Facts in a Flash

Senate activity  

The Senate unanimously passed House Bill (HB) 10, sponsored by Reps. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland) and Jack Daniels (R-New Franklin). HB 10 would require public school boards of education and ODEW to adopt policies prohibiting the purchase of “cultivated-protein food” products or food “misbranded as a meat or egg product”. The bill now goes back to the House for a concurrence vote.  …

ODEW Student Transportation Workgroup meets 

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) student transportation workgroup, created in House Bill (HB) 96, met for the first time this week. Members of the workgroup include:  

• Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur (R -Ashtabula) 
• Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) 
• Sen. Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati)  
• Sen. Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) 
• Josh…

Governor’s activity  

Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 57, sponsored by Reps. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) and Josh Williams (R- Sylvania Township), into law. HB 57 requires 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. HB 57 also includes expanded timeframes for students to attend release time for religious…

Senate Education Committee 

The committee voted to pass Senate Bill (SB) 156, sponsored by Senator Al Cutrona (R-Canfield). This bill would require school districts to provide “success sequence” instruction in at least one course required for high school graduation. 

The committee held its third hearing on SB 144 ,…

Governor’s activity  

Gov. Mike DeWine has announced the creation of the Ohio School Bus Safety Grant Program at the Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW). The grant program will provide $10 million in competitive grants to eligible applicants for the repair, replacement or addition of authorized school bus safety features to school buses in active service or for safety enhancements added to the purchase of…

Property Tax Reform Workgroup releases recommendations  

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine’s Property Tax Reform Workgroup released its recommendations for property tax reform. Recommendations of critical interest to education advocates include:   

• Refining the process and definition of county budget commissions to allow them to reduce levies deemed "unnecessary" (revenues beyond anticipated needs) or "excessive" (taxes materially exceeding service requirements). Reductions could occur five years after a levy is first approved,…

OEPI property tax report and webinar 

The Ohio Educational Policy Institute (OEPI) released a property tax policy analysis, Analysis of Residential Property Taxes in Ohio: A Balanced Approach to Reform, that illustrates how Ohio’s reliance on local control, along with economic factors and state tax policy changes, has led to a significant shift in the state-local funding partnership toward residential taxpayers. 

Key takeaways from this report include: …

Governor’s activity 

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the membership of the Property Tax Reform Working Group, formed in response to his House Bill (HB) 96 vetoes. The work group includes:  

• Co-Chairman Pat Tiberi, President and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable 
• Co Chairman Bill Seitz, former State Representative  
• Krista Bohn, Allen County Treasurer 
• Chris Galloway, Lake County Auditor …

House Bill (HB) 96 

District-by-district funding simulations of the state budget’s school funding formula for FY 2026-27 can be seen here. Simulations for joint vocational school districts can be seen here.  

The Ohio House will convene on Monday, July 21, at…

Governor DeWine signs state operating budget  

On Monday, Governor Mike DeWine signed the state’s next two-year budget, House Bill (HB) 96 into law. Before signing, the governor issued 67 line-item vetoes. View Gov. DeWine’s press conference on his decisions here and read his…