Budget & Taxes

in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 941: Regards the elimination of vacant state civil service positions

HB 941 requires state agencies to review all vacant permanent full-time civil service positions every thirty days. If a position has remained empty for ninety days or longer, the appointing authority must eliminate it. Additionally, the bill mandates that the director of administrative services update the official job classification plan whenever a position is removed under this rule. This legislation directly affects state employers and the administrative oversight of public sector job listings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill mandates elimination of vacant positions to reduce state government spending and promote fiscal responsibility.85% confidence

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 881: Enact the Ohio Homeowner Relief Act

To amend sections 319.302, 323.152, 323.153, 323.156, 323.158, 5747.85, and 5747.98 and to enact section 5747.25 of the Revised Code to modify property tax reductions for nonbusiness and owner-occupied property, to authorize a refundable income tax credit for renters, and to name this act the Ohio Homeowner Relief Act

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides property tax reductions and a refundable income tax credit for renters, directly advancing tax relief and fiscal support for homeowners and tenants.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill authorizes a refundable income tax credit for renters, directly supporting affordable housing and tenant financial relief.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Property Tax Tax Credits Homeownership Property Taxes Tenant Rights

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in committee · Ohio · House May 27, 2026

HB 953: Support Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio program

HB 953 allocates state funds to support the fifth year of a program run by Junior Achievement of Northwestern Ohio. This legislation provides financial resources specifically for the organization's financial literacy education initiatives. The bill directs the Director of Budget and Management to track these funds and ensures they are used strictly for the designated program's operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds to support financial literacy education, directly increasing funding for a public service program.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates state funds to support financial literacy education initiatives in K-12 schools, directly enhancing student programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 924: Create the court-appointed public defender loan repayment program

HB 924 establishes a new loan repayment program for attorneys working as court-appointed public defenders in Ohio. Under this initiative, the state public defender office will repay up to $50,000 of eligible educational loans for lawyers who commit to working at least 1,000 hours per year for a total of ten consecutive years or fifteen nonconsecutive years within a twenty-year span. To qualify, applicants must have made timely monthly payments on their loans, not be enrolled in other federal or state debt forgiveness programs, and hold a license in good standing. The program is administered through rules set by the state public defender, which will include procedures for applications, verification of information, and public inquiries. Funding for these repayments will come from a dedicated state treasury account established to receive donations, gifts, and bequests specifically for this purpose.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes a loan repayment program for public defenders, directly increasing funding for essential legal services and public officials.85% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens the public defender system by funding loan repayment, ensuring adequate legal representation for indigent defendants.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Debt & Bonds Courts

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 936: Authorize sales and use tax exemption for medical items, services

To amend section 5739.02 of the Revised Code to authorize a sales and use tax exemption for medical items and services eligible to be purchased with proceeds from flexible spending and health savings accounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief by exempting medical items/services from sales tax, reducing financial burden on individuals and promoting fiscal responsibility.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax exemptions for medical items and services, increasing affordability and access to healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 884: Regards cost calculation of and GA intent for school financing

To amend sections 3317.011, 3317.012, 3317.018, 3317.0110, and 3317.022 and to enact section 3317.41 of the Revised Code and to amend Sections 265.10, as subsequently amended, 265.150, 265.190, and 265.450 of H.B. 96 of the 136th General Assembly regarding base cost calculation and use in the public school financing system, to express the General Assembly's intent to secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools, and to make an appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill amends school financing laws to express intent for a thorough and efficient system and mandates an appropriation, directly strengthening public education funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill amends school financing laws to secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools and makes an appropriation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Ohio · House May 20, 2026

HB 903: Make the earned income tax credit partially refundable

HB 903 proposes to make Ohio's earned income tax credit partially refundable, meaning eligible low-income individuals could receive cash payments even if they owe no state taxes. The bill creates a new refundable credit equal to 10% of the federal earned income credit amount, while also increasing the existing nonrefundable portion to 30% of that same federal figure. This change would directly affect taxpayers who currently cannot benefit from the credit because their tax liability is zero or low. The legislation also updates the order in which various tax credits are applied to ensure the new refundable credit is processed correctly within the state tax system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill expands tax relief for low-income individuals by making the earned income tax credit partially refundable, directly supporting the taxation topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits

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in committee · Ohio · House Jun 3, 2026

HB 957: Prohibit new data center sales tax exemptions from being granted

HB 957 prevents the state from offering new sales tax exemptions for computer data centers, meaning future projects will not receive special breaks on taxes for purchasing or installing equipment. The bill defines specific criteria for what qualifies as a data center, including requirements for significant capital investment and job creation, but it stops the tax credit authority from granting these benefits to any new applicants. While the law allows existing agreements to remain in effect, it ensures that no future data center projects can secure tax-free status for their equipment purchases. This change directly affects technology companies and developers planning to build or expand data centers in the state after the bill takes effect.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill restricts state budget flexibility by prohibiting new tax exemptions, limiting fiscal tools for economic development.90% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts new data center sales tax exemptions, limiting infrastructure development and capital investment in energy-intensive facilities.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts technology infrastructure growth by prohibiting new tax exemptions for data centers, limiting expansion and investment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives Tags Economic Development

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in committee · Ohio · House May 13, 2026

HB 816: Exempt service animals from sales and use tax

HB 816 proposes to exempt service dogs and miniature horses from sales and use taxes in Ohio. This change would directly benefit individuals who purchase these animals to assist with disabilities, allowing them to avoid paying the standard tax on such purchases. The bill achieves this by amending state tax code to specifically list these animals as excluded items from the tax definition. Currently, the purchase of service animals is not explicitly exempted, meaning owners must pay the tax unless they qualify for other general exemptions. If passed, the legislation would remove this financial barrier for qualifying service animal owners without altering how taxes are collected on other goods.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill provides tax relief to individuals with disabilities by exempting service animals from sales and use taxes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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in committee · Ohio · House May 13, 2026

HB 839: Expand youth access to soccer

HB 839 allocates state funds to the Ohio Soccer Association to help more young people across the state play soccer. The money is specifically designated to support local development projects, with a focus on expanding opportunities during the year the FIFA World Cup is held in North America. This bill adds new funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 on top of existing budgets, requiring the state budget director to track how the money is spent.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds to expand youth soccer opportunities, directly increasing funding for a public service program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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