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January 28, 2025

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Ohio Legislative Updates
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Ohio Legislative Update

Last Updated: January 28, 2025

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Overview

Legislators from around the state returned to Columbus on January 6th to start the 136th General Assembly. G2G was at many Capitol Square events that day, connecting newly elected as well as returning members we’ve worked with over the years. We heard top priorities for this legislature include school funding, energy policy, income tax reductions, and Medicaid changes. With leadership positions now finalized, the House and Senate are preparing for the biennial operating budget process that officially kicks off in early February but has been quietly underway for months.

The Ohio House and Senate are expected to have a good working relationship as previous Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is now Speaker of the House and previous Senate Majority Floor Leader Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) is now Senate President. This means a more productive General Assembly. Committee meetings for the House and Senate start the week of January 27th. To see updates on the operating budget, leadership, committees, elections, and education see full report here.

Operating Budget Timeline

Ohio has a two-year budget cycle, meaning the operating budget for the next two fiscal years (FY26 and FY27) needs to be passed by summer of 2025. The operating budget is how and where the state determines tax-payer dollars are put to use. G2G works around the clock to ensure we are in the know on all things budget related including deadlines, testimony, and where is best suited for nonprofits to get funding for their work. This is an incredibly busy time for the legislature and all focus in on this process as the main operating budget is must-pass legislation.

Below is the general timeline for the operating budget:

  • January: New members of legislature are sworn in and assigned committees
  • February 3rd: Governor DeWine to introduce his Executive version of the FY26-27 State Operating Budget
  • February-April: Ohio House considers State Operating Budget
  • April-June: Ohio Senate considers State Operating Budget
  • June: Ohio House/Senate conferees negotiate final bill
  • July 1, 2025: State Operating Budget goes into effect—State Fiscal Year 2026 begins

G2G is closely monitoring the timeline and is ready to adapt as necessary to timeline shifts.

136th General Assembly Landscape 

House: 65 Republicans, 34 Democrats 

House Republican Leadership

  • Matt Huffman (R-Lima) – Speaker of the House
  • Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) – Speaker Pro Tempore
  • Phil Plummer (R-Dayton) – Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore
  • Marilyn John (R-Shelby) – Majority Floor Leader
  • Adam Bird (R-Cincinnati) – Assistant Majority Floor Leader
  • Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) – Majority Whip
  • Steve Demetriou (R-Chagrin Falls) – Majority Whip
  • Nick Santucci (R-Howland Township) – Majority Whip
  • Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) – Majority Whip

House Democrat Leadership

  • Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) – Minority Leader
  • Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) – Assistant Minority Leader
  • Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) – Minority Whip
  • Michele Grim (D-Toledo) – Assistant Minority Whip

 

Senate: 24 Republicans, 9 Democrats

Senate Republican Leadership

  • Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) – President
  • Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) – President Pro Tempore
  • Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) – Majority Floor Leader
  • George Lang (R-West Chester) – Majority Whip

Senate Democrat Leadership

  • Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) – Minority Leader
  • Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) – Assistant Minority Leader
  • Kent Smith (D-Euclid) – Minority Whip
  • Beth Liston (D-Dublin) – Assistant Minority Whip

Key Committees Leadership

The standing committees for the 136th GA have been assigned in both the House and Senate. There were some changes made in the House, cutting back significantly on the number of committees, but G2G has its finger on the pulse of key committees.

 

Senate Finance Committee:

  • Chair: Jerry Cirino (R-Kirkland)
  • Vice Chair: Brian Chavez (R-Marietta)
  • Ranking Member: Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo)

House Finance Committee:

  • Chair: Brain Stewart (R-Ashville)
  • Vice Chair: Michael Dovilla (R-Strongsville)
  • Ranking Member: Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake)

Senate Education Committee:

  • Chair: Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware)
  • Vice Chair: Louis Blessing III (R-Colerain Twp)
  • Ranking Member Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati)

House Education Committee:

  • Chair: Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula)
  • Vice Chair: Mike Odioso (R-Green Twp.)
  • Ranking Member: Phil Robinson (D-Solon)

Senate Higher Education Committee:

  • Chair: Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson)
  • Vice Chair: Jerry Cirino (R-Kirkland)
  • Ranking Member: Catherine Ingram (D-Cincinnati)

Senate Health Committee:

  • Chair: Dr. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City)
  • Vice Chair: Dr. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott)
  • Ranking Member: Dr. Beth Liston (D-Dublin)

House Health Committee:

  • Chair: Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland)
  • Vice Chair: Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk)
  • Ranking Member: Dr. Anita Somani (D-Dublin)

Senate Medicaid Committee:

  • Chair: Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario)
  • Vice Chair: Dr. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City)
  • Ranking Member: Dr. Beth Liston (D-Dublin)

House Insurance Committee:

  • Chair: Brian Lampton (R-Beavercreek)
  • Vice Chair: Meredith Craig (R-Wayne Township)
  • Ranking Member: Desiree Tims (D-Dayton)

Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC):

  • Chair: Rep. Adam Holmes (R-Nashport)
  • Vice Chair: Sen. Mark Romanchuk (R-Ontario)
  • Ranking Member: Sen. Beth Liston (D-Dublin)

Elections and Office Changes

  • Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted resigned to be sworn in as Ohio’s newest U.S. senator. It is the first time Ohio has had two republican senators since 2007 and there has been no announcement on who will replace Husted as Lt. Governor.
  • Attorney General Dave Yost announced his run for governor in the upcoming 2026 election. There is also speculation that Vivek Ramaswamy will launch a campaign for governor.
  • Amy Acton, Ohio Department of Health Director during the coronavirus pandemic, will run in gubernatorial 2026 race as a Democrat.
  • Former State Senator, Niraj Antani, announced he will run for secretary of state in the 2026 election.
  • Jane Timken, former Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman, has been appointed to fill the vacant Senate District 29 seat after the passing of long-time legislator Kirk Schuring late last year.

Education Legislation

Ohio’s school funding formula was ruled unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court in 1997, and since then, legislators on both sides of the aisle have been working to address the problem. In 2021, the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan proposed $333 million additional dollars per year for K-12 education to be rolled out over six years. However, over the past four years, it has only been partially funded. With two years left, the effort seems unlikely to reach the finish line as originally planned and will likely be a part of a larger discussion within this Operating Budget to fund our schools.

Higher education may also face significant changes with the reintroduction of a bill about DEI at universities. Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirkland) introduced SB 1, which bans nearly all spending on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) staff and initiatives for all state higher education institutions. Cirino believes this bill will make higher education a safer place for free speech. It is yet to be known if SB1 will have support in the House.