Vacationland Times

State Representative Gary Click 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 and includes provisions aimed at protecting freedom, family, and fiscal responsibility.

Representative Click stated, "I am proud to vote for The People’s Budget. This budget delivers the people’s priorities including property tax relief, funding for public schools, expanding school choice, along with common sense policy to protect Ohio’s children."

The budget addresses rising property taxes by implementing a process where schools with more than 40% of their general budget in unspent cash must distribute funds back to taxpayers as property tax relief starting January 2026. The plan is expected to save Ohioans over $2.5 billion in property taxes.

The bill also introduces structural changes to promote transparency and update levy processes while enhancing checks and balances on local property tax rates. Additionally, it provides direct relief through a potential owner-occupancy tax credit and a permissive homestead exemption.

In terms of income tax reform, the new budget reduces the top tax bracket from 3.5% to 3.125% in 2025 and further down to 2.75% in 2026 onwards, aiming to make Ohio more competitive.

Education funding sees an increase with nearly $700 million more allocated over two years compared to FY25 under the Cupp-Patterson funding model.

House Bill 96 also focuses on revitalizing local communities by increasing investments in initiatives like Brownfield Remediation and housing construction incentives.

For families needing childcare assistance, a new Child Care Choice program will provide $100 million for eligible families.

The bill enhances school choice options by increasing awards for certain scholarships and establishing education savings accounts for non-chartered non-public school students.

Law enforcement support includes $65 million for training and additional funds for emergency response equipment through the MARCS program.

Higher education benefits from increased investment in scholarships such as the Governor’s Merit Scholarship and Choose Ohio First Scholarship while promoting workforce readiness.

Healthcare transparency is promoted through new Medicaid reporting requirements aimed at reducing fraud and wasteful spending.

The budget emphasizes conservative values by introducing various policies such as recognizing only two genders statewide, excluding sugar-sweetened beverages from SNAP purchases, removing proposed tax increases, limiting library materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity accessible by minors, eliminating some affirmative action requirements on state contracts, prohibiting menstrual products distribution in men's bathrooms within state-owned buildings among others.

House Bill 96 now awaits consideration by the Governor.