Ty Moore was sworn into the chamber as the representative for House District 95, filling a vacancy left by former Rep. Don Jones (R-Freeport). Rep. Jones resigned from his legislative role following his appointment as executive director of the Ohio Farm Service Agency.
The committee heard invited testimony on House Bill (HB) 96, the FY2026-27 state operating budget, from Kim Murnieks, director, Ohio Office of Budget and Management (OBM) and Wendy Zahn, director, Ohio Legislative Service Commission (LSC). Presenting updated budget forecasts for the biennium, both agencies are now expecting about $29.6 billion in tax revenues in FY26 and $30.4 billion in FY27, with a difference of less than $10 million between their independent projections.
The committee held second hearings on a series of bills:
- HB 127 - Sponsored by Reps. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) and Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp.), this bill would permit schools to withhold directory information and exclude it from the public record definition. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill from Ryan McLane, superintendent, Big Walnut Local, as well as Dr. Paul Imhoff, BASA, Katie Johnson, OASBO and Malania Birney, OSBA.
- HB 57 - Sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Josh Williams (R- Sylvania Township), this bill would require any public or nonpublic school that elects to keep a supply of an overdose reversal drug for emergency use to adopt and implement a policy regarding the supply’s maintenance and the drug’s use. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
- HB 114 - Sponsored by Reps. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond) and Kevin Ritter (R-Marietta), this bill would alter the age requirements for kindergarten admission. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
The committee held its first formal hearing on HB 344, sponsored by Reps. Micheal D. Dovilla (R-Berea) and Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville). This bill would expand the locations and manner in which electronic instant bingo (ebingo) can be conducted and would authorize and establish regulations for retailer video lottery terminals (VLT). The bill would require 35% of retailer VLT proceeds to be deposited in the Lottery Profits Education Fund and would levy a tax on ebingo. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee
The committee held its second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 203, sponsored by Sen. Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster). This bill would require political subdivisions to adopt a cybersecurity program. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
House Technology and Innovation Committee
The committee held its second hearing on HB 283, sponsored by Reps. Adam Matthews (R-Lebanon) and Haraz N. Ghanbari (R-Perrysburg). This House companion bill to SB 203 would require political subdivisions to adopt a cybersecurity program. The committee heard proponent testimony on the bill.
House Transportation Committee
The committee held its second hearing on HB 310, sponsored by Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitt Hill). This bill would create the "Ironton Fighting Tigers" license plate. No witnesses were present to testify on the bill.
House Ways and Means Committee
The committee held a hearing on HB 335. Introduced by Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson), this bill creates the “Property Tax Relief Act Now” package with the aim of reforming Ohio’s property tax system. The package includes language from existing pieces of legislation -- HB 309, HB 129 and HB 186 – as well as two new proposals, one allowing counties to pursue "piggyback" homestead exemptions for property owners and another abolishing inside millage.
The committee accepted a substitute version of the bill, which:
- Replaces the “intent to remove inside millage” with definitive language doing so, including clarifying language for townships.
- Waives, until tax year 2027, the requirement that schools levy at least 20 mills in property and converted income taxes as a condition of receiving state foundation funding.
- Clarifies that, when calculating the local “piggyback” homestead credit, the school funding formula must treat any local option homestead exemption approved pursuant to the bill’s new authorization in the same manner as it treats the existing state homestead exemption. Generally, the formula considers a school district’s property tax revenue before any credits.
The committee heard invited testimony on the bill, including from Dr. Paul Imhoff, BASA, Katie Johnson, OASBO, and Nicole Piscitani, OSBA. Lawmakers also accepted written-only testimony from the public, including from:
- J. Scott Gooding II, interim treasurer/CFO, Big Walnut Local;
- Tiera Moore, board member, Kent City;
- Ryan Stechschulte, treasurer/CFO, and Chris Varwig, board member, Toledo Public;
- Melissa Swearingen, treasurer/CFO, and David Stewart, superintendent, Hilliard City;
- Terrah Stacy, treasurer/CFO, Springboro Community City.
Recently introduced bills
- HB 364 – Sponsored by Reps. Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) and Tom Young (R-Washington Township), this bill would require food service operations to denote certain allergens on their menus.
- HB 365 – Sponsored by Reps. Sean P. Brennan (D-Parma) and Derrick Hall (D-Akron), this “Property Tax Refund Act” would authorize a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or a portion of their rent exceed five per cent of their income.
- HB 369 – Sponsored by Rep. Sarah Fowler-Aurthur (R-Ashtabula) and Beth Lear (R-Galena), this bill would change diagnostic assessments for grades kindergarten through two to an end-of-year nationally norm-referenced diagnostic assessment and for grade three to a beginning-of-year nationally norm-referenced diagnostic assessment.
Rules activity
The Department of Education and Workforce and the State Board of Education do not have any rules open for public comment at this time.
Federal update
Please click here to read the most recent Federal Advocacy Report, which includes up-to-date information on federal education efforts.