members willing to vote for an override on a specific day, as some don't want to reveal that and others will be influenced by data center owners or the construction workers who build them. House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) said his caucus had not discussed the override yet because the vote wasn’t imminent.

Rep. Nick Santucci (R-Niles) this week announced the formation of a new Ohio Italian Caucus, which he described as a group of government and elected officials dedicated to strengthening economic, cultural, and trade relationships between the state of Ohio and the Italian Republic. Santucci said that the caucus will be open to government and elected officials committed to strengthening Ohio-Italy partnerships that support jobs, business growth, and international exchange.

In other legislative action, House General Government Committee approved HB396 (Willis), to expand the Address Confidentiality Program; House Government Oversight Committee reported out HB176 (Fischer-Lorenz), to create a universal regulatory sandbox program; House Insurance Committee reported out HB220 (Workman), regarding prior authorization; House Public Safety Committee reported out HB217 (Cockley-Ritter), regarding missing persons; House Technology and Innovation Committee reported out HB413 (Young-Peterson), to create a local government expenditure database; House Transportation Committee reported out SB212 (Timken), a license plate bill; House Judiciary Committee reported out HB203 (T. Hall-Williams), regarding school zone violation penalties; HB252 (Click-Bird), regarding burglary and trespass; HB372 (Abrams-Plummer), regarding penalties for assault on first responders and military service members.

GOVERNOR

Gov. Mike DeWine Tuesday signed SB63 (Gavarone-DeMora), which bans the use of ranked choice voting in Ohio, thus joining 18 other states that have also banned the practice.

HANNAH NEWS RACES TO WATCH

Two Republicans with a business background will face each other in the Senate District 7 primary to replace term-limited Sen. Steve Wilson (R-Maineville). A partial study in opposites, Zac Haines has taken DPA Buying Group of Cincinnati from its "humble origins" as a family business to a $2 billion concern, while Kim Lukens supported the "beginnings" of Assured Neace Lukens Insurance Agency before launching a counseling office and managing a grass-fed beef herd.

Four Democrats are in the running for the 20th House District being vacated by Rep. Terrence Upchurch (D-Cleveland), who is term limited. The district is a part of the Cleveland area in Cuyahoga County and leans heavily Democratic with a Democratic political index of 88 percent and a Republican political index of 11 percent according to 2022 demographic data compiled by Dave's Redistricting App. Former Rep. Eugene Miller, R-Cap Security owner Charlotte Perkins, union organizer Mike Seals and former Councilwoman Lauren Welch are all on the ballot for the Democratic nomination for this seat.

Three Republican candidates are running in the primary for the 86th House District seat being vacated by Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) who is term limited. Attorney Ben Weber, previous 86th House District Republican primary candidate Wezlynn Davis and Marysville Councilman Steven Wolfe are all on the ballot for the Republican nomination for this seat.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

After weekend windstorms left many Ohioans without power for hours or days, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) issued a reminder about options for those on food assistance whose groceries went bad amid power loss. Households that lost food purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because of a power outage lasting at least four hours can apply to their county job and family services office within 10 days for replacement benefits to cover the cost of lost food, not to exceed their normal monthly allotment. Affected households must fill out JFS Form 07222, found HERE, and submit it to their county agency.

Americans pay more per capita for health care than any other country on the planet, and yet their health outcomes are normally no better and often worse. "We're not getting a good bang for our buck," according to health care entrepreneur, author and Cleveland native Halle Tecco, who spoke to the Cleveland City Club.

HIGHER EDUCATION

The University of Toledo (UToledo) announced earlier this week it had finalized a "teach-out" agreement with soon-to-close Lourdes University, making it the primary institutional partner taking on Lourdes students whose programs align with offerings at UToledo. Lourdes University announced last month it would be closing at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, citing that its primary funding source could "no longer continue to subsidize the university at the level required to sustain its operations."

MARIJUANA/HEMP

Saying they had failed to "overcome a truncated time period to give voters the chance to say no to government overreach," Ohioans for Cannabis Choice announced Wednesday it was ending the effort to place a referendum on marijuana omnibus SB56 (Huffman) on a statewide ballot. The organization had faced a Thursday, March 19 deadline to file 248,092 valid signatures. Meanwhile, hemp businesses filed a new lawsuit against enforcement of SB56 Wednesday. The lawsuit alleges SB56 is invalid because it violates the interstate commerce protections in the U.S. Constitution, and also argues that Gov. Mike DeWine's line-item vetoes of legislative provisions were improper. Plaintiffs in the case are businesses involved in creating or distributing hemp-infused products, including beverages, both in and outside of Ohio.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

The Ohio Adjutant General's Department announced Saturday three members of the Ohio Air National Guard's 121st Air Refueling Wing were among the six personnel who died in the March 12 crash of a KC-135 Stratotanker in Western Iraq. Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff on all public buildings and grounds until sunset on the day of their funerals. Capt. Seth Koval, 38, was an aircraft commander and instructor pilot with 19 years of service who lived in Stoutsville. He started his service as a machinist in the Indiana National Guard before transferring to the Ohio National Guard and completing pilot training. Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, was a KC-135R pilot with 10 years of service who earned his commission in 2021 and lived in Columbus. Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, was a boom operator with eight years of service who became an inflight refueling specialist in 2022 and lived in Columbus. All three were members of the 121st Wing's 166th Air Refueling Squadron. The other three on board the KC-135 were Maj. John Klinner, Capt. Ariana Savino, and Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, members of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron located in Alabama.

PENSIONS

Leaders of the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) and trustees of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) debated lawmakers' school funding decisions and discussed threats to the continuation of defined-benefit (DB) pension plans during the system's annual investment seminar. Rep. Adam Bird (R-Cincinnati) and Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario), respectively chair and vice chair of ORSC, were invited to present mid-day at the seminar and discuss the importance of defined-benefit pensions. STRS Chief Investment Officer Aaron DiCenzo tried - in vain, it would turn out - to set some parameters for the discussion upon his introduction of Bird and Romanchuk. "I know there's a lot going on in the news. This is not intended to be a legislative discussion. This is intended to be a discussion about STRS, the other systems and the benefits our plans provide to our members," he said.

Trustees of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) discussed Wednesday keeping a neutral stance on legislation to unwind recent state law changes to their roles in pension governance, as a means of keeping the door open for enacting other reforms. The STRS Board's Legislative Committee reached informal agreement to support the recommendation of system lobbyists to adopt an interested party stance on HB719 (Hoops), which would repeal board composition changes included in HB96 (Stewart) but not yet in effect because of continuing litigation.

The State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) Board of Trustees elected a new chair Thursday to replace the former leader ousted in fiduciary breach litigation, adopted a framework for how they will balance benefit improvements and long-term funding sustainability, and granted retirees a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for the coming fiscal year. The board unanimously voted to name Akron teacher Michael Harkness, an elected member of the board, as the next chair. He succeeds Rudy Fichtenbaum, who was removed by a judge in litigation brought by Attorney General Dave Yost.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Ahead of St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday, March 17, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reminded drivers that luck is not a strategy when it comes to being safe behind the wheel. Troopers were to be visible on roadways across the state in an effort to remove impaired drivers as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's "Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving" campaign. Ohio Liquor (OHLQ) also encouraged responsible celebrations by helping remove barriers to safe transportation. Through its "Proof Positive Rideshare Program, OHLQ offered $15 Lyft vouchers to Ohio residents 21 and older, while supplies lasted, to support planning ahead during the holiday.

As part of "Severe Weather Awareness Week," which began on Sunday in Ohio and follows days of high winds, the Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Manufactured Homes Program (MHP) issued a reminder to Ohioans, especially those living in manufactured homes, to be prepared for any severe weather.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Division of EMS has announced the release of its FY26-27 EMS Priority One and Supplemental Grant Applications on the EMS Grants Management System for online submission. Ohio EMS says FY26-27 EMS Priority 2-5 Research and request for proposal (RFP) grants also are available. The EMS Grants Management System can be accessed HERE.

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Ohio Department of Development (DOD) announced Thursday registration has opened for the 2026 "Ohio Business Matchmaker" event, which gives small businesses around the state the opportunity to meet with government agencies and prime contractors. The event will be held Wednesday, April 22 and Thursday, April 23 at the Wright State University campus in Dayton.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

The Alliance of the Great Lakes (AGL) released a regional playbook outlining how communities can manage the effects of data center development on the Great Lakes. Compiling ideas, data and practical tools that draw from existing guidance documents and best practices developed by state advocates, organizations and communities across the region, the playbook provides information on how data centers affect water, energy, land use, community health and local economies, AGL said. The guide was released for residents, grassroots organizations and local leaders "seeking clear, accessible information," according to AGL.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

The Ohio Controlling Board Monday approved funds for the construction of the new Brent Spence Companion Bridge over the Ohio River along with bridge approach work in Ohio and Kentucky. Pam Boratyn, director of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), told the board ODOT's request for nearly $3 billion for the Brent Spence Bridge project would finalize the design phase and allow construction to begin.

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