State Rep. Justin Pizzulli | The Ohio House of Representatives
State Rep. Justin Pizzulli | The Ohio House of Representatives
State Representative Justin Pizzulli of Scioto County has endorsed the House's version of the State Operating Budget, known as Am. Sub. House Bill 96. This budget plan aims to invest in Ohio's future while being fiscally responsible. Pizzulli stated, “This forward-looking budget ensures a bright future for our state. By investing in workforce readiness, uplifting families and children, and providing tax relief, we are ensuring Ohio is the best place to work, live, raise a family, and open a business!”
The budget prohibits Medicaid funds from being allocated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, aiming to combat discrimination and indoctrination. It removes all tax increases proposed by the Governor, allocating $10 million each fiscal year for the Parenting and Pregnancy Program and establishing a $750 tax credit for donations to pregnancy resource centers.
Furthermore, the bill stipulates that libraries must keep materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity away from minors, recognizes only two sexes as a statewide policy, and codifies a "Return to Work" order for all state employees to resume in-person work.
In a notable move to provide property tax relief to Ohio residents, the bill targets schools with more than 30 percent of unspent cash at the end of the year. These funds, totaling over $4 billion, are to be distributed back to Ohioans. Pizzulli highlighted that district cash carryovers have significantly increased from $3.6 billion in 2012 to $10.5 billion in present times.
House Bill 96 also aims to revitalize local communities by increasing funding for Brownfield Remediation and improving the Welcome Home Ohio program. It addresses the state’s housing shortage and prioritizes workforce readiness and higher education, investing in scholarship programs like the Governor’s Merit Scholarship and Choose Ohio First Scholarship, while increasing the State Share of Instruction by 2%.
Additionally, the bill seeks to enhance Medicaid transparency by protecting taxpayer dollars and addressing fraud, waste, and abuse. It introduces new reporting requirements for the Ohio Department of Medicaid, which must be provided to the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee for review.
The bill will now proceed to the Ohio Senate for further evaluation.
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