Rep. Pizzulli Votes to Deliver Billions in Historic Property Tax Relief for Ohioans

COLUMBUS – State Representative Justin Pizzulli (R-Scioto County) today voted in support of Am. Sub. House Bill 96 – the House’s version of the State Operating Budget. This forward-looking, fiscally responsible budget plan invests in Ohio families and the state’s future.

“This forward-looking budget ensures a bright future for our state,” said Pizzulli. “By investing in workforce readiness, uplifting families and children, and providing tax relief, we are ensuring Ohio is the best place to work, live, raise a family, and open a business!”

Pizzulli was pleased to highlight the following provisions included in the House’s budget bill:

• Prohibits Medicaid funds from being used for DEI programs, combatting discrimination and indoctrination.
• Reemphasizes the House’s commitment to lowering taxes by removing all Governor-proposed tax increases.
• 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. 
• Requires libraries to keep materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity out of view of minors.
• Establishes a statewide policy recognizing there are only two sexes.
• Codifies the Governor’s “Return to Work” order requiring all state employees to return to in-person work.

DELIVERING BILLIONS IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO OHIOANS

In an effort to provide much-needed property tax relief to Ohioans, the bill implements a process for schools that carry forward more than 30 percent in unspent cash at the end of each year to be distributed back to Ohioans in the form of property tax relief, totaling more than $4 billion. District cash carryovers have increased year over year since tracking began in 2012, from $3.6 billion then to $10.5 billion today. In FY24, 486 traditional school districts carried over cash greater than 30 percent of their expenditures for that year.

REVITALIZING LOCAL COMMUNITIES

House Bill 96 will continue and enhance 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, further improves the Welcome Home Ohio program, and helps address the housing shortage across our state.  

PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE READINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION IN OHIO

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 2%, helping lower costs for students at Ohio’s state institutions of higher education. The bill also continues support for Ohio’s TechCred program, which allows employers to upskill current or future employees at no cost to them.

PROMOTING MEDICAID TRANSPARENCY

In an effort to promote transparency in the Medicaid program, the bill works to protect taxpayer dollars and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse through a number of provisions, creating a variety of new reporting requirements that the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) must provide to the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee (JMOC) for review. 

House Bill 96 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.