Warren-Clinton News

State Representative Adam Mathews of Lebanon has cast his vote in favor of Amended Substitute House Bill 96, the Republican-drafted State Operating Budget for Ohio. The legislation focuses on expanding opportunities for school choice, increasing funding for school districts, and promoting housing development across the state.

Mathews noted, "I am thankful for the Speaker and my colleagues in the House for their collaborative work to achieve a pro-family, pro-housing, and fiscally responsible budget that will continue moving Ohio forward. We were sent to Columbus to be good stewards of our state and our constituents’ tax dollars, and this budget continues to fulfill this responsibility."

The new budget incorporates numerous amendments that Mathews helped draft and champion. These include a $750 tax credit for contributions to pregnancy resource centers and $5 million in grants for local governments that offer pro-housing policies through a Housing Accelerator program. Additionally, it seeks to prevent the misuse of Medicaid funds for gender transition and resolves tax loopholes that could increase homeowners' property taxes.

House Bill 96 also addresses education by increasing the maximum awards for the Autism Scholarship and Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship, and it offers an education savings account option for parents of children attending non-chartered non-public schools. The home school expense tax credit is expanded to support each student, benefiting home school families.

To support Ohio families needing childcare assistance, the budget establishes the Child Care Choice program, allocating $100 million each fiscal year to help cover costs. Funding for the Help Me Grow program, assisting pregnant women and families with young children, is also increased.

A focus on tax relief is evident as the bill aims to simplify Ohio’s property tax system, protect taxpayers from unintended increases, and reduce the severance tax on coal by 20% to spur energy production.

Additionally, House Bill 96 promotes revitalization through the creation of the Housing Accelerator program offering local governments financial incentives for housing development policies. It also allocates more funds to Brownfield Remediation and further enhances the Welcome Home Ohio program.

Efforts to promote transparency in the Medicaid program are part of the budget, which introduces new reporting requirements for the Ohio Department of Medicaid to present to the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee.

The budget ensures every school district in Ohio will receive increased funding over the next biennium, resulting in a total boost of $555.2 million. Public libraries will see a funding increase of over $7.2 million, with an additional $281,000 allocated to Warren County libraries.

Lastly, priority is given to workforce readiness and higher education by increasing state investment in scholarship programs and raising the State Share of Instruction, which aims to reduce costs for students. The bill also continues funding for the TechCred program, allowing businesses to train employees at no expense.

House Bill 96 has now been sent to the Ohio Senate for further evaluation.