The Ohio Senate passed its version of the state’s new two-year $85.7 billion budget bill on Thursday highlighting significant reforms for education policy, tax policy, and home ownership programs.
The latest version of House Bill (HB) 33 passed out of the Ohio Senate by a 24-7 party-line vote. Now approved, the legislation will go to a conference committee to work out differences with the House budget.
The budget includes income tax cuts, universal school vouchers, and a plan to remove the majority of the power of the state Board of Education and superintendent.
The passed budget has two new tax brackets lawmakers say will reduce personal income tax for many Ohioans. The marginal rates will be 2.75 percent for annual income over $26,050 and 3.5 percent for annual income over $92,150, phased in throughout the biennium. Ohio residents will not pay any income taxes if their annual income is less than $26,051.
The budget also includes Senate Bill (SB) 83, known as the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act, which aims to eliminate the need for professor, staff, or student participation in diversity, equity, or inclusion training or courses. It would also create transparency for all tasks and compulsory and suggested reading.
The senate budget proposal also includes a provision supported by Governor Mike DeWine to remove the majority of the power of the state Board of Education and superintendent.
Additionally, the senate budget broadens the state’s school voucher program so that all K–12 Ohio students can obtain vouchers for private education. Currently, the only pupils who qualify are those who attend schools with low test scores and whose families are at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level.
Senate legislators upped eligibility for private school vouchers through the state’s EdChoice scholarship program, expanding eligibility to those at up to 450 percent of the federal poverty level or $135,000 for a family of four.
Additionally, the senate budget reinstated DeWine’s requirement for verified parental consent before children use social media.
A two-week extended sales tax break is another provision of the Senate’s economic plan as well as putting $1 billion toward a Strategic Community Investments Fund, restoring housing credits from DeWine’s budget that the Senate cut in a previous version, adds $16 million to fund the upcoming August 8th statewide special election, lowers the minimum age to become a police officer from 21 to 18, bans the sale or distribution of flavored vaping products except for menthol, bans the use of TikTok and other Chinese apps on state government devices, and extends the agreement between the state and its nonprofit job creation company JobsOhio for another 15 years.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) noted that the budget roughly equals $86 billion.
According to Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima), it’s time to make bold changes to the state budget.
“Challenging the status quo is difficult. Now is the time to make the bold changes necessary to focus on the results our taxpayers should demand, the results our parents should expect for their children’s education, and the results our state desperately needs to revitalize crumbling neighborhoods in our city centers,” Huffman said.
A budget approved by both chambers must be reconciled before being sent to Governor DeWine for approval before the fiscal year’s end on June 30th.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
