A new Browns stadium, income taxes, school cell phone ban: How Ohio's budget affects you

Yahoo

3 days ago

Ohio's new two-year budget cuts income taxes for high earners, pays for a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns, funds K-12 schools, bans cell phones in classrooms and could reduce who receives Medicaid if federal officials slash spending.
DeWine signed the bill late June 30 and issued 67 vetoes − the most of his time as governor. The Republican governor canned most of lawmakers' plans for property tax relief even as a group tries to eliminate all property taxes at the ballot.
Lawmakers can override DeWine's vetoes with a vote of at least three-fifths of each chamber. Republicans control enough seats to make that happen.
The 3,156-page final product includes hundreds of changes that affect how you live, work and play in the Buckeye State. Here's what the changes will mean:
If you...
Earn more than $100,000 a year: You are getting a break on your income taxes. Now, everyone earning at least $26,050 will pay 2.75% on their state income taxes − called a flat tax. Those making less pay no income taxes.
Buy a newspaper, book or movie: You won't pay sales tax on newspaper subscriptions, material used to produce printed material or motion pictures acquired by theaters. Lawmakers wanted to impose taxes on these items, but DeWine vetoed that change.
Donate to an anti-abortion pregnancy center: You will get a personal income tax deduction up to $750 per year for contributions to pregnancy resource centers.
Buy cigarettes in certain counties: The budget allows Franklin, Summit and Hamilton counties to levy a cigarette tax to pay for local arts and cultural programming. Cleveland's Cuyahoga County is already authorized to do this.
Want cities with marijuana dispensaries to get money: The budget maintained 36% of recreational marijuana tax revenue for cities with dispensaries and directed the rest of it to the state's general bank account. Lawmakers punted a more robust debate about cannabis to later this year, meaning cities won't get their money any time soon.
Own the Cleveland Browns: You will receive $600 million toward your goal of moving the professional football team from its lakefront stadium to a new domed facility in the suburb of Brook Park. The money comes from a $1.7 billion pot of Ohioans' unclaimed funds from forgotten deposits and money.
Have unclaimed funds: Ohioans' unclaimed funds will be used to pay for sports stadiums and cultural facilities. You can check if you have unclaimed funds at unclaimedfunds.ohio.gov.
Own the Cincinnati Bengals or another sports team in Ohio: You could apply for $400 million in unclaimed funds set aside for other sports venues. Teams across the state have expressed interest in money for upgrades after the Browns made their $600 million request.
Want to move the Cleveland Browns to Brook Park: It will be easier thanks to a change in state law that weakened the Art Modell law, which makes it harder to leave the city.
Need a tampon: Menstrual products will be prohibited in the men's restrooms in public buildings.
Are a transgender Ohioan: State law now makes it the policy of the state to recognize two sexes, male and female.
Use a homeless shelter as a transgender Ohioan: DeWine vetoed an item that would have cut funding for homeless shelters 'that promote or affirm social gender transition.'
Want to read a LGBTQ book: DeWine rejected a provision that would've forced public libraries to keep materials on sexual orientation and gender identity away from patrons under age 18.
Bring a cell phone to school: Students will be prohibited from using cell phones in school starting Jan. 1, 2026, except in certain circumstances, such as a health issue or an active threat or an emergency.
Want to get a driver's license at age 20: Ohio will require driver's education training for anyone under 21 years old. Current law requires training for those younger than 18.
Attend a public school: The budget allocates about $8 billion per year for public, K-12 schools. Democrats and school leaders say that's less than what they were promised under a fair-school funding model first approved in 2021.
Want to run for school board: You won't have to list your political affiliation. DeWine vetoed that proposal.
Attend a nonchartered, nonpublic school: You won't receive state taxpayer money through an educational savings account to pay for tuition and supplies. Ohio currently pays for public schools and private tuition through vouchers but the non-chartered, non-public schools lack oversight, DeWine said in his veto message.
Worry about STRS pension oversight: Ohio is remaking the 11-member board by August 2028. The change means fewer teachers and retirees and more appointed financial experts on the board, which has been beleaguered with drama.
Want to use AI in schools: School districts must develop a policy on the use of artificial intelligence by July 1, 2026.
Have children who need glasses: The budget will ensure more kindergarten through third grade students receive comprehensive eye exams and, if needed, glasses. Ohio set aside $10 million for children's glasses.
Are raising a baby: The budget expands home visits to an additional 12,000 families, DeWine said. Home visits help parents learn the skills they need to care for their babies and reduce infant mortality in the state.
Want property tax relief: DeWine jettisoned a plan to limit how much school districts could carry over year to year. He also axed a plan that required certain levies be included in the 20-mill floor. DeWine promised a working group to look at property tax reform, but lawmakers were already calling for an override.
Are one of the 770,000 Ohioans on Medicaid because of the expansion: Ohio would end Medicaid coverage for low-income adults if the federal government chips in less than 90% of the program. Currently, Ohio pays for 10% of the cost for that group of people.
Want to buy pop with SNAP benefits: Ohio will ask the federal government for a waiver to ban the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for sugar-sweetened beverages.
Want children to stay on Medicaid: DeWine vetoed a change that would have blocked Ohio's attempt to keep children on Medicaid, regardless of changes to their parents' financial circumstances, through their fourth birthdays. The proposal needs federal approval to move forward.
Want to know how a bill becomes a law: The budget restricts access to lawmakers' internal records and bill drafts until after the two-year legislative session is over. Gary Daniels with the American Civil Liberties Union called the change "an ongoing assault on your right to know & accountability."
Care about water quality: DeWine vetoed language that would have prevented using H2Ohio funds to purchase land or conservation easements. H2Ohio is a program DeWine launched in 2019 to reduce harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie and improve water quality statewide.
Want oversight of conditions in Ohio's prisons: Lawmakers moved the duties of inspecting and investigating complaints about prisons from the Corrections Institution Inspection Committee to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
Have a complaint about campaign finance violations or voter fraud: You will no longer go to the Ohio Elections Commission, which was eliminated. Instead, election complaints will be handled by the Ohio Secretary of State's Election Integrity Unit. But local prosecutors will retain control over who is charged with voter fraud.
Need child care: The Ohio budget increases the number of children who can receive care at various child care providers. The budget also requires child care providers to be paid based on enrollment instead of attendance – a federal change that Ohio will implement by July 5, 2026.
Like bike paths: State and local governments will still be able to use eminent domain for bike paths.
Are called for jury duty as a state employee: You won't be required to fork over any compensation you receive for jury duty or court attendance.
Have a cell phone: You will pay 60 cents per month for enhanced 911 services. That's an increase from the current fee of 40 cents per month.
Want to sell a queen bee: You would pay a $50 fee to sell, trade, gift or distribute them.
Are the victim of AI-generated porn and sexual images: You could sue the person who created the fake image and that offender could face a criminal charge for nonconsensual creation of fabricated sexual images.
Want age verification for porn: The budget requires an organization that sells or presents any material or performance that is "obscene or harmful to juveniles" to utilize reasonable age verification methods.
Are looking for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services: It is now called the Department of Behavioral Health.
Reporters Haley BeMiller and Laura Bischoff contributed to this article.
With love, as always, for the late Dispatch reporter Jim Siegel, the original budget guru.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at [e-mail] or @jbalmert on X.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How the new Ohio state budget signed by Gov. Mike DeWine affects you