Ohio House Concurs on Transportation Budget

COLUMBUS – Speaker Pro Tempore Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) is pleased to announce that the Ohio House of Representatives Wednesday concurred on Senate amendments to Sub. House Bill 54 – Ohio’s Transportation Budget. The bill allocates funding for Ohio’s extensive transportation system, prioritizing efforts to keep Ohio moving forward. 

Sub. House Bill 54 is the primary mechanism to fund transportation infrastructure development and maintenance for FY 2026 and 2027. It invests more than $11.48 billion over the biennium into highway construction and maintenance and provides funding for safety upgrades on Ohio roadways. Sub. House Bill 54 includes provisions that aim to preserve Ohio’s vital infrastructure, promote economic development, and boost public safety. 

“This funding will directly improve transportation infrastructure and make our roadways safer,” said Manning. 

Various changes that were agreed upon from the Senate include:

• Removes a requirement that a contractor indemnify a railroad company against any damage that may result from contractor negligence in improving a grade separation.
• Earmarks $3,000,000/FY for Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs).
• Requires that a BMV customer present proof of U.S. citizenship during the BMV transaction or have previously presented proof of U.S. citizenship to the BMV in order to be offered voter registration.
• Authorizes a school district, a chartered nonpublic school, or a community school to own and operate or contract with a vendor that supplies a motor vehicle originally manufactured and designed to transport up to 12 passengers, including the driver, for regular student transportation.
• Requires ODOT to assist villages, with snow and ice removal, road salt application, and mowing under certain conditions.

Sub. House Bill 54 preserves infrastructure by investing more than $393 million for new highway construction, improving the state’s transportation infrastructure for generations to come. 

The bill also promotes economic development and innovation by appropriating $13.5 million each fiscal year to continue the Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership Program, which supports public workforce transportation in rural and urban areas.  The legislation also increases funding for Transportation Improvement Districts (TIDs) to $9 million each fiscal year, promoting economic development through job creation. As part of continuing Ohio’s leadership in innovation, Sub. House Bill 54 creates the Division of Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) within the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). 

Additionally, Sub. House Bill 54 boosts public safety and provides $382 million for targeted safety upgrades to Ohio's roadways over the biennium. The bill also commits over $4.1 billion for maintenance operations on Ohio’s current highway system, including roadway replacement, culvert inspections, and bridge maintenance.

Sub. House Bill 54 now goes to the Governor for his signature.