Week in review: July 27, 2025

A summary of Ohio’s legislative news for the week ending July 25, 2025.

IT’S IN THE FY26-27 BUDGET

The Ohio Attorney General's (AG) office says legislative leaders did not consult the agency on the last-minute budget transfer of Correctional Institution Inspection Committee (CIIC) functions to the AG in recent votes by the conference committee, House and Senate. The final language of HB96 (Stewart) refers only to the administrative duties of certain "staff members" and does not call for a public body with open meetings. The repeal of the 48-year-old bipartisan committee and the reassignment of administrative duties to the attorney general was not heard publicly and only surfaced in HB96 after a conference vote of 4-2, with all Republicans voting yes and all Democrats voting no.

The final budget contained several items regarding the Ohio Academic Resources Network (OARnet) and broadband programs. OARnet, part of the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) Ohio Technology Consortium, provides increased access to affordable broadband services and more affordable purchases for Ohio education, health care, public broadcasting and government communities. For example, the conference committee included $10.45 million in FY26 and $9.55 million in FY27 to support the U.S. Route 30 OARnet broadband extension project, which the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) said would build a middle-mile broadband network along portions of Route 30.

Separate provisions of operating budget HB96 intend to encourage Ohioans of all ages to take part in hunting opportunities within the state. The act increases the cost of a non-resident hunting license in Ohio from $74 to $210, the cost of a non-resident fishing license from $49 to $74, the cost of a non-resident three-day fishing license from $24 to $50, and the cost of a non-resident one-day fishing license from $13 to $26. Those increases follow a proposal put forth in Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz's budget testimony to the House Natural Resources Committee in February.

EDUCATION

The state will appeal Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Jaiza Page's ruling that Ohio's EdChoice voucher program is unconstitutional, Attorney General Dave Yost announced Monday. "We do not agree with the decision. That's why they make appeals courts, and we will be filing our merits appeal on Wednesday explaining in some detail why we believe the trial court erred," Yost said during a press conference at the Rhodes State Office Tower. The appeal will be filed in the 10th District Court of Appeals. Yost said it was important to reassure families that EdChoice vouchers remain available to students for the coming school year, as Page stayed her own decision after ruling the program unconstitutional. House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) joined the AG at the press conference, saying he interprets the Ohio Constitution to say the state is required to fund religious education. Not only should the state be funding religious education, Huffman said, the state isn't doing enough to fund religious education.

The state failed to properly justify its request for a freeze of his assets and will be "micromanaging" William Lager's financial affairs, the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) founder argued Wednesday in asking appellate judges to overturn a lower court ruling. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Kimberly Cocroft issued a ruling to freeze Lager's assets in April, after finding years earlier that he was liable for funding provided to ECOT, which went belly up in 2018 after the state started to claw back funds as part of an enrollment dispute. Cocroft determined that Lager and his vendor companies improperly profited from contracts with the school. Lager quickly appealed the asset freeze, and subsequently asked the 10th District Court of Appeals to stay Cocroft's order. "Under the asset freeze order, Lager is effectively forced into an involuntary receivership or guardianship, with the trial court and the attorney general micromanaging his affairs. There is no way to reverse the harm caused by this extraordinary loss of autonomy," the filing states.

K-12 educators in public, charter or independent STEM schools could receive $2,500-$5,000 for creative projects that advance STEM education in meaningful ways through the Ohio STEM Learning Network STEM Classroom Grants program. Applications are being taken from Tuesday, July 29 to Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Ohio STEM Classroom Grants fund the creation or expansion of sustainable STEM education initiatives that make a real difference in classrooms and schools, according to the network. Over the past four years, the grant program has helped more than 855 Ohio educators bring innovative STEM education programming to their schools. In total, Batelle has awarded $3.9 million in grants.

ELECTIONS

The Ohio Elections Commission Thursday delayed action on a complaint against Rep. Sedrick Denson's (D-Cincinnati) campaign while also closing out a case involving former Sen. Edna Brown's campaign fund. Denson was scheduled to appear before the commission on a referred complaint from the secretary of state's office over his campaign finance filings. However, Executive Director Phil Richter said Denson had contacted him earlier in the day to request a continuance due to a death in the family. The continuance was granted without objection by the commission. The commission also dismissed a complaint brought by the secretary of state's office against Brown's campaign. Brown, who left office in 2018, died in 2022. Additionally, the commission declared her campaign committee closed.

ELECTIONS 2026

With eight Ohio senators - two Democrats and six Republicans -- unable to run in 2026 due to term limits, including Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), a number of former and current House members are looking to move to the upper chamber. In the House, 15 members are up against term limits, though the campaigns for their seats are still shaking out. Seven of the 15 members are Democrats.

Lew Lainhart, a law student and former legislative aide, has announced a campaign for the Republican nomination for the 40th House District. The seat is currently held by Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria), who is running for the Ohio Senate. Currently a law student at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, he has a B.A. in history from Ohio State University. He has served as an intern in the Ohio House, then worked as a legislative aide for former Reps. Jim Butler and Mike Loychick. He served as a summer legal fellow last year at the Buckeye Institute.

The following endorsement was made over the week:

- Ohio Value Voters endorsed Derek Merrin for Congress.

EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT

Ohio's unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent in June and was unchanged from May, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) said Friday. The national unemployment rate for the month was 4.1 percent. Nationally, unemployment rates fell in two states during June, increased in one and where stable in 47 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Virginia saw the increase while Maine and Illinois had declining rates. ODJFS said Ohio's nonagricultural wage and salary employment increased 10,400 over the month, from a revised 5,703,500 in May to 5,713,900 in June. There were 293,000 unemployed people in Ohio in June, down from 294,000 in May. That measure has increased by 41,000 in the past 12 months from 252,000, and the unemployment rate in June 2024 was 4.3 percent.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

PJM Interconnection, the largest electric grid operator in the U.S., announced the results of its capacity auction for the 2026-2027 delivery year, with the price coming in at $329.17 per megawatt day, drawing reactions from the Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) and other groups. According to PJM -- which serves Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia -- the price is an increase from the $269.92 per megawatt day that came out of last year's auction. In a release, PJM said it would expect the price to translate to a year-over-year increase of 1.5 to 5 percent in some customers' bills, depending on how load serving entities and states pass on wholesale costs to consumers.

ENVIRONMENT

The Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) has approved $265 million for solar projects and waste disposal infrastructure, the agency announced Tuesday. The projects provide clean energy generation and reliability for communities and small businesses in Marion and Montgomery counties, as well as new solid waste facilities for growing areas of Clark, Clermont and Hamilton counties, OAQDA said.

GAMING/GAMBLING

The General Assembly should not pass legislation legalizing Internet casino-style gambling, Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday. "I'm not for it," DeWine told reporters at the Ohio State Fair. "To put a casino in everybody's hands 24/7 I think is probably not a great idea. I think it will cause more pain and suffering in regard to addiction, as far as gambling addiction. I'm just not for it." Asked if he would veto an iGambling bill if it reached his desk, DeWine said, "I don't usually use the 'V' word, but I'm very much against this." Asked about legislation that would expand the number of video lottery terminals (VLTs) in the state, DeWine said he would review it, but was skeptical it was necessary.

The Ohio Casino Control Commission (OCCC) has disabled or seized 104 suspected illegal slot machines at two business locations in Northwest Ohio, the agency announced Thursday. Authorities also seized more than $50,000 in cash and other documents as part of the ongoing investigation, OCCC said. The investigation, which is being conducted in partnership with the Oregon Police Division and Toledo Police Department, began after law enforcement received complaints that the businesses were operating gambling machines in violation of Ohio law. "There are real human costs behind illegal casinos," OCCC Executive Director Matt Schuler said. "Our ability to uphold Ohio's gaming laws is greatly enhanced by the continued partnership between law enforcement agencies."

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Local governments' ability to propose replacement property tax levies and schools' ability to pursue a few other levy types moved closer to ending after the House voted Monday to override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of budget language to that effect. The Senate will have to take similar action for the override to take effect. The House ultimately adjourned without taking action one way or another on two other HB96 (Stewart) line-item vetoes set for consideration Monday -- a change in which types of levies count toward schools' 20-mill funding floor, and explicit authority for county budget commissions to cut tax rates when they deem it prudent. But Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said Monday's inaction was not the last word on those vetoes, nor on a few others the chamber could consider overriding in the fall. The House voted 61-28 on overriding the levy elimination language, referenced as Item 66 in DeWine's veto message. The final vote nearly fell along party lines, with only Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) crossing over the vote with Democrats in opposition to the override. Ten members were absent, including three from the GOP majority -- Reps. Cindy Abrams (R-Harrison), Sharon Ray (R-Atwater) and Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill). Missing Democrats were Reps. Munira Abdullahi (Columbus), Rachel Baker (Cincinnati), Karen Brownlee (Cincinnati), Chris Glassburn (North Olmsted), Lauren McNally (Youngstown), Joe Miller (Amherst) and Allison Russo (Upper Arlington).

The Senate has the votes to override all of the HB96 (Stewart) property tax provisions that Gov. Mike DeWine vetoed, Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said on social media. "Thanks to the members of the @OHRGOPCaucus who voted to override the governor's veto and provide much needed property tax reform," McColley said. "The Ohio Senate has the votes to override the same veto. We also have the votes to override any other property tax veto the House is able to send us." Senate GOP spokesperson John Fortney told Hannah News that caucus leaders are currently working on dates for the Senate to return and consider veto overrides, noting some members are currently on vacation.

The U.S. Supreme Court should address the "growing misuse of nationwide injunctions" by federal district courts, U.S. Rep. Adam Mathews (R-Lebanon) said Thursday. During a Statehouse press conference, Mathews announced that he has written a letter to the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court on the topic. "As legislators, we often hear and share the frustration of constituents when state and federal laws, enacted through rigorous democratic processes, are halted by distant courts. This practice erodes public trust and delays justice," Mathews wrote in the letter. Mathews said other House members and legislators from other states have already signed on to the letter, and he expects many more to join them.

Thursday's meeting of the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) focused on updates about Statehouse building improvements, with Executive Director Megan Wycuff saying she has worked to get up to speed on those efforts since taking over earlier in the year. She has worked closely with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) and legislative sergeants-at-arms to fully understand security protocols for the building. One of those priorities is increasing the maintenance team and improving the preventive maintenance cycles, particularly for systems currently being installed during the capital projects process.

Wycuff also recognized recent retirements, including Deputy Director of Buildings and Grounds Tracy Turner in May and Maintenance Manager Randy Queen at the end of June. Karen Hammond, of the fiscal department, will retire at the end of August as well. Wycuff also discussed how Columbus company L.A. Catering was awarded a contract for the Statehouse cafe and has taken over the building's liquor license. The company operates under the nonprofit Lifecare Alliance and has worked with the Statehouse before becoming a full-time tenant. The cafe will open in August as a resu< it="" has="" undergone="" improvements="" in="" the="">

GOVERNOR

The Governor’s Working Group on Property Taxes held its first meeting Thursday with Pat Tiberi, CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable, former state and federal lawmaker and co-chair of the group, commenting, "This group's job is to try to bring, quite frankly, diverse perspectives together. We know that's not easy, but we truly want to try to deliver some recommendations that are both actionable by the Legislature, fiscally responsible but locally feasible as well.” Bill Seitz, an attorney, former lawmaker and the other co-chair, said the goal is "to provide as much meaningful property tax relief as we can, particularly to those who need it most, and to do it in a way that does not break the bank of the state of Ohio, and also to offer suggestions on what has been offered thus far and to refine what has been offered thus far." Seitz said they must also keep in mind the perspective of the many local taxing jurisdictions. "They're providing services that folks care about, and to lose property tax in its entirety would be a $23 billion debacle that I'm sure no one in their right mind wants to see," Seitz said. Other members of the working announced Monday include the following:

- Krista Bohn, Allen County treasurer

- Chris Galloway, Lake County auditor

- Matt Nolan, Warren County auditor

- Steve Patterson, mayor of Athens

- John Marschhausen, superintendent of Dublin City Schools

- Stephanie Starcher, superintendent of Fort Frye Local Schools

- Denise Driehaus, former state representative and Hamilton County commissioner

- Gary Scherer, former state representative and Pickaway County commissioner

- Jeff Chattin, Pike County commissioner

State, policy and business leaders picked up the thread Thursday of a debate stretching back to the Food Stamp Act of 1964 -- how much should the government restrict what people can buy with food aid dollars? Key hurdles for prior attempts at restrictions might no longer be a factor under the Trump administration, but implementation remains a thorny question. "This argument about food choice dates back to the 60s," said Lizbeth Silbermann, a former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) official. She was the main presenter for Thursday's first meeting of Gov. Mike DeWine's working group on the development of a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver that would ban beneficiaries from using food aid to buy sugar-sweetened beverages like soft drinks. Gov. Mike DeWine partially vetoed language in budget bill HB96 (Stewart) on submission of a waiver, striking sections on specific definitions related to the concept but keeping in place the mandate for ODJFS to submit a waiver. Should the federal government reject the waiver request, the department is required under the bill to try again on an annual basis. Membership includes the following:

- Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder or his designee, who per DeWine's executive order will serve as chair.

- Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran or her designee.

- Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff or his designee.

- Rachel Cahill, visiting fellow at the Center for Community Solutions.

- Douglas Lumpkin, former ODJFS director.

- Kimberly McConville, executive director of the Ohio Beverage Association.

- Lora Miller, director of governmental affairs and public relations for the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.

- Kristin Mullins, president and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association.

- Dr. Jonathan Thackeray of Dayton Children's Hospital.

- Lexi Tindall, clinical manager for the Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

- Pat Tiberi, president and CEO of the Ohio Business Roundtable.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

While there has been a national spike in measles cases -- with 29 outbreaks reported so far this year compared to 16 in 2025 -- Ohio numbers remain relatively low. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show Ohio is one of 13 states with between 10 and 49 cases this year, while 12 states currently have zero cases; 23 have one to nine; two have 50 to 99; and Texas has over 700. Nationally, the CDC reports there have been 1,309 cases as of July 15 compared to 285 in all of 2024 and 59 in 2023. Case counts for 2023 through 2025 are subject to change. Nearly 90 percent of this year's cases were associated with an outbreak, up from 69 percent last year. Specific Ohio Department of Health (ODH) numbers show there have been 35 measles cases reported since Jan. 1, with 16 in Ashtabula County, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Franklin and Holmes counties. The data is current through July 9.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Columbus State Community College (CSCC) has ended plans to build a specialized training center on Columbus's southeast side, the college announced Monday. CSCC had announced a plan in the summer of 2024 to develop a 37-acre Career Development Center within the city to prepare students for jobs in the construction trades or as first responders. That plan was based on a $300 million bond issue for capital improvements that Franklin County voters passed in 2020. But CSCC announced this week that rising construction costs and other factors meant the college could not complete the acquisition of the Career Development Center site, forcing the college to "re-evaluate how to best use those dollars to support student success and the workforce needs of Central Ohio."

HOUSING/HOMELESSNESS

Even as Ohio workers' average hourly wages are increasing, those wages are losing ground to the cost of rent throughout the state, which is increasing at a faster rate, according to a new report from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO). COHHIO's 2025 Out of Reach report, released jointly with the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), shows that the disparity between renters' income and the cost of rent has more than doubled since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As of 2025, the average Ohio renter earns $18.62/hour. COHHIO reports that full-time workers need to earn at least $22.51/hour to afford an average, modest two-bedroom apartment in Ohio, what COHHIO calls the Housing Wage. The resulting gap in Ohio of $3.89/hour between Ohioans' average wage and the average Housing Wage has increased 148 percent since 2020, when that gap stood at $1.57/hour on average.

JUDICIAL

The Ohio Supreme Court followed its announced adoption of the "NextGen" bar exam in February with word Friday that it is establishing an advisory committee on Ohio law school accreditation. Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy called for the committee in June "to ensure excellence and innovation in the state's legal education processes" that reflect the profession's evolving needs, the Court says. "The Supreme Court of Ohio is responsible for the oversight of every stage of an Ohio attorney's professional development and engagement -- from their education and admission to the bar to their continuing legal education and professional conduct," Supreme Court Administrative Director Robert Horner III said in a statement. "The Court's responsibility to uphold the integrity and efficacy of the profession means constant reflection, research and openness to innovation." Horner will chair the accreditation committee.

The Ohio Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to hear a challenge to state law prohibiting the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors, after deciding this spring to temporarily keep the law in effect while it considered whether to accept the appeal. Lawmakers approved the gender care restrictions in 135-HB68 in 2023 and overrode Gov. Mike DeWine's veto to put the law into effect. A Franklin County judge sided with the state after two families joined with the ACLU of Ohio to try to block the law in court. But the 10th District Court of Appeals disagreed, finding that the law violates the Health Care Freedom Amendment to the Ohio Constitution. Appellate judges denied a request from Attorney General Dave Yost to stay their ruling, but the Supreme Court stepped in late April and issued a stay.

LIBRARIES

The state of Ohio's continuing efforts to lift youth reading scores received a boost from the federal government on Monday, as the State Library of Ohio announced a $48,000 grant awarded to the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The IMLS grant will help fund a collaborative project between TLCPL and the State Library on "The Science of Reading: A Guide for Ohio's Public Libraries to Help Raise Literacy Achievement," which is designed to enhance Ohio's third-grade reading scores and promote literacy as a vital life skill. The project will not focus exclusively on Toledo, however, instead providing public libraries throughout Ohio with a comprehensive and actionable toolkit designed to improve literacy achievement within their communities, specifically targeting kindergarten through third-grade children.

MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM

The Trump administration announced this month it will not issue the type of Medicaid waiver at the center of a recent Ohio dispute on children's enrollment. Last session, lawmakers used the budget to authorize the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) to ask the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for a waiver enabling children to stay enrolled in Medicaid from birth through age 3 without going through annual eligibility determinations. But in the most recent budget, HB96 (Stewart), they turned around and repealed that authority. However, Gov. Mike DeWine struck that language via line-item veto, preserving ODM's ability to seek the waiver. However, CMS has since squashed the concept in a notice to states sent last week, saying it doesn't expect to issue any more continuous eligibility waivers.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) joined forces with United Plant Savers (UpS), breaking ground Friday near Rutland on a $2.7 million project funded by ODNR's Division of Mineral Resources Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) which will create new camping areas and a lodge to support overnight stays at the UpS Sanctuary in Rutland. The sanctuary contains several areas of restored prairie, reclaimed strip-mine land, ponds and fields on 360 acres. The area also houses more than five miles of foot trails to provide visitors the opportunity to witness and learn about native herbs and trees in their natural environment.

PENSIONS

The new executive director of the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), Steven Toole, will be the highest paid of the five public pension leaders in Ohio, making $405,000 per year plus other benefits, according to the contract signed by Toole and STRS Board Chair Rudy Fichtenbaum. Toole's contract puts his annual base salary about 9 percent ahead of that paid to Karen Carraher, executive director of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS). She's been in her position the longest of the five state pension system directors, rising to executive director in 2011 after serving as finance director. STRS trustees hired Toole on a close vote earlier this year. He is a former director of the Retirement Systems Division of North Carolina, and most recently worked at financial firm Principal. He has Ohio connections, with a degree from Ohio State University and time at Nationwide's retirement plans division.

POLLS/STUDIES

Following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had no evidence that convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein had blackmailed powerful figures, kept a client list or was murdered, most voters told Quinnipiac University pollsters they disapprove of the way the Trump administration is handling the Epstein case files, according to a poll released recently. The Quinnipiac poll of registered voters reported that 63 percent of voters disapprove of the administration's handling of the case, while 17 percent of respondents said they approve and 20 percent did not offer an opinion. Opinions on the matter are clearly separated along party lines. Registered Republicans are nearly split on how the Trump administration is handling the Epstein case, with 40 percent approving of the administration's handling, 36 percent disapproving and 24 percent not offering an opinion. Survey responses from Democrats (83 percent disapprove, 2 percent approve) and independents (71 percent disapprove, 11 percent approve) were markedly more one-sided.

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Controlling Board Monday approved funding payments to school districts, with Democrats on the panel asking questions about making it clear where funding is going. The Controlling Board also approved $225 million from the All Ohio Future Fund for the following four projects:

- The Dayton International Airport will receive $78.75 million for upgrades to the Dayton Airport Defense and Aerospace Campus.

- The Lorain County Board of Commissioners will receive $67.4 million for infrastructure improvements at the Lorain County Mega Site.

- The Coshocton County Port Authority will receive $58.75 million in support of the Conesville Industrial Park project.

- The Zanesville-Muskingum Port Authority will receive $20.7 million to provide water and sanitary access to 600 acres in Jackson Township, within the Frazeysburg development area.

The Ohio Blockchain Council is among groups supporting HR3633, the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act," which passed the U.S. House by a 294-134 vote Thursday, July 17. In a joint letter before that vote, the council and other groups said it would provide "a clear, practical, and responsible regulatory framework for digital assets and blockchain-based technologies in the United States." The letter also said the Clarity Act would support consumers as well as innovators through "explicit rules and oversight mechanisms," protecting against "fraud, abuse and manipulation by foreign adversaries or bad actors."

The Ohio Third Frontier recently announced it had approved more than $1.1 million in grants to support research and commercialization of six medical and artificial intelligence (AI) technology projects as part of the Technology Validation and Start-up Fund (TVSF). The grants support Ohio companies that seek to license institution-owned technology so it can go to the marketplace faster.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

Changes to operating budget HB96 (Stewart) and uncertainty about the future of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) following the passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act have left the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) unsure about how rail projects, including passenger rail, will progress in the future. During Thursday's ORDC meeting, Executive Director Matt Dietrich outlined the funding for rail projects included in HB96, including $6 million in FY26 to identify and fund short-line rail development infrastructure projects that enhance capacity and improve safety. The budget did not include similar funds for FY27. ORDC Secretary/Treasurer Megan McClory reported that HB96 does not define what is meant by "enhance capacity and improve safety." McClory said ORDC is defining "enhance capacity" for projects that result in additional rail traffic, the ability to move additional rail traffic on the shortline network or improvement of the overall transportation system. Projects to "improve safety" will include removing or avoiding truck traffic, reducing the risk of derailments, improving grade crossing conditions and reducing the risk of employee injuries.

WORKFORCE

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) wants to know what businesses in Ohio think about the state's current and future workforce needs. ODJFS has opened a survey for Ohio businesses to provide insight on the state's In-Demand Jobs List, in partnership with the Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation and the InnovateOhio Platform. Ohio's In-Demand Jobs List directs the spending of 85 percent of the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act training funds the state receives. While Ohio is not required to survey businesses, survey results are used to ensure that Ohio programs meet the state's business needs.

Provided by Hannah News Service