Ohio House Republicans Revamp State Budget: Key Amendments in H.B. 96
House Republicans put their stamp on Ohio’s operating budget (H.B. 96), passing the legislation, 60 to 39, after making substantial amendments to Governor DeWine’s budget proposal. Five Republican members joined the entire Democratic caucus in opposing the two-year spending plan.
Among the many changes were the elimination of proposed tax increases on tobacco and vapor products, adult-use recreational marijuana, and sports gaming, which would have funded various policy priorities of Governor DeWine.
The proposed increased sports gaming tax was slated to create a revenue fund for professional sports stadium upgrades, construction, and defray high school student activity fees. Governor DeWine put forward that idea as the mechanism to fund the Cleveland Browns’ new proposed stadium and mixed-use development in Brook Park. Instead, H.B. 96 now contains $600 million in state-backed bonds for constructing the new stadium.
Additional amendments include:
- Abolishing the Ohio Elections Commission and transferring the Commission’s duties to either the Ohio Secretary of State or county boards of elections.
- Exempts township zoning amendments for megaprojects from referendums.
- Exempts broadband service from regulation by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).
- Directing the DeWine administration to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that prohibits the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for purchasing sugar-sweetened beverages like soda.
- Declaring legislative intent to expand gambling opportunities before the end of 2025.
- A pay raise for county and township officials as well as judicial officeholders; transitions county coroners from elected officials to officials appointed by a board of county commissioners; and creates a Public Office Compensation Advisory Commission to study and recommend future pay increases for legislators and statewide executive officeholders.
- Retains the Governor’s proposed “trigger” ending Medicaid expansion should the federal government reduce the federal share of funding for the expansion population, but adds the ability for the Department of Medicaid to establish a temporary assessment to offset the cost of uncompensated care for hospitals and FQHCs.
- Transferred the $250 million appropriation for the All Ohio Future Fund to the Brownfield Remediation Fund.
The Ohio Senate, which already began holding hearings on H.B. 96, now ramps up its budget process. The Senate traditionally introduces its amendments to the budget in late May or early June. Governor DeWine must sign the final budget by midnight, June 30, 2025. For now, the General Assembly is on a planned two-week hiatus, returning on April 29, 2025.
The Legislative Service Commission’s “comp docs” are a useful tool for tracking differences between the various budget versions.
