Week in review: September 28, 2025

A summary of Ohio’s legislative news for the week ending Sept. 26, 2025

AGRICULTURE

A delegation of Taiwanese government and business leaders on a U.S. trade mission visited Ohio on Monday to sign letters signifying their intent to buy billions of dollars of corn and soybeans in the coming years. Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODAg) Director Brian Baldridge joined Wen-Jane Tu, deputy minister of agriculture for Taiwan, and a host of agricultural production, marketing and processing officials from both Ohio and Taiwan for a signing ceremony for the intent letters. The agreement covers $6.4 billion in commodities for 2026 through 2029 -- $4.4 billion of soybeans, $2.2 billion of corn. In her remarks, the Taiwanese deputy minister said the high quality, high yield and environmentally sustainable production methods of Ohio soy and corn were important factors in reaching the deal.

The Trump administration should prioritize Ohio farmers over those from Argentina, the Ohio Soybean Association (OSA) said Thursday. "Earlier this week, the Argentine government announced it would waive taxes on its soybean exports, resulting in a purchase of 35 vessels of soybeans by China. Yesterday, the U.S. government announced it will extend a $20 billion aid package to the Argentine government and potentially make a purchase of the country's foreign bonds. The timing of this news is particularly troubling as farmers begin to harvest a crop that may have nowhere to go," OSA said. China is the top buyer of U.S. soybeans by a wide margin, OSA said. "It's hard for Ohio soybean farmers to swallow that just a day after Argentina maneuvered to supplant our market share in China, the Trump administration announced it will send taxpayer money to Argentina to prop up its failing economy," OSA President Rusty Goebel said. "Our own farm economy is in a dire position because of tariffs and lack of a deal with our largest trading partner. We need the administration to focus on what matters in the heartland -- restoring the market that so many farmers' livelihoods depend upon."

ARTS, SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) approved a permit for construction of the new Cleveland Browns stadium in Brook Park near Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport following a comprehensive review and a detailed analysis by ODOT's third-party aviation consultant who found that construction of the stadium would not change current flight operations at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport. "Applying sound aeronautical principles, the consultant found that 'the proposed stadium would have no adverse effect on the safety and efficient use of the aeronautical environment' and recommended approval of the issuance of a permit with waiver of obstruction standards,” ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn said.

Legends Global will help the Cleveland Browns drive sponsorships, premium seating and suite sales for the team's new domed stadium in Brook Park, Haslam Sports Group (HSG) and Legends Global have announced. The new stadium is expected to attract visitors from across Ohio and beyond, HSG and Legends Global said.

Tickets are now available for the Ohio History Connection's "Fright at the Museum." The in-person event will take place at the Ohio History Center on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include a range of family-friendly activities including exploring the origins of American Halloween celebrations through time. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged; adults wearing masks and carrying props in the shape of weapons are not permitted. Those interested in attending the event can purchase tickets over the phone by calling 800-686-6124 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

A new report from the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Research Foundation finds Ohio Black-owned businesses generate $12.5 billion in value-added contributions to Ohio's economy, support nearly 130,000 jobs, and contribute $2.7 billion in tax revenue. Despite those contributions, Black-owned enterprises continue to face disproportionate challenges in accessing capital, securing contracts, and scaling their operations, the report said. The study was unveiled at the Chamber's inaugural "State of Ohio Black Business" event, which launched what the organization said will become an annual tradition to measure progress, celebrate achievements and address barriers facing Black entrepreneurs. The Ohio Chamber partnered with the Baldwin Wallace University Community Research Institute to produce the report, which combines economic modeling with survey data from 268 Black business owners across Ohio.

Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel and the Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA) announced Thursday they had launched a state "Manufacturing Workforce Blueprint" meant to secure Ohio's position in the modern manufacturing industry and meet rapidly growing workforce needs by expanding the state talent pipeline. OMA said that would ensure Ohioans have the needed skills and increase the competitiveness of manufacturers in all regions of the state. "Ohio's manufacturers are a crucial part of our state's economy, contributing 17.5% of our GDP and employing more than 680,000 Ohioans," DeWine said.

CHILDREN/FAMILIES

Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) Director Kara Wente announced the launch of the Child Care Cred Program aimed at making child care more affordable for working families while helping Ohio businesses strengthen their workforce. The $10 million program was authorized through biennial budget bill HB96 (Stewart). The DeWine administration said the program is aimed at tackling access to affordable child care, which it called one of the state's biggest workforce challenges. Under the program, families must live in Ohio and employers must be Ohio-based to qualify. Employers and employees must work together to submit an application through DCY. Once approved, families may enroll their child in a licensed program or remain with their current provider and receive assistance with costs.

DISABILITIES

Plans are now underway to welcome more than 5,000 athletes and coaches and over 125,000 fans to Cleveland after officials finalized an agreement on Wednesday for the city to host the Special Olympics USA Games in 2030. Representatives from the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC) and both the Ohio and North America divisions of Special Olympics International met in Cleveland to sign the contract for the 2030 Games to unfold at Cleveland venues including Rocket Arena, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University. Cleveland was selected to host the 2030 Games over Nashville, the other finalist city.

ECONOMY

According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Friday, Ohio's unemployment at 5% was unchanged from July to August as the state added 9,900 jobs. ODJFS said the number of workers unemployed in Ohio in August was 295,000, down from 296,000 in July 2025. The number of unemployed has increased by 37,000 in the past 12 months from 258,000. The August unemployment rate for Ohio increased 0.6 percentage points from 4.4% in August 2024. The U.S. unemployment rate for August 2025 was 4.3%, up from 4.2% in July 2025 and up from 4.2% in August 2024.

EDUCATION

The Reading Recovery Council of North America (RRCNA) argued in a recent filing in its legal battle over state science of reading laws that the trial court erred by denying it standing to sue over alleged unconstitutional vagueness of the law even as it agreed to grant standing for a single-subject challenge. "This appeal seeks to vindicate RRCNA's right to contest the statute's unprecedented first-ever legislative prohibition on a 'model of teaching,' which has caused substantial financial and reputational harm to the organization and threatens its continued ability to serve Ohio's struggling early readers," the council argued in its brief to the 10th District Court of Appeal. In the prior biennial budget bill, 135-HB33 (Edwards), lawmakers enacted Gov. Mike DeWine's proposal to require that Ohio school districts adopt literacy instruction methods aligned to the science of reading, and that they not use a method called "three-cueing." The council sued over the prohibition, arguing it was unconstitutionally vague.

The matrix of qualifications for and uses of two dozen different teaching licenses granted and tracked by the State Board of Education (SBOE) do not add to the agency's complexities, Superintendent of Public Instruction Paul Craft Tuesday told the House General Government Committee. He described the intricacies of the state's 24 occupational licenses for educators and the number of individuals represented by each. "We think of holding a teaching license as almost a property right," Craft said of SBOE's licenses, adding that the agency is not recommending the Legislature drop any of the license types going forward. After Craft's testimony, most of the committee members present still had questions about the differences among the designations, often wondering if separate licenses could be combined.

Township police can contract with school districts to provide school resource officers but not private schools, according to a formal legal opinion issued by Attorney General Dave Yost. Stark County Prosecutor Kyle Stone asked Yost for the opinion last month, citing the desire of a local private school to have a school resource officer and the willingness of Lake Township police to provide such services. In the opinion, Yost said townships have only those powers granted to them in law, and the main statutory provision addressing school resource officers does not mention townships.

The state of Ohio will receive nearly $105 million over the next five years to open new charter schools and expand high-quality charter schools, U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) Secretary Linda McMahon announced Wednesday. The funding will help ensure that "the best charter schools can serve even more students here in Ohio," McMahon said during a press conference at the Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) office in Columbus. McMahon was joined at the event by Gov. Mike DeWine, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) and America First Works (AFW) Senior Adviser Erika Donalds. "We're very happy about this announcement today," DeWine said, responding to a question from Hannah News.

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) provided an overview Wednesday of 2024-2025 state report card results for Ohio schools to the House Education Committee. Report card results were released last week, showing a slight dip in overall English language arts proficiency but advancement in math. "We're not where we want to be," said Chris Woolard, chief integration officer for DEW, pointing to English proficiency rates of about 60% and math rates of about 55%. Woolard pointed out the Performance Index increased for both math and English, providing a more nuanced look at student test scores. Woolard said this arose from a trend of higher performing students doing even better than before.

ELECTIONS

Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the Ohio Board of Voting Systems Examiners has voted to approve stronger voting system inspection and security standards at its meeting this week. LaRose's office called the new standards "the nation's strongest voting system inspection and security standards." The new standards come as a result of the passage of 135-HB74 (Hall-Lightbody), an elections bill that among other changes, renamed the Board of Voting Machine Examiners to the Board of Voting Systems Examiners. The renamed board is also required under the new law to "examine, test, and approve voter registration systems and ballots on demand voting systems," and it requires the secretary of state to certify those systems in the same manner as the board and secretary of state do for voting equipment. Additionally, the law requires the secretary of state to adopt new standards for the security of voter registration systems and ballots on demand voting systems and prohibits the secretary of state or a board of elections from acquiring a voter registration system or a ballots on demand voting system that has not been certified under the act. The bill was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine in January and became effective in April.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Tuesday praised a decision by the Seneca County Board of Elections to rescind a previous vote that would have barred anyone who opposes the use of voting machines from serving as polling location managers. According to Cleveland.com, the board approved a motion at its Aug. 26 meeting "that any active member publicly or actively working against the use of voting machines [is] ineligible to serve as the polling location manager." Ramaswamy, who penned a column for the Wall Street Journal, called such a move a violation of the First Amendment. He attended Tuesday's Seneca County Board of Elections meeting to also speak against the earlier motion.

ELECTIONS 2025

Absentee ballots for military and overseas voters are now being sent for the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Friday. "As a veteran, I know how important it is that Ohioans serving our country abroad never miss the opportunity to have their voices heard back home," said LaRose. "With the Military Ready-to-Vote Packet or Ohio Voter Passport, these Ohioans can securely receive and cast their ballot from anywhere in the world while accessing the information needed to make an informed decision on candidates and issues." The secretary of state's office said military voters can find everything they need, including ballot request forms, deadlines, and submission instructions HERE. Similarly, civilians currently overseas are encouraged to visit HERE. The deadline to register for the November election is Monday, Oct. 6. Early voting for all other voters, including absentee and in-person early voting, begins Tuesday, Oct. 7.

The Ohio Supreme Court reminds state bar members that they can earn biennial continuing legal education (CLE) credits as volunteer poll workers in November. Attorneys can register HERE to earn up to 12 hours' CLE at the polls during each two-year compliance period. "To earn four CLE hours, volunteer attorneys must complete training at their county board of elections and must work the entire voting day. For those who have previously completed precinct election training, they must take three hours of training about statutory and case law on elections provided by the secretary of state," the Court says.

ELECTIONS 2026

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) and Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy endorsed one another during an event in Columbus on Monday, further increasing their odds of winning their respective nominations. "Tonight is about the fact that we have one team, and one mission. And that mission is victory in 2026," Husted said at the Boat House, joined by Ramaswamy, Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou and other GOP officials. Husted announced the endorsement of Ramaswamy days after Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel announced he would not run for governor. Gov. Mike DeWine has not endorsed anyone in the race yet.

Former Rep. Jeff McClain announced he will seek a return to the General Assembly in 2026 when the current holder of the seat -- and his son -- Riordan McClain (R-Nevada) is term-limited. Jeff McClain also served as Wyandot County auditor and led the Ohio Department of Taxation. In his announcement, he said he has received the endorsements of Treasurer Robert Sprague and the Republican chairmen of the four counties that make up the district -- Wyandot, Crawford, Morrow, and Marion counties.

Conservative 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization "One Nation" has already spent more than $2.3 million on advertisements supporting U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) this election cycle, according to data provided by AdImpact -- a national ad tracking and analytics company. The ads were purchased between the weeks of July 15 and Aug. 12, shortly after President Donald Trump signed the "One Big Beautiful Bill." The 30-second video urges viewers to call Husted's office and "thank" him for working to pass "working family tax cuts" as part of the legislation. The ads have been airing on connected TV, streaming video and desktop/mobile devices. "Connected TV" refers to streaming content from the Internet onto a television screen, using devices like a smart TV, streaming device or gaming console.

The following endorsements were made over the week:

- The gubernatorial campaign of Republican Vivek Ramaswamy announced the endorsements of the Ohio Conference of Teamsters and the Ohio State Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters.

- The U.S. Senate campaign of Democrat Sherrod Brown announced the endorsements of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 75, 880, 1059 and Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) Local 390.

- The gubernatorial campaign of Democrat Amy Acton announced the endorsements of Reps. Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati), Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) and Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus), and 35 Franklin County leaders, including Sen. Beth Liston (D-Dublin) and Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio (D-Gahanna).

- The gubernatorial campaign of Democrat Amy Acton announced the endorsement of former Ohio Gov. Richard Celeste.

- U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) endorsed Jay Edwards for Ohio Treasurer.

ENERGY/UTILITIES

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) declined for the third year to adopt the stronger seasonal utility protections urged by the Office of Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) and Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy (OPAE) in issuing Thursday's Winter Reconnect Order. Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma), a member of the House Energy Committee, supported the request in a separate letter, but commissioners did not mention his legislative appeal in their 30-page order or during the meeting. The Special Reconnect Order, as it’s formally called, helps all residential customers of PUCO-regulated utilities to reconnect or maintain electric and natural gas service once per winter between Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 and Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Instead of a full security deposit, consumers pay up to $175 plus any applicable reconnection charge not exceeding $36. Any balance above $175, along with excess reconnect charges, may be shifted to customers' subsequent bill. More than 204,107 Ohioans used the reconnect order last winter heating season, according to PUCO, when OCC and OPAE say customers experienced over 328,975 disconnections.

The PUCO asked the Ohio Attorney General's Office to seek the appointment of a bankruptcy receiver for SOBE Thermal of Youngstown. Agency staff had filed a letter on Friday, Sept. 12 asking commissioners to open an investigation into SOBE after reports that equipment essential to its operations would be repossessed for nonpayment.

The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) signed off on another industrial-scale generating plant, and it's not within PJM Interconnection's 13-state regulatory authority nor powered by renewable energy. After years of reviewing major solar projects, the siting board is on a track of approving gas-driven facilities contractually beholden to data centers rather than electric utilities' service territories. Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) says that's a promising trend in a letter to OPSB backing Williams Company division Will-Power's decision to build a second 200 megawatt (MW) natural gas plant "behind the meter" in the New Albany International Business Park, just east of the state capital.

A range of statewide and Southeast Ohio officials joined Centrus Energy CEO Amir Vexler in announcing Thursday the company will expand its uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, with expected creation of around 300 new operations jobs and 1,000 construction jobs during that process. The site will retain 127 existing employees as well, with billions of dollars expected to be invested in the plant. JobsOhio and OhioSE will partner with Centrus as it scales up its recruiting and hiring effort to meet the expansion. The expansion's scale depends on federal funding decisions by the U.S. Department of Energy about Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) production. A large-scale expansion would bring billions in public and private investment, according to the DeWine administration.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

In observance of National Arts and Humanities Month, the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board announced that artist Leslie Adams will discuss the inspiration behind her portraits displayed at the Ohio Statehouse. Her talk will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium. In her presentation called "People, Stories and Art: A Portrait of My Life and Work," Adams will discuss the influences shaping her work today and will contrast the depiction of her work and other distinguished leaders with the introspective nature of her self-portraits. Adams will also talk about the techniques she uses to create her portraits which have included former Speakers of the Ohio House William Batchelder and Jo Ann Davidson, among other officials.

Rep. Eric Synenberg (D-Beachwood) said Friday that his office has been receiving numerous calls and messages directed at his predecessor former Rep. Elliot Forhan (D-South Euclid) over a message Forhan had posted about the late assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Forhan, who had posted on social media "[Expletive] Charlie Kirk," said he has also been receiving death threats in response to his post. Synenberg, who defeated Forhan in the Democratic primary for House District 21, said Forhan has no affiliation with him or the values of his office. "Recent public statements made by Elliot Forhan concerning Charlie Kirk do not reflect the priorities, ethics, or mission of Rep. Synenberg and his team," his office said.

House Energy Committee Chairman Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) reset his mission for the 136th General Assembly Wednesday following the signing of supply-side overhaul HB15 (Klopfenstein) in May. In opening remarks to the committee's fall session, he said the urgency and vision captured by the recent magazine article "The Coming Electricity Crisis" would allow them to "spike the football" one last time before moving on to energy demand. If the first half of the discussion was generation, transmission and distribution, said Holmes, "the second half of that is being more efficient with the system that we have." He placed that in the context of the larger 13-state grid to which Ohio currently belongs, PJM Interconnection. "Their focus is ensuring there's enough electricity to meet demand. They're not necessarily focused on what's the most efficient or cost-effective way to do it," he said.

With property tax spikes remaining a top issue for lawmakers this fall, House Ways and Means Chair Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) said Wednesday that they will taking a "two-facet" approach by re-examining provisions of the budget bill vetoed by Gov. Mike DeWine as well as looking at a number of new bills introduced over the summer and referred to his committee. DeWine struck down a number of provisions related to property tax in biennial budget bill HB96 (Stewart), and kicked the issue to a study panel -- the Ohio Property Tax Reform Working Group -- which has until the end of this month to issue recommendations. Roemer told Hannah News after Wednesday's hearing that they will be looking at overriding those vetoes, though questions remain if they have the votes. The committee will also be looking at "comparable legislation," including two bills that were on the committee's Wednesday agenda. Those bills -- HB309 (Thomas), which addresses county budget commissions, and HB129 (Thomas), which would include additional levies in the calculation for the 20-mill floor -- were introduced earlier this year and had portions incorporated into HB96. In addition to their work, Roemer said he is looking forward to what comes out of DeWine's working group. Asked if he has been tracking discussions in that group, Roemer said more information is always better, and he has been monitoring their discussions.

House Republicans Wednesday proposed giving Ohioans nearly half a billion dollars in tax credits next year to account for spikes in local property tax bills over the last few years. Reps. David Thomas (R-Jefferson) and Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon) outlined a substitute version of their HB186 to the House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday, which will provide tax credits that will be effective for the second half of next year's tax bill that he said will total a half billion dollars in tax savings due to school valuations being "tremendously higher" in the past few years while inflation was much lower.

Representatives from three of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) divisions appeared before the House General Government Committee to detail those doing the work of keeping Ohio scenic as the divisions of forestry, wildlife and mineral resources management reviewed their respective occupational licenses.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Ohio is seeking federal approval to increase the use of automation in administering food benefits and to have only mistakes caused by program administrators rather than recipients counted against the state when calculating the payment error rate -- the level of which will soon have major ramifications for the state budget. Federal HR1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill, shifts more costs of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to states in two ways: by making states pay three-quarters of administrative costs, rather than splitting it 50-50 as has been the practice; and by requiring states for the first time to cover a share of actual benefit costs if their SNAP payment error rate exceeds 6%. The health and human services coalition Advocates for Ohio's Future (AOF) convened a pair of virtual briefings in September to cover the ramifications of the change and ways to bring down Ohio's error rate and minimize the cost shifting before provisions of the new law take effect.

HUMAN SERVICES

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Beverage Workgroup on Thursday approved its report and recommendations on a waiver to ban SNAP dollars from being used to purchase certain sugary drinks. The proposal would generally restrict the purchase of "full sugar" sodas but would continue to allow the purchase of diet and zero-sugar sodas, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder said during the panel's meeting. Specifically, the workgroup recommended that Ohio seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the use of SNAP benefits to purchase beverages that list sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or similar caloric sweeteners as the primary ingredient, or as the second ingredient if the first ingredient is carbonated water. The report and recommendations will now be considered by Gov. Mike DeWine. The waiver must be filed by Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Ohio is one of five states selected by the federal government to participate in a pilot program that aims to help individuals receiving cash assistance overcome barriers to employment, the DeWine administration announced Thursday. Ohio was chosen to participate in the program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through its Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the governor's office said. The pilot will be administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and will focus on those receiving cash benefits through the Ohio Works First (OWF) program. Funded through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, OWF provides short-term cash assistance to low-income families, while helping recipients work toward securing a job.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel announced Friday that he will not run for governor in 2026, making it even more likely that entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will be the Republican nominee for governor. "It has been an extraordinary honor of a lifetime for Ellen and me to serve alongside Gov. Mike DeWine and First Lady Fran DeWine. After considerable thought and prayer, we have decided not to run for governor in 2026," Tressel wrote in a post on social media. "I believe that our crucial opportunities in the areas of education and workforce deserve my full attention for the remainder of our term. My goal is to help finish the amazing work started by the DeWine-Husted administration. Ohio is winning and it must continue," Tressel said.

LOBBYISTS/ASSOCIATIONS

The Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) announced Sara Kilpatrick as its next chief executive officer. She will begin her new role on Monday, Nov. 17. Most recently, Kilpatrick served as executive director of the Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors, where she led a 7,000-member organization through a period of significant growth and transformation. During her tenure, membership grew by 40%, financial sustainability was strengthened through diversified revenue streams, and the organization's visibility and influence expanded through strategic advocacy and coalition partnerships, OPA said. She also served as political director in the Ohio Senate and as associate director of government relations for the Ohio State Medical Association.

MEDICAID/MEDICAID REFORM

Changes to Medicaid at both the state and federal level will potentially affect Ohio children and their families, according to John Stanford, state director for the Children's Defense Fund-Ohio, who facilitated a Legislative Children's Caucus webinar Monday focused on changes to Medicaid following the passage of HB96 (Stewart) and federal HR1, legislation including several provisions that will affect the program at large. Stanford cited the Children's Defense Fund-Ohio's Kids Count 2025 data report, which found Medicaid to be the "literal lifeline" for 1.4 million Ohio children. The data also highlighted how children in Ohio's Appalachian communities experience comparable Medicaid dependence to children in Ohio cities, with 59.7% in Appalachian communities depending on the program for health care and 60% in Ohio cities.

NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Geological Survey has opened the application period for a grant program for college graduate and undergraduate students who conduct geologic research within Ohio. The Ohio Geological Student Research Grant will award one $2,500 grant to an earth sciences student currently attending an Ohio college or university. The award winner will be selected based on the quality of their application, the strength of their professor's letter of recommendation and how relevant their proposed research is to the division's mission and to further the understanding of Ohio's geology.

The ODNR Division of Geological Survey will host a series of in-person events and offer educational materials in celebration of Earth Science Week, celebrated nationally from Sunday, Oct. 12 through Saturday, Oct. 18. The theme of Earth Science Week 2025 is "Energy Resources for Our Future," encouraging students to become informed energy consumers and to actively work towards a sustainable future that ensures a high quality of life for generations to come.

PARKS/RECREATION

The Buckeye State and its 76 state parks officially stand above the offerings of any other state in the U.S. after winning the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management this week. Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz announced that the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration recognized Ohio with its 2025 Gold Medal Award over other finalists Florida and Wyoming. State park systems were evaluated on long-range planning, community engagement, environmental stewardship and the ability to evolve and adapt.

PENSIONS

Attorney General Dave Yost is using recent amendments to litigation procedure to ask the 10th District Court of Appeals to allow a board shakeup at the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) to proceed amid a court battle. In HB96 (Stewart), lawmakers diminished the number and power of elected trustees while increasing appointee representation on the STRS Board of Trustees, but educator unions sued to block the changes and were rapidly granted a temporary restraining order in the Franklin County Common Pleas Court. However, Yost says with his appeal now filed and temporary restraining orders newly subject to appeal per 135-HB301 (Swearingen), the trial court is obligated to stay its order. Last year, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Mike DeWine signed HB301. Introduced as a vehicle to amend nonprofit law, the legislation picked up a provision specifying that any order that restrains or restricts enforcement of state law or regulation is a final order subject to appeal, even if it is temporary or preliminary.

PEOPLE

The Port of Cleveland Board of Directors this month approved Jeff Epstein as the port's next president and chief executive officer (CEO). He will begin his new role on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Epstein most recently served as the city of Cleveland's chief of integrated development, where he oversaw four departments and nearly 300 staff advancing major redevelopment, infrastructure, and waterfront projects.

Conservationist and Ohio native Terry Cosby has been named to the Ohio Wildlife Council by Gov. Mike DeWine, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). This summer, Cosby left his previous position as chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service, which he held since 2021. Prior to taking that position, Cosby served 16 years as Ohio's state conservationist with USDA, earning a Cardinal Award from ODNR in 2021. He had previously held state leadership positions in conservation in Iowa, Missouri and Idaho.

PUBLIC SAFETY

The DeWine administration is launching a "first-in-nation" suspicious activity reporting system powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and entitled Safeguard Ohio. Developed by Ohio Homeland Security (OHS) and private chatbot Vigiliti, the Safeguard app replaces OHS's current online reporting system and encourages Ohioans to provide law enforcement as much information as possible on suspicious activity and potential violence. Users can upload video, audio and photos of an incident while remaining anonymous. Submitted materials then flow real-time to the 24/7 Statewide Terrorism Analysis and Crime Center (STACC), where analysts review information and notify the proper local, state and/or federal agencies. Ohioans can select from eight categories to report a tip, including terrorism, school threats, human trafficking, crimes against children and illegal drugs.

Ohioans interested in becoming state troopers can get their first exposure or do double duty as part of the Ohio State Highway Patrol's (OSHP) "Ride-Along Program.” "Do you think a career with the Ohio State Highway Patrol is the right fit for you?" the patrol asks in Wednesday's announcement, saying riding with a state trooper is a great way to get a first-hand look.

REDISTRICTING/REAPPORTIONMENT

Monday's first hearing of the Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting focused on the proposed Democratic congressional plan -- and the lack of a Republican one. Co-chairs Sen. Jane Timken (R-Canton) and Rep. Adam Bird (D-Cincinnati) told reporters after the hearing that they are going through the process of creating a plan and are taking public input through the hearings. They did not state when such a plan will be introduced. All sides indicated the General Assembly is likely not meeting a Sept. 30 deadline to produce a bipartisan plan, which would kick it to the Ohio Redistricting Commission to try to come up with a bipartisan plan in the month of October. Failing that, it would come back to the General Assembly, which would have until the end of November to pass a plan, though it could be without bipartisan support. The joint committee hearing Monday saw testimony on companion Democratic bills -- SB259 (Antonio) and HB442 (Isaacsohn) -- which propose a map with eight Republican-leaning districts and seven Democratic leaning districts.

STATE GOVERNMENT

The Office of Budget and Management (OBM) recently announced it has received a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). The recognition follows successful completion of the comprehensive annual financial report for FY24.

The Ohio Department of Commerce (DOC) Division of Industrial Compliance recently launched a new online customer portal, meant to streamline operations and improve service for thousands of customers who use it to apply for building permits, request inspections or pay fees. The Division of Industrial Compliance serves more than 100,000 customers across Ohio each year, such as construction and building professionals; business and property owners; and public agencies. The new version of the customer portal is a "significant upgrade" in how customer needs are served, providing a "secure, reliable and efficient platform" for all compliance-related activities, according to DOC. The transition to fully paperless processes was described as "one of the most significant benefits" and will save customers time through receiving permits and invoices electronically rather than waiting for delivery through traditional mail. Customers will receive an email notification when those items become available and have "easy and convenient 24/7 access" to their documents, DOC said.

TAXATION

The Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) is alerting Ohioans to scam text messages that falsely claim to originate with the agency and that lead the unsuspecting to a bogus department website. "Your tax refund request has been approved and is now pending release," states the fraudulent message. The text says recipients may finalize processing by clicking on the provided link to confirm account details. The linked webpage mimics ODT's and improperly displays the department's logo and branding. "Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, even going so far as to copy our logos and create fake websites that look official," Tax Commissioner Patricia Harris says. "I want Ohioans to know that the Department of Taxation will never contact you by text about your taxes or refunds. If you receive one of these messages, do not click the link -- go directly to tax.ohio.gov to ensure you are on our official site." The agency reiterates that "ODT does not use text messaging to contact taxpayers about tax matters and does not request or disperse payment through text."

TECHNOLOGY/AEROSPACE

Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield) wants the future of aviation, from commercial pilots to engineers to drone programmers, to lift off from the Buckeye State, and the Statehouse on Monday acted as the runway for educators and other organizations to discuss filling the workforce of thousands that will be needed to do so. Willis hearkened to Ohio's reputation as the birthplace of aviation in explaining the state's role in the future of flight. With manufacturers including Joby Aviation and Anduril Industries attracting hundreds of millions of dollars in state investment and promising thousands of jobs in the future, Willis wants Ohio students to be ready to fill such a large part of the state's economy in years to come.

Legislators offered their insights on "The Future of Aerospace and Innovation" at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Future Forum Monday, with the panel including Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), House Transportation Chair Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield), House Technology and Innovation Chair Rep. Thaddeus Claggett (R-Newark) and House Veterans and Military Development Vice Chair Rep. Ty Mathews (R-Findlay). The discussion was moderated by Ohio Chamber Director of Travel and Tourism Policy Matt MacLaren. MacLaren opened the panel with two videos -- the first detailed the benefits provided by JobsOhio and the second covered Ohio's air and space pioneers and the presence of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Asked about the opportunities for aerospace, Willis said Ohio has "doubled down" on past actions such as support for airport expansions and efforts on workforce training down to the high school level. Having Joby and Anduril bring their manufacturing operations here puts Ohio in a leading national role, he continued.

TRANSPORTATION/INFRASTRUCTURE

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Future Forum Monday included a "Future of Transportation" discussion with panelists detailing their companies' actions now and going forward. The panel included Jeff Reed, director of government relations at American Honda Motor Co.; Frank Fello, Great Lakes area vice president for Waste Management (WM); and Maynard Factor, vice president of business development at Kratos Defense and Security Solutions. It was moderated by Ohio Chamber General Counsel Tony Long. Factor discussed how Kratos' operations include uncrewed air systems for military applications as well as autonomous tractor trailers being tested on the I-70 technology corridor and vehicles used to protect roadside work crews. He praised the "openness" Ohio is taking on new technology, saying the company has worked well within the state.

The Ohio Rail Development Commission at its most recent meeting approved more than $2.3 million for five projects resulting in more than $7.4 million in rail infrastructure projects throughout Ohio. The projects include a company establishing a new manufacturing plant in Ohio, existing Ohio businesses improving their competitiveness, and shortline railroads upgrading infrastructure including the replacement of a 100-year-old bridge. The projects create and retain jobs, generate new rail traffic and upgrade the rail system to help keep trucks off the road, the commission said.

The Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) is launching two new programs to help driving schools recruit and train new instructors statewide to prepare for HB96 (Stewart) requirements effective Tuesday, Sept. 30, the DeWine administration announced Thursday. The budget raises the age for mandatory driver education from under 18 to under 21, increasing the number of students at local training sites. The Instructor Development Grant and the New Instructor Incentive seek to meet that need.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) this week issued recommendations to improve safety on Ohio's roads nearly two years after it began an investigation into a deadly truck-bus crash on I-70 that killed six. The crash occurred in November 2023 in Licking County and killed six people, including three members of the Tuscarawas Valley High School Band. The report released Tuesday blamed the crash on truck driver Jacob McDonald's "inattention" and his failure to respond to the traffic queue. NTSB identified a number of other issues contributed to the crash including ineffective traffic management and lack of information on traffic conditions for travelers. Additionally, the truck lacked an in-vehicle driver monitoring system that could have alerted McDonald to return his attention to the road. The speed difference between the truck and the slowed traffic, along with the post-crash fire, also increased the severity of the injuries, the agency said.

TREASURER OF STATE

The State Board of Deposit -- which includes Treasurer Robert Sprague, Auditor Keith Faber and Attorney General Dave Yost -- voted Wednesday to approve Grant Street Group as vendor to facilitate acceptance of cryptocurrency payments for state fees and services.

WORKFORCE

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) discussed a range of topics relating to economic and workforce development at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce's Future Forum Monday, saying he continues to look at issues through an Ohio lens now that he is working in Washington, D.C. Husted spoke in depth about geopolitical uncertainty worldwide, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, "military build-up in China" and a "nuclear ambitious Iran." He further detailed realignments in foreign trade since the early 2000s and the Trump administration's policies to increase domestic manufacturing, particularly developments for the Intel plant in Ohio. Data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) are increasing the demand for energy, and Husted discussed what AI will mean for the current workforce and education systems. Ohio has been working on that, he continued, but there needs to be a "nationwide standard" there, which he's offered legislation to

Provided by Hannah News Service