Week in Review November 3, 2025

PDF/Printer-Friendly Version

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

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

AGING

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced Friday that Social Security benefits, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 75 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2026.

AGRICULTURE

Small farmers, specialty food and beverage makers, and corn maze empresarios from around the state joined Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODAg) Director Brian Baldridge in Columbus this week to declare agri-tourism the perfect crossroad of city and country life, of hard work and fun -- a back-to-business, back-to-basics experience that distills why people love Ohio. Baldridge, a seventh-generation farmer and former state legislator picked by Gov. Mike DeWine to head ODAg in early 2023, told the House Arts, Athletics and Tourism Committee that agri-tourism is a fast-growing part of Ohio's $124 billion annual agricultural industry and offers existing farmers and entrepreneurs compelling ways to diversify or replace their income. Two local producers, Maize Valley Winery & Craft Brewery in Hartville and Hocking Hills Winery in Logan, told members viticulture is a going concern in the Buckeye State.

ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Nearly half of Americans support the NFL's selection of artist Bad Bunny for the Super Bowl halftime show in February 2026, according to a poll released Monday by Quinnipiac University. The selection has drawn political controversy, as Bad Bunny -- born Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico -- has criticized the Trump administration on immigration and President Donald Trump called the selection "absolutely ridiculous," saying he'd never heard of the artist.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Attorney General Dave Yost and 32 other attorneys general Thursday announced a $1 million multistate settlement with an online fashion retailer that deceptively marketed its VIP Membership Program and made it difficult for consumers to cancel memberships. The settlement alleges that Louisiana-based TFG Holding - whose brands include JustFab, ShoeDazzle and FabKids - violated consumer protection laws.

FY26-27 BUDGET

The Senate Finance Committee turned HB434 (Willis-Lampton) into a biennial budget corrections bill Tuesday before sending it on to the full Senate. Two dozen changes include tens of millions of dollars to help the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services try to get the state’s payment error rate down for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to avoid new federal cost sharing requirements.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Results released recently show that an innovative approach in Ohio for foster care for children with complex trauma and challenging behaviors is showing significant returns by keeping such children in family settings rather than in institutional placements. In his 2024 "State of the State" address, Gov. Mike DeWine announced the Treatment Foster Home Pilot Program to provide support for families fostering children with complex behavioral needs in a home environment, including specialized training, 24/7 on-call casework and crisis counseling. The resulting Northwest Treatment Foster Care Collaborative included public children service agencies (PCSAs) and the departments of job and family services (JFS) in Sandusky, Seneca, Ottawa, Wood and Wyandot counties.

The House Workforce and Higher Education Committee heard from Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Deputy Director of External Affairs Joel Potts Tuesday regarding the challenges facing Ohio's foster youth as the committee has been considering HB25 (Jarrells), proposing a Foster-to-College Scholarship Program. Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Steve Dackin had spoken to the group a week earlier about foster youth issues. "What do we have to do to be able to guide these young people through this process so they do not feel like they're a number in a bunch of numbers, in a bunch of agencies, where navigating through it - it's overwhelming to me," said Rep. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.), the committee chair. "I can't even imagine being that vulnerable and not having a place to sleep, not knowing who to call."

DISASTERS

With Hurricane Melissa devastating Caribbean nations, the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Financial Institutions reminded Ohioans who may donate to hurricane relief to give wisely, as natural disasters often create opportunities for fraudulent actors to exploit donor goodwill through fake charities and relief campaigns.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/URBAN REVITALIZATION

Gov. Mike DeWine's administration announced Monday the approval of assistance for 12 projects expected to create 1,126 new jobs and retain 2,686 jobs statewide. During its monthly meeting, the Ohio Tax Credit Authority (TCA) reviewed economic development proposals brought by JobsOhio and its regional partners. The projects are expected to collectively result in more than $73 million in new payroll and spur more than $2 billion in investments across Ohio.

EDUCATION

Ohio schools can now sign up for the next Team Tressel Fitness Challenge that begins Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel announced Monday. Schools will be able to sign up for the challenge until Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Tressel also announced the program will be available for students in grades 3-8, having added another grade level since the fall challenge, and incorporates feedback from school participants.

Ohio school leaders can now apply for a share of $9.01 million in grants for safety-related projects for the 2026-27 academic year, Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday. Part of budget bill HB96 (Stewart) funds can be used for a wide range of school-safety needs.

Representatives of several groups spoke to the House Education Committee on Tuesday about their work with the sponsor of HB455 (G. Manning) on the amendment and repeal of several sections of the Ohio Revised Code concerning the operation of public schools and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW).

Although several states other than Ohio have passed legislation to include it in school curricula, the "Meet Baby Olivia" video isn't without controversy, as the three-minute video is billed as scientifically accurate by its proponents and negatively by other groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, who describe the video as anti-abortion information "designed to manipulate the emotions of viewers." The House Education Committee heard invited proponent testimony on HB485 (M. Miller), which LSC says requires each public school to provide human growth and development instruction in its curriculum for grades 3-12, including a high-definition ultrasound video and the "Meet Baby Olivia" video.

Tuesday's meeting of the Senate Education Committee started with a presentation by Future Ready Five, an organization in Central Ohio that promotes early childhood development. Mario Basora, CEO of the organization, said it works with child care and preschool centers to institute period assessments of young students in an attempt to improve kindergarten readiness. Basora said the effort resulted in a 65 percent increase in literacy scores from fall to spring.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) student transportation workgroup met Thursday and discussed student transportation priorities as well as shared concern regarding present challenges facing the current transportation system. The objectives of the meeting were to review the current transportation system used by Ohio school districts and to recommend how to improve the system. Several attendees expressed optimism about the opportunity to deliberate solutions.

ELECTIONS

Secretary of State Frank LaRose Tuesday said his office has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute 1,200 potential cases of noncitizen registration in Ohio. In a letter to the department's Criminal Division, LaRose wrote, "I have made numerous criminal referrals throughout my administration, with much of the evidence related to unlawful registration and voting activity. These cases have encountered varying degrees of adjudication from Ohio's 88 county prosecutors. ... We now have an executive administration at the White House and the Department of Justice that has expressed an interest in actively reviewing and potentially prosecuting evidence of federal election crimes. Therefore, I formally refer for your consideration the materials we have gathered and submitted to local and state prosecutors, and I have included with this letter documentation and evidentiary materials regarding each of the alleged offenses."

Secretary of State Frank LaRose Tuesday testified in support of an elections bill that would codify his office's citizen verification process and outline the reconciliation process for mismatched voter registration records, saying he believes the changes in the bill can be implemented according to the terms and timelines prescribed in the bill. Testifying in person before the Senate General Government Committee on SB153 (Gavarone-Brenner), LaRose focused his support on three changes in the bill, including the mismatched voter records process, the citizen verification process, and requiring that ballots be returned to boards of elections by Election Day.

ELECTIONS 2026

So far in the 2026 election cycle, only two candidates for the General Assembly have spent money on advertising, according to national ad tracking and analytics company AdImpact. Rep. Nick Santucci's (R-Niles) campaign fund has spent $4,041 on radio advertising in the Youngstown market for ads to run in the second half of this year, AdImpact finds. The largest spend is in the 86th House District, where Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) is term-limited. Republican Wezlynn Davis, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2024, has reserved close to $100,000 in the Columbus media market for television advertising in the two weeks leading up to the Tuesday, May 5, 2026 primary.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and Columbia Gas of Ohio are battling new claims that commissioners fall short of evidentiary standards for a legitimate adjudicatory body and use circular reasoning to declare industry requests in the "public interest." The Court heard oral arguments Wednesday In the Matter of the Application of Columbia Gas of Ohio Inc. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Ohio and the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) are challenging the commission's finding that a greater-than 60 percent increase in Columbia customers' "fixed" infrastructure charge over five years and loss of $165 million in demand side management (DSM) credits nevertheless "benefit[] ratepayers and the public interest."

Speaking at the Ohio Business Roundtable's CEO Summit in Lewis Center Wednesday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced JobsOhio is launching an "Energy Opportunity Initiative" to provide $100 million for economic development over the next five years. Grants and low-interest loans will assist qualifying companies with costs related to natural gas and nuclear power production in the state, according to JobsOhio.

“There's no reason to act urgently to bail out the submetering companies. This is their dream bill." American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio's senior counsel and vice president of legal operations, Steve Nourse, told House members Wednesday they should not be in a rush to pass legislation placing new controls on energy resale to multi-family units, what with the submetering case argued in June "due to be decided any day" by the Ohio Supreme Court. The committee was considering HB173 (D. Thomas).

During this Halloween season and year-round, Ohio utility consumers can reduce their electric bills by "slaying vampire power," the standby electricity many devices use even when off, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) said in a release.

GAMING/GAMBLING

A leading critic of gambling expansion told the House Finance Committee on Tuesday that the proposal to allow charities to put their fundraising raffles online is no small matter, while regulators and problem gambling watchdogs said the legislation needs substantial changes and additional protections. The committee took testimony on HB476 (Craig-D. Thomas), which would specify that such raffles can operate online. Reps. Meredith Craig (R-Smithville) and David Thomas (R-Jefferson) introduced the measure after Attorney General Dave Yost's office sent cease-and-desist letters to a few volunteer fire departments attempting to raise money online via raffles. Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), chair of the committee, said at the hearing's outset he expected a lot of work on HB476 in the near future.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Reps. Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) offered joint sponsor testimony Tuesday before the House Technology and Innovation Committee on HB480, their bill making changes to the unclaimed funds law. Dovilla opened by calling the system "outdated and in need of modernization," saying it has over $4 billion in money and assets belonging to Ohioans but the complicated process currently makes it too discouraging for many to try to recover those funds.

Wednesday’s Senate session included passage of HB434 (Willis-Lampton), amended a day earlier to become a budget corrections bill; SB144 (Ingram), to revert to a three grade-band structure for teacher licensure; SB16 (Wilson), to expand “move over, slow down” requirements; HB23 (Roemer-Williams), which would create an escaped convict alert program; HB56 (Ray), a road naming bill; SB146 (Gavarone-Timken), to codify common law on piercing the corporate veil.

Wednesday’s House session included passage of HB132 (M. Miller-Craig), which would strengthen penalties for violating the “move over, slow down” law; HB258 (A. Mathews-Deeter), to allow Ohioans to provide contact information for reminders of their impending car registration expiration; HB148 (Ray-Grim), regarding a tax break to assist low-income Ohioans in spaying and neutering pets; HB268 (Humphrey-Click), regarding certificates of qualification for employment; HB384 (Moore), a road naming bill; SB152 (Brenner), regarding euthanasia at wild animal rehabilitation facilities; SB155 (Brenner-Ingraham), regarding real estate wholesalers; and concurred with Senate amendments to HB27 (Callender-Troy), a bridge and license plate bill.

Both chambers took part of their session Wednesday to recognize Wendy Zhan, who is retiring as director of the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) after a career of more than 30 years. The Senate also bid farewell to George Boas, deputy minority chief of staff, who’s also been there more than 30 years.

Legislation being offered by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Josh Williams (R-Toledo) would set uniform standards for how staff at hospitals and urgent care facilities treat potential domestic violence victims, by giving them an opportunity to say whether they feel safe in a one-on-one setting rather than with their abuser sitting in the room as well. Jarrells was joined by advocates and survivors of domestic violence -- including Breaunna Nooks, whose story inspired the effort -- in announcing the bill at a press conference Thursday. The "Break the Silence" Act comes at the end of October, which marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

In other legislative action, House Children and Human Services Committee reported out HB359 (C. Thomas-Gross), regarding statewide emergency alerts for missing children with disabilities; House Transportation Committee reported out SB148 (Cirino), a road naming bill; and HB251 (Willis), regarding use of unmanned aerial vehicles by law enforcement; Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee reported out HB10 (Klopfenstein-Daniels), regarding imitation meat and egg products; Senate Workforce Development reported out HB246 (Swearingen-Fischer), regarding the use of E-verify in hiring; House Agriculture Committee reported out HB433 (Klopfeinstein-Fowler), regarding amusement ride inspections and fees; House Development Committee reported out HB188 (Hall-Synenberg), to create the Ohio Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership; House Judiciary Committee reported out HB386 (Odioso-Abrams), requiring photo ID verification for marriage licenses; and HB195 (Isaacsoh-Mathews), regarding the Ohio Uniform Commercial Code; House Local Government Committee reported out HB137 (Lorenz), to allow taxing authorities to decline to submit a requested library or health district levy to voters; Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee reported out SB244 (Roegner-Timken), to designate Aug. 26 as “Abbey Gate Remembrance Day”; HCR20 (Dovilla-Santucci), to mark the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary; HCR21 (Schmidt), to mark the U.S. Marine Corps 250th anniversary; and HCR23 (Newman-T. Mathews), to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Chaplain Corps; Senate Judiciary Committee reported out HB184 (Stewart-T. Mathews), regarding college athlete contract limits; and SB224 (Gavarone), regarding telemarketing; Senate Transportation Committee reported out SB251 (Brenner), a road naming bill; and SB282 (Schaffer), a license plate bill; SB229 (Romanchuk), a license plate bill.

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

There is not much the state can do to help Ohio families at risk of losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits should the federal government shutdown continue past Saturday, Nov. 1 when federal funding would be suspended, Gov. Mike DeWine said, speaking with reporters following Groundwork Ohio's 2025 Momentum Institute Event last week.

A recent report by personal finance site WalletHub tracked which states are most and least affected by the federal government shutdown, placing Ohio 41st nationally -- or 11th-lowest -- and second-lowest among neighbor states. WalletHub included the District of Columbia with states, placing it first.

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) announced Tuesday that he had co-sponsored federal legislation to keep SNAP fully funded during the government shutdown, joining U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (ROH), eight other Republican senators and U.S. Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT). U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) sponsored the bill.

Legislative Democrats unsuccessfully sought Wednesday to use floor amendments in both the House and Senate to have state funding backfill the loss of federal funding for SNAP amid the government shutdown.

House Republicans are "very concerned" about what will happen to Ohioans who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if that is cut in November as anticipated due to the federal government shutdown, Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told reporters following the House Rules and Reference Committee hearing Wednesday. "This is a very basic thing -- the state of Ohio and other states can no more pay for this federal program than we can pay the salaries of the United States Marine Corps or air traffic controllers," Huffman went on. He added that will be true in 10 years if the Social Security system can no longer pay full benefits.

House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) told reporters before session Wednesday that a solution needs to be reached on the looming cuts to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to the federal government shutdown, saying it is "an emergency" that 1.4 million Ohioans including 580,000 children would go hungry as a result.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday that he and House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) and Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) have agreed on a plan to provide up to $25 million in food assistance in response to the pending loss of SNAP -- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -- benefits on Saturday, Nov. 1 due to the federal government's shutdown. Of that, $7 million will be sent to various foodbanks around the state while $18 million will be distributed to the 63,000 Ohio Works First (OWF) recipients through the Ohio Benefits system. DeWine pointed out that that total includes more than 57,000 children who are at or below 50 percent of the federal poverty level.

Former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Thursday criticized U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) during a roundtable on health care in Columbus as the federal government continues to be shut down and both sides of the aisle argue over Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and the expectation that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be unavailable starting this weekend. During the event, Brown heard stories from parents with disabled children with severe autism and genetic disorders who told him about the help they have received through Medicaid waivers. He also heard from a self-employed small business owner who said he expects to see his health care premiums double starting next month through the ACA exchanges, and the head of a nonprofit that helps patients obtain their medications.

GOVERNOR

Groundwork Ohio presented Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine with the "Belief in Every Child Award" at its 2025 Momentum Institute Event Thursday. The award was presented by Shannon Jones, former state legislator, former executive director of Groundwork and current Warren County commissioner, recognizing the DeWines' commitment "to the health, education and well-being of Ohio's youngest children and families."

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) submitted to the federal government Tuesday a request for permission to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollees from buying soft drinks with their benefits, per provisions of the recent state budget and an order from Gov. Mike DeWine. Accompanying the beverage restriction proposal was a request for a waiver that would allow SNAP enrollees to buy rotisserie chickens with their benefits, an outgrowth of the working group that DeWine convened to help craft the beverage restrictions. Lawmakers directed ODJFS to request a waiver barring the use of SNAP for sugar-sweetened beverages via language in HB96 (Stewart). DeWine issued a line-item veto excising definitional language related to that provision, arguing it created too much complexity, and appointed the workgroup to devise new definitions.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Space flight industry veteran John Horack is Ohio State University's new vice president at its Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge (ERIK). As of Oct. 1, he reports directly to Executive Vice President and Provost Ravi Ballamkonda on the university's strategic functions for research operations, innovation and partnerships, knowledge development/discovery, and OSU's Innovation District.

Shawnee State University (SSU) recently announced the appointment of Kimberly Inman as the university's next provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. Inman has been serving in an interim role since May 2024, according to a statement released by the university.

Wittenberg University recently announced Christian Brady as the university's 16th president. He was formally inaugurated in the historic Waver Chapel during a ceremony attended by various members of the academic community.

JUDICIAL

Bar exam scores are down slightly for the July administration of the test compared to 2024. Ohio State University students lead all other law schools in the state by a wide margin, and Franklin County has managed to edge Cuyahoga for the largest number of passing scores.

The Ohio Supreme Court Commission on Continuing Legal Education has sanctioned 87 attorneys for failing to comply with continuing legal education (CLE) requirements. Four of the 87 attorneys sanctioned were suspended from the practice of law. Two suspensions were due to serial noncompliance, while the other two stemmed from failure to complete New Lawyer Training requirements. The remaining 83 attorneys received monetary sanctions only.

MARIJUANA/HEMP

Gov. Mike DeWine's attempt to ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products is on ice at least through next month, following an extension of the temporary restraining order that initially blocked it. DeWine had issued an emergency order directing retailers to remove intoxicating hemp products as of mid-October, but Judge Carl Aveni of Franklin County Common Pleas Court blocked it, concluding DeWine was attempting to exercise legislative power conferred to the General Assembly. Aveni's order initially was in place for 14 days, but last week he delayed a hearing on whether to convert the restraining order into a preliminary injunction until Tuesday, Dec. 2. He therefore directed that the restraining order by extended "pending further order of the court."

The Senate unanimously voted Wednesday not to sign on to the House's proposal to update marijuana laws and address the spread of intoxicating hemp products, teeing up a conference committee to bridge differences. Sens. Shane Wilkin (R-Hillsboro) and Bill DeMora (D-Columbus) both urged their colleagues not to concur with House changes to SB56 (Huffman), objecting to, among other provisions, a "300-day grace period" for continued sales of intoxicating hemp products. The bill, which would take 90 days following passage to take effect, includes a 210-day period in which people cannot be prosecuted for hemp sales prohibited in the legislation, under certain criteria. The House the same day insisted on its amendments, another step toward formation of a conference committee.

PENSIONS

Lawyers for the state and for pension trustees traded accusations of subterfuge Monday as the trial began in Attorney General Dave Yost's bid to remove the board chair of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS). Yost filed a civil lawsuit in May 2024 asking for the removal of Rudy Fichtenbaum and Wade Steen from the board. Fichtenbaum was that same day elevated to chair by the board. Steen months later left the board because his term expired and Gov. Mike DeWine did not re-appoint him, having once tried to remove him mid-term only to see him restored by appellate judges.

The latest triennial report from its actuarial consultants shows the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund (OP&F) inside the statutory window for paying down unfunded liabilities - barely. OP&F is required to submit a plan to improve its financial footing to the Ohio Retirement Study Council if the triennial report from outside actuaries shows it needs more than 30 years to pay down its unfunded liabilities. The triennial valuation from Cavanaugh McDonald (CavMac) actuaries puts OP&F at 29.88 years as of the beginning of 2025. The system credits its recent annual investment performance of 11.13 percent, compared to the expected annual average return of 7.5 percent.

PUBLIC SAFETY

A well-designed costume or bright household decorations can light up the neighborhood during the Halloween season. But even as the weather outside cools down, fire safety is important to keep in mind, according to State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. The State Fire Marshal's office notes that Halloween decorations are involved in approximately 830 home structure fires annually, with nearly half of those due to decorations being placed too close to heat sources. In Ohio, dozens of home fires occur around Halloween each year, but those can often be prevented with simple precautions.

REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT

Ahead of Ohio Redistricting Commission meetings later in the week, legislative leaders expressed more optimism about the potential for a deal. "If decisions get made, typically of this magnitude -- much like budget decisions -- they get made in the last couple of days. I think that there are genuine discussions happening right now in an attempt to get it resolved. People are looking at what their options are, and I don't know that I'd say I'm optimistic, but I'm not dismissive of the possibility that there could be an agreement before the end of the month,” said House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima).

Before Friday's deadline for approving new congressional maps after which the redistricting process would revert to the full General Assembly, the Ohio Redistricting Commission unveiled new district maps late Thursday that may threaten Democrat-held seats in Cincinnati and Toledo. Compared to Ohio's current congressional map, the map proposal adds Henry, Paulding and Putnam counties in Northwest Ohio to the 9th District, currently held by U.S. Rep Marcy Kaptur (D-Toledo), while shifting Sandusky County from the 9th District to the 5th. The 1st District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Cincinnati), adds Clinton County and much of the western edge of Hamilton County. The 13th District, currently held by U.S. Rep Emilia Sykes (D-Akron), picks up a small portion of Portage County, but remains mostly encompassing Summit County and the portion of Stark County containing the city of Canton. The commission set a meeting for Friday morning to take up the map.

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) heard testimony from Sam Smith, the legislative liaison for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Lucas Denney, legislative liaison for the Ohio Department of Veteran Services (ODVS), on the 134-SB9 (McColley-Roegner) mandatory regulation reductions by state agencies.

TAXATION

Following the passage last week of both bills by the House, the sponsors of property tax bills HB186 (Hoops-D. Thomas) and HB335 (D. Thomas) delivered testimony to the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday as the bills are taken up by the upper chamber. Rep. James Hoops (R-Napoleon) said the "culprit" for increased property taxes statewide over the past four years came down to a "perfect storm" comprised of home valuations and millage.

The Senate Local Government continued hearings Wednesday on property tax legislation sent over recently by the House, with the County Auditors' Association of Ohio (CAAO) urging approval of updates to the 20-mill funding floor for schools and clarification of the power of county budget commissions to adjust levy rates. Matt Nolan, Warren County auditor and president of CAAO, was among proponents asking for passage for HB129 (D. Thomas), which would require that certain levies begin to count toward schools' 20-mill floor, and HB309 (D. Thomas), specifying powers of the county budget commissions.

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

Artificial intelligence (AI) expert Tiffany Hsieh discussed the topic in a City Club of Cleveland forum Friday, focusing on how it will affect future society and employment practices. Hsieh is director of the Center for AI and the Future of Work at the nonprofit Jobs for the Future (JFF). The forum was moderated by Janine Kaiser, advisor and principal at Compass Policy Strategies.

VETERANS

Members of the public are invited to celebrate the state of Ohio's celebration of National Veterans and Military Families Month in November with a series of events to honor those in the state who have served. The Induction Ceremony for the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Ohio State University Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) Board of Directors announced Friday that Administrator/CEO Stephanie McCloud has been named a Columbus Business First C-Suite CEO of the Year for 2025. McCloud, former chief of staff for Gov. Mike DeWine and former director of the Ohio Department of Health, received the honor for leadership of a government institution at Columbus Business First's award ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 2 in the state capital.

[Story originally published in The Hannah Report. Copyright 2025 Hannah News Service, Inc.]