Rep. Brennan Files Amendment to Strip $600M Browns Stadium Funding from State Budget

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (Parma) this week submitted an amendment to House Bill (HB) 96, Ohio’s 2026-2027 operating budget, that would strip language authorizing the Ohio Treasurer of State’s office to issue and sell bonds in the amount of up to $600 million to assist in funding a new Cleveland Browns Stadium in the City of Brook Park.

“I am gravely concerned that the proposed state budget is seemingly prioritizing billionaire sports owners over the needs of Ohio’s senior citizens, families, children, and disabled, among many other residents, who are struggling in our current economy. We have a responsibility to ensure that our state government is being responsive to our constituents by fully funding education, Medicaid, foodbanks, libraries, and other essential services that Ohioans depend on and deserve. We should also be prioritizing the state providing real property tax relief to homeowners.  The Ohio Statehouse is not the personal bank account of Ohio’s billionaires. It is a repository of the treasure of hard-working Ohioans meant to be used to meet their urgent and diverse needs,” said Rep. Brennan.

Rep. Brennan further mentioned that he was appalled this week when the latest version of HB 96 was released to the public.

“During my tenure in the legislature, my constituents often have expressed how they are struggling due to climbing property taxes, increasing healthcare costs, lack of responsiveness and transparency from the government, and the need for policies that protect our consumers. I have had hundreds of residents call on me to focus on the pervasive and growing needs of our community. I have not had any constituents call on me to support taxpayer subsidies to finance the building of a new sports stadium,” said Rep. Brennan.

Legislators were given only a couple of days this week to review and offer amendments to the latest Ohio House of Representatives version of the budget proposal, which is hundreds of pages long. The final House version will be voted on next Wednesday, April 9.