FY27-28 Capital Budget  

Gov. Mike DeWine, Senate Finance Chairman Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) and House Finance Chairman Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) confirmed this week that the biennial capital budget process is officially underway. Administrative agencies are working to prepare their requests for the legislature – including the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, which allocates state funding for public school district facilities projects. In addition to funding projects for state agencies, the legislature can advance bond-eligible projects the public desires in their communities. The House and Senate have agreed on a March 12 deadline to accept capital budget applications from their legislative districts. Both chambers have expressed their intent to pass the capital budget before June. 

If your community has a capital budget project you are considering submitting to your Representative or Senator, application guidance is available here and the submission form here. It is best practice to schedule a meeting with your elected official to discuss a potential capital budget proposal before submitting. Use the House of Representatives directory here and the Senate directory here to contact their office. 

Senate activity  

The chamber adopted House Continuing Resolution (HCR) 22 from Reps. Bill Roemer (R–Richfield) and Jack K. Daniels (R-New Franklin) with a vote of 32-0. This resolution encourages students in grades one through twelve to read the U.S. Declaration of Independence in the classroom during the 2025-2026 school year in celebration of its 250th anniversary.  

Senate Education Committee  

The committee heard sponsor testimony on a series of bills, including: 

  • Senate Bill (SB) 310, by Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which would require public schools to include fetal development information in any instruction that addresses human growth, development or sexuality. 
  • SB 326, by Sens. Cirino and Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati), which would require school districts to offer, and students to complete, at least one high school computer science course. 
  • SB 318, by Sen. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield), which would authorize a law enforcement agency to provide school resource officer services to a chartered nonpublic school. 
  • SB 311, by Sen. Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), this omnibus bill would make changes to the law regarding the operation of public and chartered nonpublic schools. 
  • SB 328, by Sen. Kyle Koehler (R-Springfield), which would create the Education and Workforce Return on Investment Initiative, a middle school career exploration course requirement with student academic and career plans. Sponsor testimony was followed by a presentation from the Great Springfield Partnership on their workforce development programs with local school districts.  

Senate General Government Committee  

The committee held its first hearing on Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 7  with Sen. Louis W. Blessing III (R-Colerain Twp.) offering sponsor testimony. This resolution proposes amending the Constitution of the State of Ohio to authorize land value taxes. 

Senate Finance Committee  

The committee held a first hearing on SB 13, sponsored by Sen. Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester). This bill would establish the Foster-to-College Scholarship Program, require the Department of Education and Workforce to hire a full-time school foster care liaison and make an appropriation for the program. 

The committee held a second hearing on SB 120, sponsored by Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo), which would establish the Urban Farmer Youth Initiative Pilot Program. This would codify certain property tax requirements for agricultural land and make an appropriation. 

Senate Health Committee  

The committee held the first hearing on  SB 320  and heard sponsor testimony from Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson). This bill would enter Ohio into the Athletic Trainer Compact. The committee accepted an amendment to the bill that would decrease the amount of time to fill a vacancy from 90 days to 60 days and change the reference of those serving on the compact from delegate to commissioner.  

House Ways and Means Committee  

The committee held a first hearing on House Bill (HB) 420 with Reps. Gary Click (R-Vickery) and Bernie Willis (R-Springfield) providing sponsor testimony. This bill would disallow and eliminate continuing levies by 2030. This is the first of three bills in the “Taxpayers Freedom Trilogy,” named “Act One: Discontinuing the Continuum.” 

Senate Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee  

The committee heard sponsor testimony on HB 3 sponsored by Reps. Willis and Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati). The “School Bus Safety Act” would create a School Bus Safety Grant Fund at ODEW to assist districts with the cost of installing safety features on new and existing school buses and increase the penalties for illegally passing a school bus.  

Recently introduced legislation  

  • HB 690 – Sponsored by Reps. Tom Young (R-Washington Twp.) and Andrea White (R-Kettering), this bill would establish penalties for failing to obey a school crossing guard and other associated offenses. 
  • HB 693 – Sponsored by Reps. Click and Josh Williams (R- Maddison Twp.), this bill would enact the Affirming Families First Act and protect the right to affirm a minor child's sex. 
  • HB 697 – Sponsored by Rep. Mark Hiner (R-Howard), this bill makes changes to broadcasts of middle and high school post-season interscholastic athletic contests. 
  • SB 356 – Sponsored by Sen. Koehler, this bill would temporarily increase the amount of homestead exemptions and declare an emergency. 
  • Senate Continuing Resolution (SCR) 16 – Sponsored by Sen. Brenner, this resolution would urge Congress to dismantle the United States Department of Education. 

Rules activity  

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has the following rules open for public comment:  

  • Chapter 3301-8: Payment of Debt Service Charges  
    • OAC 3301-8-01: Payment of debt charges under the state credit enhancement program  
  • Chapter 3301-19: School District Expenditure Flow Reports 
    • OAC 3301-19-01: Definitions 
    • OAC 3301-19-02: Purpose 
    • OAC 3301-19-03: Procedures for submitting data and presenting information 
  • Chapter 3301-44: Adult Diploma Pilot Program  
    • House Bill 96 enacted by the 136th General Assembly eliminated the existing Adult Diploma Pilot Program and created a new program, the Competency-Based Educational Program. The proposed rules below, in OAC Chapter 3301-44, support this program.  
      • OAC 3301-44-01: Purpose 
      • OAC 3301-44-02: Definitions  
      • OAC 3301-44-03: Provider application 
      • OAC 3301-44-04: Provider requirements 
      • OAC 3301-44-05: Enrollment 
      • OAC 3301-44-06: Requirements to earn a high school diploma 
      • OAC 3301-44-07: Provider funding 
      • OAC 3301-44-08: Contracting educational services 
      • OAC 3301-44-09: Standards for competency-based education 
  • Chapter 3301-45: Adult High School Diplomas  
    • The Department recommends rescinding this Chapter. House Bill 96, enacted by the 136th General Assembly, eliminated the Twenty-Two Plus Adult Diploma Program, which was supported by OAC Chapter 3301-45. 
  • Chapter 3301-51: Education of Students with Special Needs 
    • OAC 3301-51-11: Preschool children eligible for special education 
  • Chapter 3301-92: Distribution of State Aid  
    • OAC 3301-92-02: Capital improvement and maintenance fund  
    • OAC 3301-92-04: Reporting five-year projections  
    • OAC 3301-92-05: Certification of adequate revenue  
  • Chapter 3301-3: Data Acquisition Sites  
    • OAC 3301-3-01: Scope and definitions 
    • OAC 3301-3-02: Qualifications for information technology centers and user entities 
    • OAC 3301-3-03: Information technology center permit eligibility and application 
    • OAC 3301-3-04: Information technology center permit validity and revocation 
    • OAC 3301-3-05: Responsibilities of the department 
    • OAC 3301-3-06: Responsibilities of an information technology center and a user entity  
    • OAC 3301-3-07: Performance standards 

Click here to view the ODEW rules open for public comment. 

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth has the following rule packages open for public comment:  

  • Supporting America’s Children and Families Act Changes to Bridges rule 5180:5-50-01 
  • FYR and Renumber of OAC Rule 5180:2-38-08 Child’s Education and Health Information 
  • Five-Year Rule Review and Renumbering of Chapter 9 Residential Facility Rules 

Click here to view the DCY rules open for public comment. 

The State Board of Education does not have 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. 

Posted by Malania Birney on 2/13/2026