Rep. Pizzulli Votes on Fiscally Responsible Budget Plan for Ohioans

COLUMBUS – State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) today announced that the Ohio House of Representatives approved the conference committee report for Am. Sub. House Bill 96 –the State Operating Budget. The budget plan, which allocates funding for state programs and operations for the next two years, includes provisions that aim to protect freedom, family and fiscal responsibility—ensuring no tax increases for Ohioans.

“This fiscally responsible budget ensures no tax increases, protects rural schools with fair school funding, and spurs economic opportunity in the greater Appalachian Region,” said Pizzulli.

BOOSTING FUNDING FOR OHIO SCHOOLS 

The budget prioritizes the education and well-being of Ohio students, ensuring that school districts are funded through the final phase of the Cupp-Patterson funding model. Ohio public schools will receive nearly $700 million more for public education over the biennium than they received in FY25. 

REVITALIZING LOCAL COMMUNITIES 
House Bill 96 continues to invest in various state initiatives that help solidify Ohio as the best place in the nation to live, work, raise a family and start a business. The bill increases funding for Brownfield Remediation, provides funding to help with blight, continues investments for the All Ohio Future Fund, further expands the Welcome Home Ohio program, and helps address the housing shortage across the state through two new targeted initiatives designed to incentivize additional family home construction. 

SUPPORTING OHIO FAMILIES 
The budget increases funding for the Help Me Grow program, which is a system of supports for pregnant women, caregivers with new babies, and families with young children with developmental delays and disabilities. 

BACKING THE BLUE

This budget invests in supporting law enforcement and promoting public safety by providing $65 million over the biennium for local law enforcement training, $21 million over the biennium to support local costs of the MARCS program, which helps equip first responders to better respond to emergency situations and $27 million over the biennium for the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center. Additionally, the budget includes $8 million to provide grants to small county volunteer fire departments.

PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE READINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION 

This budget makes a marked effort to prioritize workforce readiness in Ohio, investing in various higher education programs such as the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, and an increase in the State Share of Instruction by 1% each year, helping lower costs for students at Ohio’s state institutions of higher education. 

PROTECTING MEDICAID PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
In an effort to promote transparency in the Medicaid program, the bill works to protect taxpayer dollars and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse.

CHAMPIONING CONSERVATIVE VALUES

The State of Ohio’s budget plan takes a strong stance on reinforcing conservative values. 

• Establishes a statewide policy recognizing that there are only two genders. 
• Excludes the purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages under the SNAP program. 
• Removes the Governor’s proposed tax increases and several proposed fee increases. 
• Requires libraries to keep materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity out of the view of minors. 
• Eliminates some affirmative action requirements for state contracts. 
• Prevents menstrual products from being distributed in men’s bathrooms in state-owned buildings. 
• Prohibits Medicaid funds from being used for DEI programs, combatting discrimination and indoctrination. 
• Includes $10 million each FY for the Parenting and Pregnancy Program and establishes a $750 tax credit for pregnancy resource center donations, defending the sanctity of life and supporting pregnant mothers. 
• Prohibits state agencies from flying any flag except the American flag, state flag, POW/MIA flag, or a flag with an official state agency logo
• Prohibits state funds from being distributed to youth shelters that promote or affirm social gender transition.

¿House Bill 96 now goes to the Governor for consideration.