Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio's fiscal year 2026-27 operating budget into law Monday night and held a press conference Tuesday morning discussing the details of all that's passed as a result, as well as all that's been vetoed.
The budget had some controversial provisions that had various lawmakers and organizations sounding alarms for various reasons.
Two of the most noteworthy of those include the allocation of $600 million in state funds towards the construction of the new Cleveland Browns stadium and a provision that would force libraries to segregate material dealing with topics like sexuality and gender identity so they would not be visible to guests under 18.
Of those two controversial issues, the library issue was vetoed with the governor saying there are already laws in place restricting minors from accessing obscene material and called the restrictions in the budget proposal "vague," a concern echoes by the Ohio Library Council (OLC).
However, the $600 million in funds from the Unclaimed Funds Trust for the Browns stadium was not vetoed.
When DeWine discussed this at the press conference, he said this was part of an effort to fund professional sports and arts and cultural facilities without tapping into the general fund. DeWine called this "a win for taxpayers."
"It will provide significant money for things that improve the quality of life in Ohio. This is a win for our cities that get this economic impact, and it's a win for the State of Ohio and the exposure we get every time we see one of our teams on national TV," DeWine said.
Former Ohio Attorney General and State Senator Marc Dann alongside former State Representative Jeffrey Crossman said they would file a lawsuit against the Ohio Department of Commerce and Ohio Treasurer Mark Sprague if this provision was to pass.
As for other things that passed and failed the budget, a proposal for a flat 2.75% state income tax passed, and an amendment aiming to prevent local and state governments from using eminent domain to acquire private property for recreational trail construction was vetoed.
DeWine also vetoed language regarding disqualifying sugary drinks from SNAP purchases. DeWine said while he does support this, the language in the budget would have brought an "extra layer of complexity" that would have delayed the approval of this matter.
Other notable vetoes include the proposed elimination of the continuous Medicaid enrollment of children under the age of four, a proposal for reimbusing local first responders for runs at South Bass Island State Park and a proposal to dredge three of Ohio's lakes.
Another veto is several provisions related to property tax in Ohio. On this topic, DeWine said these proposals were "thoughtful," but had concerns that imposing them all at once would create a "huge, huge problem."
"None of [these proposals] guaranteed what we would end up with," DeWine said.
DeWine added that he looks forward to working with lawmakers on reform to property tax in the State of Ohio while still funding Ohio's schools and other critical services.
Additionally, DeWine says this budget expands maternal health and infant mortality programs in Ohio by expanding Ohio's home visiting program services to an additional 12,000 babies.
DeWine adds that the budget will allow Ohio to assist families with adoption by offering Ohio Adoption Grant Program funds to families to help with adoption costs and provide incentives for those who adopt a child with developmental disabilities.
Additionally, DeWine says the budget will support child wellness centers with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth working with local communities to create new regional child wellness centers to create placement and treatment options for children involved with child protective services.
On the topic of education, DeWine says the budget will allow for more children to be enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program to encourage children to learn early literacy skills before kindergarten and also continues support for "Science of Reading" coaches for Ohio's schools.
DeWine went on to talk about children's eyesight programs saying the brand-new "OhioSEE" program will ensure more students receive comprehensive eye exams and receive glasses if they need them.
DeWine then addressed the issue of cell phones in schools stating that the budget finalizes the state's ban on cell phone use in schools.
DeWine also says this budget increases the number of school-based health care centers in Ohio's schools, creates new grant opportunities for school bus safety, exapnds support for students' mental health and provides $5,000 scholarships to every student in the top 5% of their graduating class.
Additionally, all students in the top 5% will be guaranteed admission to the main campus of any college or university in Ohio under the new budget.
The budget will also establish regional tech prep centers in all Ohio regions to work with local school districts to expand career tech education and increase mentorship opportunities for students.
DeWine says the budget also supports the Ohio College Opportunity Grant Program (OCOG) by investing in students with the highest levels of financial need, supports students attending community colleges and pursuing STEM degress and supports Ohio's TechCred Program to help Ohioans keep up with the rapidly-changing tech-infused economy.
Additionally, DeWine says the budget will help Miami University and Cleveland Clinic make significant progress with Cleveland Clinic's quantum computing program.
"This partnership will train the next generation of talented students and future members of the workforce with expertise in using advanced computers to solve complex problems much much faster," DeWine said.
Moving on to the topic of economic development, DeWine talked about Ohio's Brownfield Remediation Program and how the budget will continue its efforts to clean up industrial, commercial and institutional brownfield sites to redevelop and revitalize neighborhoods and attract new economic opportunities to these areas.
DeWine then moved on to the topic of Ohio's veterinarian shortage and Ohio State University's veterinary program. DeWine says OSU proposed an expansion to the number of students admitted to the college each year and that all of those new students will be from Ohio.
This budget has made that proposal a reality.
Moving on from there, DeWine says the budget will help more Ohioans with Disabilities, as well as those being released from prison get into the workforce.
DeWine then talked about mental health in Ohio saying that this budget will help increase access to mental health services including an investment to Ohio's 988 suicide hotline ensuring that more people will be able to find the help they need.
Additionally, DeWine says the budget allows for the expansion of youth mobile response and crisis stabilizations services to all 88 counties.
"These services provide structured face-to-face behavioral health crisis intervention within 60 minutes after that call is placed no matter where you live in the State of Ohio for individuals under the age of 21. This is revolutionary," DeWine said.
Now on the topic of public safety, DeWine says the budget continues important funding for the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center to help law enforcement agencies fight back against dangerous drugs in their communities.
On the topic of driver's training, DeWine says this new budget changes current Ohio law requiring all Ohioans under the age of 21 to go to driving school before they can take their driver's test instead of 18.
"This not only protects young drivers, it also protects everyone on our streets and highways," DeWine said.
DeWine went on to say the budget expands the Ohio School Safety Center, which provides response training for the event of a threat or act of violence in a school.
The budget also improves Ohio's 911 centers by improving the technology dispatch centers use when taking calls allowing for a quicker response time, as well as many more options for callers to interact with dispatchers.
"Thanks to these upgrades, Ohioans will soon have modernized options to interact with 911 including via text message, Smart Watches and other wearable technology, home security systems and vehicle systems as well. Dispatchers will be able to use exact GPS to pinpoint the location of callers," DeWine said.
On the topic of natural resource protection, DeWine says the budget continues the H2Ohio program to protect Ohio's bodies of water. Additionally, DeWine says the budget continues to make Ohio's state parks absolutely free to enter.