Rep. Bryant Bailey Announces Passage of State Capital Budget, Securing Vital Community Investments in Hamilton County

June 12, 2026

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey (D-Cincinnati) today announced the passage of Senate Bill 450, the state's biennial capital appropriations budget. The bill allocates nearly $4B for the maintenance, renovation, and construction of state-owned infrastructure, including colleges, universities, school districts, and other community projects.

The capital budget is the mechanism by which the state funds its brick-and-mortar needs. This ranges from the construction and renovation of K-12 public schools and higher education facilities to public works programs and mental health treatment centers, and includes funding for local community projects. It includes funding for projects that expand access to healthcare, strengthen local economies, preserve cultural institutions, improve public infrastructure, and enhance quality of life for residents across the region.

Rep. Bryant Bailey helped secure $22 million for Hamilton County.

"The capital budget is how the state makes good on its promises to local communities, and we delivered for Hamilton County and District 26. These projects represent more than the dollar amount; they are a direct investment in the people and places that make this region strong. I am proud to have fought for every dollar, and I look forward to seeing this work transform our communities for years to come," said Rep. Bryant Bailey.

$3.95 million in funding will be distributed to the following projects within HD 26:

The Farmer Music Center - $2,500,000
State-of-the-art amphitheater that will set a new standard for live entertainment in the region. A new venue that combines the design of a traditional amphitheater with the vertical integration of a stadium featuring new standards that artists and concertgoers expect.
The Inspiration Center - $350,000
The Inspiration Center is a year-round indoor tennis and education facility serving youth and families across Hamilton County. Capital funding will support the construction of indoor courts, classrooms, and community space needed to deliver youth development, academic enrichment, and adaptive sports programming.
CROWN Oasis / Ohio River Trail - $300,000
To build a 34-mile paved multi-use trail loop around the City of Cincinnati by linking four major trails in development—Ohio River Trail, Little Miami Scenic Trail, Wasson Way, and Mill Creek Greenway.
Larry Henderson Fallen Officer Regional Memorial & Gateway - $200,000
To construct a regional Fallen Officers Memorial park at the only location in the region where the two largest multi-purpose trail/path systems will connect Cincinnati to five counties. The memorial gateway structure will arch over the regional path and honor all police officers killed in the line of duty in the Cincinnati region with a bronze statue and memorialized names on brick pavers.
Xavier University Center for Community Health and Wellness - $250,000
The center will serve as a referral clinic that will coordinate screenings, evaluations, and interventions, while serving as a training site for Xavier’s Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Osteopathic Medicine programs.
Ralph J. Ficke Park Upgrades - $250,000
This project will add additional parking spaces and increase the size of the existing parking lot to comply with the ADA. Along with the parking lot expansion, the Tennis Court will be refreshed to remain open to the public.
Cincinnati Observatory Center - $100,000
To complete the renovation of the basement and office space of its iconic 1873 building into an area suitable not only for the storage and preservation of items but also for their display so that they may be shared with the public.

SB 450 now heads to the governor's desk for his signature.