Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed the state’s $86 billion biennial operating budget containing tax cuts for individuals and businesses, higher income limits for school vouchers, and a new requirement for parental approval of social media accounts for children under 16.
DeWine vetoed a total of 44 budgetary measures, including a two-week sales tax holiday, legislation that would have prohibited the regulation of tobacco and nicotine products, and legislation that would have prohibited higher education institutions from forcing students to have specific immunizations.
The two-year budget plan includes around $3 billion in tax cuts, which will reduce the number of tax brackets to just two for Ohioans: one with a marginal tax rate of 2.75 percent for incomes above $26,050 and the other with a rate of 3.5 percent for those making more than $100.000. There would be no state income tax for households earning less than $26,050.
Universal eligibility for publicly funded K–12 vouchers for private schools is provided by the budget. However, only partial voucher scholarships of at least $650 would be available to students from households earning more than 450 percent of the federal poverty level; the exact amount they get will depend on their family’s income.
DeWine’s requirement for verified parental consent prior to children’s use of social media also made it into the two-year budget.
The budget also includes Senate Bill (SB) 1, removing the majority of the power from the state board of and superintendent and instead creating a new administrative division under the governor’s office, and reducing the duties of the State Board of Education.
DeWine dismissed a two-week “tax holiday” in the first two weeks of August 2024, when consumers would not have to pay state or local sales taxes on any purchases costing $500 or less, with the exception of motor cars, watercraft, alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and vapor goods.
The governor also rejected the legislature’s attempt to prevent local regulation of nicotine substitutes and tobacco goods, which would have presumably nullified Columbus’ limits.
DeWine eliminated a different pro-tobacco budget proposal that would have mandated that the state reimburse tobacco distributors or wholesalers for excise taxes paid when retailer companies fail to pay for purchases of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
DeWine also axed a measure that would have enabled any student to refuse vaccinations required for admission or residency in university dorms at a private college or state institution of higher education.
Other vetoes include a ban on foreign adversaries owning agricultural property in Ohio, a higher number of child care programs exempt from the state’s upgraded Step Up To Quality rating requirements, the removal of the requirement that every participant in the assisted living waiver program run by the Ohio Department of Aging is entitled to a private restroom and an exemption for federally qualified health centers that offer specialty behavioral health-care services.
According to DeWine, he is proud to sign the budget that will make strategic investments in the state’s thriving economy, communities, and families in a manner that positions Ohio for continued success in the future.
“I am proud to sign this budget, and while it makes historic investments in Ohioans across their lives, I believe we are doing more to support and encourage Ohio’s children to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives than ever before. Whether it is helping them get the healthiest start in life by providing top-notch health care for moms; to expanding access to quality early childhood education; to ensuring their teachers have the resources and skills needed to teach students how to read in the way their brains learn to read; to providing prevention and early intervention tools for those struggling with mental and behavioral health issues; to expanding access and opportunity for all types of training, certifications, and degrees after high school graduation, and continued career development; through ensuring Ohioans have a high quality of life and the highest quality of care as they age, this budget helps make Ohio the heart of opportunity for everyone,” DeWine said.
Lt. Governor Jon Husted said that the balanced budget features a historic investment in mental health services and infrastructure, significant incentives and policies to improve the quality of nursing home care, and new opportunities for jobs and economic development. It also focuses on giving Ohio’s children a better start in life through education initiatives and unheard-of support for mothers and children.
“This budget is balanced, it provides tax cuts to working families, and it invests in economic and workforce development while promoting educational freedom with the expansion of the EdChoice Scholarship. It was also great to see our efforts to require parental notification for social media included, along with much of our work to eliminate unnecessary and outdated regulations through CSI’s Innovate the Code initiative,” Husted said.
The biennial operating budget runs in the fiscal year from July 1st until June 30th, 2025.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Mike DeWine” by Mike DeWine.
