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.
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ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE
The Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee Wednesday heard from several witnesses who espoused the benefits of eTMS, or electroencephalogram transcranial magnetic stimulation. The treatment can be used for a wide range of neurological conditions and generates magnetic waves to stimulate targeted areas of the brain, according to eTMS Ohio. On Wednesday, lawmakers heard from Dr. Erik Won, president and chief medical officer of Wave Neuroscience. He asked lawmakers to consider expanding the Ohio eTMS program for the treatment of substance use disorders, specifically opioids.
AGING
The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) recently announced a new website for Ohioans to locate nearby adult day services for older adults who need an alternative to traditional long-term placement. This follows the unveiling of a website comparing nursing homes throughout the state a year ago which was just updated this week with the addition of information on assisted living facilities. The website, AdultDayOhio.org, was the result of a partnership between ODA and LeadingAge Ohio, which represents approximately 400 long-term and ancillary health care services in more than 150 Ohio towns and cities.
AGRICULTURE
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague announced Friday his office would be offering an enhanced Ag-LINK application window for commercial poultry farmers in counties affected by the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. Ag-LINK enables farmers, agribusinesses and co-ops to receive an interest rate reduction on new or existing operating loans, helping them finance upfront costs for feed, seed, fertilizer, fuel, equipment and other expenses.
The Controlling Board Monday approved nearly $2 million in special counsel contracts through the attorney general's office, and received an update from the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODAg) on efforts to contain avian influenza in the state. Todd Thatcher, legislative director for ODAg, spoke to the board on a request held by Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) that would increase spending on laboratory supplies used by its Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) by $60,000. Thatcher said the request doesn't deal with the outbreak of avian flu, but gave the board an update on efforts.
ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
The Schottenstein Center and the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) have announced a contract extension that will keep the state wrestling tournament at the arena through 2027. "There is no other place in Ohio that can do a better job hosting our wrestling state tournament," OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said in a news release. "Our wrestling state tournament is literally built into the Schottenstein Center. The size of the arena floor allows us to start with 10 mats and have a double-elimination format tournament. And there are enough seats for our growing wrestling community, which now includes the girls state tournament."
ATTORNEY GENERAL
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a Consumer Resource Fair scheduled for Monday, March 3 in recognition of National Consumer Protection Week. "This free event will offer free resources on privacy protection, money management, identity theft prevention, scam avoidance and more," the AG said.
FY26-27 BUDGET
The Ohio Federal Research Network (OFRN) hosted a celebration of research efforts in the Statehouse Atrium this week, with OFRN Vice President for Advanced Development Mark Bartman telling the audience -- including members of the General Assembly -- they would be able to support additional projects based on their final budget allocation. Under the governor's proposal, OFRN would receive $5.1 million in both FY26 and FY27 as a line item in the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) budget. It previously received $4.95 million in FY22 and FY23, $5.1 million in FY24 and an estimated $5.25 million in FY25.
More than 80 percent of Ohio school districts would see the state's share of education costs decline under the introduced version of the biennial budget, according to a new analysis by economist and school funding expert Howard Fleeter. The Ohio Education Policy Institute (OEPI), a research nonprofit supported by school management and labor groups, released the analysis by Fleeter. The analysis relies on funding simulations for Ohio schools from the Legislative Service Commission, based on the executive version of HB96 (Stewart).
The transportation budget bill, HB54 (Stewart), passed the House Finance Committee and the full House unanimously this week after final changes were adopted in committee Tuesday. Changes included removing provisions that required proof of citizenship to be given to Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) deputy registrars before an Ohioan could be registered to vote by that registrar. Instead, the committee required the BMV to not offer the option to register to vote if anything in their system indicates the person is not a citizen. On Wednesday, by a vote of 97-0, the House unanimously passed the $11.4 billion transportation budget, sending it on to the Senate, which has already begun its hearings on the bill. House Finance Committee Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) told the chamber that HB54 includes $393 million in new highway construction and includes policy that most Ohioans agree on. He said passing the bill will bring millions of dollars in projects back to the districts of the members.
Members of the Medicaid expansion eligibility group aren't the only Ohioans who will be affected if the federal government cuts Medicaid funding, Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) Director Maureen Corcoran told the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) on Thursday. "Every topic we've touched on so far, mobile services and all the rest -- all of that is encompassed within the FMAP [federal medical assistance percentage] conversation. Literally our entire budget is really in that category," Corcoran told Sen. Beth Liston (D-Dublin), before clarifying that the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is funded differently.
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff appeared before the House Health Committee Thursday to give budget testimony, with his remarks and a lengthy series of questions running close to two hours. Vanderhoff said the department budget request is part of Gov. Mike DeWine's efforts to invest in the health and well-being of all Ohioans, and ODH's role involves "a public health system of unique partnerships and funding streams focused on continuously improving health outcomes."
The House Children and Human Services Committee meeting required an overflow room in the Statehouse on Thursday as a series of hearings taking testimony on HB96 (Stewart) culminated in dozens of witnesses submitting interested party testimony requesting more money for various areas of children's services following Gov. Mike DeWine's executive budget proposal. Nearly 100 witnesses provided nearly as many unique inputs and requests on the governor's budget, from an expansion of the Child Tax Credit requested by Groundwork Ohio to an increase in the funding made available for the Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program requested by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
CHILDREN/FAMILIES
Domestic violence costs the state of Ohio $1.2 billion according to a study commissioned by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN), a cost higher than ODVN anticipated. The research, which was conducted by Joseph C. Von Nessen, Ph.D., an economist at the University of South Carolina, reported the largest economic factors of domestic abuse on Ohio to be physical health care for victims at $264.8 million annually, loss of life at $239.9 million and loss of worker productivity at $227.7 million. The study also reported high costs inflicted by abusers in areas such as law enforcement and the judicial system and incarceration expenses.
CIVIL RIGHTS
On Thursday, Feb. 27 the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) recognized the winners of the OCRC 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Art, Essay and Multimedia Contest in a ceremony at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy Leadership Auditorium in Columbus. The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Art, Essay and Multimedia Contest is open to all Ohio students in grades 6-12. This year's contest theme asked students to submit work about how they have worked or will work to promote equality and justice in their own way. OCRC received hundreds of entries; 15 entries were chosen as winners.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION
The DeWine administration touted Monday what it says will be the largest single job-creation project in Defiance County history, a $984 million plan by First Quality Tissue Midwest to build a production facility there. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) met Monday to approve a 1.74 percent, 10-year tax credit for the project, slated to be built at an industrial site that received $14.6 million from the All Ohio Future Fund for infrastructure upgrades to make it project-ready. The project was one of 10 approved for tax credits Monday for a combined estimate of $74 million in new payroll.
Recently-confirmed Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel joined Gov. Mike DeWine in addressing the JobsOhio Board of Directors at their meeting Thursday, saying he's been on a "fun learning curve" since taking office. He also discussed how he worked with JobsOhio in his past role as Youngstown State University president, including hosting a board meeting there.
The DeWine administration announced Thursday that Ohio's fourth innovation hub will be in Youngstown and has a focus on additive manufacturing technology -- also known as 3-D printing -- that supports the national defense industry. The project will receive $26 million from the Ohio Innovation Hubs Program and a total of $36 million in local, federal and private investment. Additive manufacturing creates three-dimensional objects one layer at a time. The administration said it has revolutionized production of military equipment while limiting U.S. reliance on foreign manufacturing.
EDUCATION
A lawsuit challenging state requirements for Ohio schools to use literacy instruction methods aligned to the science of reading (SOR) will now go to trial in May. The litigation, filed by the Reading Recovery Council of North America, previously was supposed to go to trial earlier this month, but in late January it was rescheduled to 9 a.m. Monday, May 19 by Judge Karen Phipps of Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
Families and administrators urged the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday to extend state support for tuition at schools that do not hold a state charter. The committee took proponent testimony on SB68 (Romanchuk), which would establish educational savings accounts (ESAs) for students attending non-chartered private schools, with award amounts equal to 90 percent of the statewide average base cost per student. The legislation includes a $51 million appropriation to support the program in FY27. About two dozen people signed up to provide testimony to the committee.
Local school officials again emphasized their desire for lawmakers to update input costs underlying the K-12 formula Wednesday in a House Education Committee budget hearing, while also urging a comprehensive study of busing challenges and a boost to educational service centers (ESCs) to help schools share services and pool costs. The committee reconvened its Tuesday hearing on Wednesday morning to accommodate numerous witnesses who'd sign up to offer public testimony on the budget bill, HB96 (Stewart).
State and local school board candidates would be required to run in partisan primaries and appear on the general election ballot with a party designation under legislation proposed by Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware). "School districts across the state elect board members in non-partisan races. This may lead people to believe we are keeping politics out of the classroom. However, non-partisan elections do not mean the candidates running in these races are non-political. Instead, non-partisan elections can hide political beliefs from voters, leading to a mismatch between board members and the communities they are meant to represent," Brenner told the Senate General Government Committee during sponsor testimony on SB107.
All public high schools would need to offer at least one computer science course by the 2027-2028 school year, and their students would need to take one in order to earn a diploma starting with the class of 2032, under bicameral legislation set for introduction soon. Lawmakers of both parties and both chambers gathered with technology education advocates and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce for a press conference Wednesday to argue for the proposal's necessity.
Time matters, and the more time students spend learning, the better they'll do academically and socially, said Rep. Adam Bird (R-Cincinnati) on Thursday while introducing a House bill to increase the total required instructional hours per year in Ohio schools. Bird noted that he was a middle school principal during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and students have still not recovered from their regression during that era. Additionally, Bird said schools have inserted more three-day weekends and longer spring, fall and winter breaks into their school years.
ELECTIONS
In what was called a "novel case," the Ohio Elections Commission Thursday found Rep. Brian Stewart's (R-Ashville) campaign committed no violation for not properly reporting spending on behalf of his campaign during the 2020 cycle. Chris Hicks, a conservative activist, filed a complaint against Stewart, arguing Stewart's campaign did not report work former House Speaker Larry Householder ally Jeff Longstreth and others did on behalf of Stewart's campaign. Stewart's case revolved around the airing of a radio ad on his behalf in the 2020 Republican primary. Stewart testified Thursday that he had recorded a voiceover approving the message, but said it was done so that it was "in the can" and ready to go should the need to air it arose. However, he testified that he never knew the ad had actually aired, nor had he or anyone with his campaign, Friends of Brian Stewart, given final approval for the ad to run.
ELECTIONS 2026
Ohio needs a governor with "fresh legs" to lead the state toward a future where nobody pays income or property taxes, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy said while announcing his gubernatorial campaign on Monday. "Today, young people on the Internet, if they want to make fun of something for being a little old, or a little bit off -- it's sad, and it annoys me -- they say, 'Only in Ohio,'" Ramaswamy said, speaking to supporters during his event at CTL Aerospace Inc. in Cincinnati. "That wasn't always the case. ... We were the state of excellence. And we can be the state of excellence again." Ramaswamy, 39, grew up in Cincinnati before graduating with a biology degree from Harvard University and a law degree from Yale University. Ramaswamy is an author, biotech company founder and former Republican presidential candidate.
Shortly after entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy officially announced his gubernatorial campaign, he received the coveted endorsement of President Donald Trump. "I know him well, competed against him, and he is something special," Trump wrote on social media. "He will be a great governor of Ohio, will never let you down, and has my complete and total endorsement."
Former state Rep. Elliot Forhan announced Thursday that he is running for attorney general in 2026, becoming the first Democrat in the race. "The law is for everyone," said Forhan in his announcement. "It belongs to and protects all of us, and it should hold everyone accountable -- including the rich and powerful. But that's not what's happening right now in our state or across the country."
ENERGY/UTILITIES
The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) has approved a utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) for IT-rich New Albany scheduled for groundbreaking this spring and for full operations and PJM Interconnection in the second quarter of 2026. Just over two miles from Meta and Google data centers and Amazon's fulfilment campus, the 12-acre array of eight-foot-high lithium-ion batteries will produce 200 megawatts (MW) for American Electric Power's (AEP) Central Ohio transmission and distribution grid.
Rep. Thad Claggett (R-Newark) addressed the House Technology and Innovation Committee on his vision as chair during the committee's first meeting of the 136th General Assembly Tuesday. Claggett called for members to share what they know on technology areas and conduct research as needed, saying the bills they work on will have long-lasting effects for the state.
Local government officials and American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio gave opponent testimony on the current version of energy reform bill HB15 (Klopfenstein) in the House Energy Committee Wednesday, though Chair Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) and Vice Chair Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) said changes will be made in a substitute bill coming soon. Holmes said he wants the committee to move quickly and be aggressive but not reckless. He raised the possibility of a substitute bill during the Wednesday, March 5 hearing and requested members and the public provide potential amendments for inclusion to Klopfenstein's office by end of day Friday.
The House Energy Committee heard a presentation Wednesday by Ohio Business Roundtable (OBRT) Vice President of Government Relations and Communications Alexandra Denney on findings of OBRT's report on energy policy released earlier in February. She detailed recommendations from the report including implementation of permitting and siting reform; establishing a Governor's Office of Energy Resilience; creating Priority Investment Areas focused on past coal and brownfield sites; enhancing and clarifying frameworks for behind-the-meter generation; reducing regulatory lag; and promoting the deployment of grid-enhancing technologies at both utility and business levels.
ENVIRONMENT
The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) has approved nearly $10 million in bond financing to support two projects in Cincinnati intended to improve economic growth and air quality. The projects are expected to create or preserve more than 50 local jobs, with additional construction jobs as contracted, OAQDA said in a news release. The projects are also expected to generate more than 11,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually from rooftop solar systems. The sales tax benefits for both projects combined could reach nearly $300,000, according to OAQDA.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE
Rep. Thad Claggett (R-Newark) addressed the House Technology and Innovation Committee on his vision as chair during the committee's first meeting of the 136th General Assembly Tuesday. Claggett called for members to share what they know on technology areas and conduct research as needed, saying the bills they work on will have long-lasting effects for the state.
In addition to approving the transportation budget, the House’s Wednesday session included passage of HB43 (Fowler Arthur-D. Thomas), providing a waiver of the minimum instructional hours for Ashtabula Lakeside High School following heavy snow that caused a roof collapse.
In addition to approving marijuana bill SB56 (Huffman), the Senate’s Wednesday session included passage of SCR1 (Johnson), urging the federal government to designate illicit fentanyl as a “weapon of mass destruction”; SB17 (Reynolds-Craig), which designates March 9 as “6888th Central Postal Directory Battallion Day”; and SB20 (Antonio-Manning), which designates the first week of May as “Ohio Stroke Awareness Week.”
In other legislative action, House General Government Committee reported out HB13 (Pizzulli), recognizing Nov. 5 as “Roy Rogers Day”; Senate Workforce Development Committee reported out SB33 (Wilson-Lang), regarding posting of labor law notices; Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety reported out SB39 (Johnson-Craig), regarding posting of information on benefits and services for veterans.
GOVERNOR
Gov. Mike DeWine is continuing to pray for the people of Ukraine on the three-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the governor said in a proclamation on Monday. "Today, I issued this proclamation recognizing the third anniversary of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine," DeWine wrote on social media, sharing a copy of the document he signed.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Friday announced the state has had its first flu-associated pediatric death in the 2024-25 flu season, saying a teenager from Allen County had died. There are generally one to six flu-associated pediatric deaths per season, but the more than 9,000 flu hospitalizations so far this season are "well above" the five-year average, according to ODH.
JUDICIAL
State v. Morris commenced Ohio Supreme Court oral arguments recently as a precedent-setting question of whether Ohioans enjoy a greater right to counsel under the state versus U.S. Constitution -- the answer requiring a contemporaneous, plain-language analysis of the Ohio Constitution at ratification, according to Justice R. Patrick DeWine -- but evolving into more nuanced question of when and whether a defendant has waived the right; whether Ohio criminal rules apply; and whether anyone arguing before the Court had heard or understood Isaiah Morris' taped interrogation and references to counsel.
MARIJUANA/HEMP
The Senate on Wednesday passed legislation significantly altering the marijuana legalization law voters approved in November 2023. Senators voted 23-9 to pass SB56 (Huffman), with all Democrats opposing the bill. Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) said the "reasonable" and "appropriate" bill will help ensure cannabis is regulated more like alcohol. "I'm not sure why people voted for the initiated statute," Huffman said on the Senate floor. "But we do know that they should have known they were voting to put it into the Revised Code -- not the constitution, but the Ohio Revised Code -- with full knowledge that the General Assembly could change it at any time, in any way. That's what we're going to do today, and more than likely it will happen multiple times in the future."
MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM
The House Medicaid Committee continued Tuesday its series of presentations on the current landscape of federal Medicaid policy and recommended changes Ohio can make, hearing from Americans for Prosperity (AFP) and the Paragon Health Institute.
NATURAL RESOURCES
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry is encouraging Ohioans to follow the state's outdoor burning regulations and to take precautions when burning debris this spring. According to Ohio law, most outdoor burning is prohibited in unincorporated areas from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the months of March, April and May. "Each spring, wildfires ignite in Ohio due to careless trash and debris burning," ODNR Division of Forestry Chief Dan Balser said in a news release. "If Ohioans follow safe burning practices and obey regulations, they can help prevent wildfires."
Birdwatchers statewide are invited to help the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) conduct its yearly statewide count of active bald eagle nests to help the ODNR Division of Wildlife understand eagle population dynamics and monitor trends. Observers may report bald eagle nest locations HERE until Sunday, March 16.
PEOPLE
The funeral for former state Sen. Alan Zaleski was held Saturday, Feb. 22 at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 731 Exchange St., Vermilion. Zaleski, who died Saturday, Feb. 15 at the age of 82, had battled illness for several years.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson, and Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Supt. Col. Charles Jones announced Friday that enhanced aviation downlink technology is now available for use by local law enforcement statewide. The expanded technology allows OSHP's Aviation Unit to transmit live feeds of aerial video footage to command staff on the ground during active, evolving criminal investigations and emergencies. Previously available only to local law enforcement in the areas surrounding Columbus and Akron, nine strategically placed downlink receivers now make it possible to transmit aerial video from anywhere in the state.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
The House Public Insurance and Pensions Committee held the first hearings Wednesday for the Ohio Industrial Commission (OIC) budget, HB80 (Stewart), and Bureau of Workers’ Compensation budget, HB81 (Stewart).
[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2025 Hannah News Service, Inc.]
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