South Ohio News

State Representative Justin Pizzulli announced that the Ohio House of Representatives has approved the conference committee report for Am. Sub. House Bill 96, which is the State Operating Budget. This budget plan allocates funding for state programs and operations over the next two years without increasing taxes for Ohioans.

"This fiscally responsible budget ensures no tax increases, protects rural schools with fair school funding, and spurs economic opportunity in the greater Appalachian Region," said Pizzulli.

The budget prioritizes education by ensuring school districts are funded through the final phase of the Cupp-Patterson funding model. Ohio public schools will receive nearly $700 million more for public education over the biennium than they received in FY25.

House Bill 96 also invests in various state initiatives to improve living conditions and economic opportunities across Ohio. It increases funding for Brownfield Remediation, provides funds to address blight, continues investments in the All Ohio Future Fund, expands the Welcome Home Ohio program, and introduces initiatives to incentivize family home construction.

For families, there is increased funding for the Help Me Grow program supporting pregnant women and families with young children who have developmental delays or disabilities.

In terms of law enforcement and public safety, $65 million is allocated over two years for local law enforcement training. The MARCS program receives $21 million to better equip first responders, while $27 million goes to the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center. Additionally, $8 million is set aside for grants to small county volunteer fire departments.

The budget emphasizes workforce readiness by investing in higher education programs such as the Governor’s Merit Scholarship and Choose Ohio First Scholarship. It also increases State Share of Instruction by 1% each year to help reduce costs for students at state institutions.

Efforts are made to protect Medicaid participants by promoting transparency and eliminating fraud within the program.

The budget plan also reflects conservative values by establishing a statewide policy recognizing only two genders, excluding sugar-sweetened beverages from SNAP purchases, removing proposed tax increases and fee hikes, regulating library materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity for minors, eliminating some affirmative action requirements in state contracts, prohibiting menstrual products in men's bathrooms of state-owned buildings, restricting Medicaid funds from DEI programs use, providing funds for pregnancy support programs, regulating flag displays at state agencies, and limiting youth shelter funding based on gender transition policies.

House Bill 96 now awaits consideration by the Governor.