Week In Review 5-26-25

Week in Review > Week In Review 5-26-25

Posted by Buckeye Association of School Administrators on May 27th, 2025

BALLOT ISSUES

A coalition of groups led by Fair Districts and We Are Ohio Monday sent a letter to lawmakers and Gov. Mike DeWine opposing legislation that would change the petition gathering process for ballot initiatives and referendums, saying the proposed bills “put targets on the backs of civically engaged Ohioans.” The letter opposing SB153 (Gavarone-Brenner) and HB233 (LaRe-Swearingen) was signed by 134 organizations and include voting rights groups, religious groups and unions.

FY26-27 PROPOSED BUDGET

As the Senate begins debating changes it will make to biennial budget HB96 (Stewart), Senate Democrats said Tuesday that they have submitted more than 400 proposed amendments reflecting their priorities and to reverse what they argue are the most harmful provisions of the House-passed version. The proposed amendments address issues including housing and property tax, implementing the school funding formula, adding a child care tax credit, removing the proposed bonding for the Cleveland Browns Brook Park stadium, and changing language eliminating the Medicaid expansion if the federal government reduces its reimbursements so that it gives the state more flexibility in its decisions in that scenario.

Consumers’ Counsel Maureen Willis says she’s met with Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) to discuss an increase in the agency’s non-General Revenue Fund (GRF) budget to the $8.3 million OCC is proposing for each year of FY26-27 — still less than the $8.5 million slashed by freshman Gov. John Kasich before major state and national inflation took hold. Willis told the OCC Governing Board Tuesday she continues to advocate for her full requested increase of $1.97 million in light of 2025 costs up 39 percent since Kasich’s first budget cycle. Ohio’s outgoing governor has offered the agency $599,000 more in FY26 and another $259,000 in FY27. She reminded the board that OCC draws no state or federal tax dollars and instead relies on a three cents per $100 charge on Ohio electric bills.

Potential witnesses who want to press their point in person before the Senate Finance Committee as the upper chamber considers the budget will need to submit their testimony soon. The committee set a testimony submission deadline of 5 p.m. Friday, May 23 for anyone wishing to speak at the hearings scheduled for Tuesday through Friday of next week. Anything submitted past that point will be considered only as written testimony, according to the meeting notice.

EDUCATION

Auditor Keith Faber’s office said Friday he’s officially extended his Financial Health Indicators (FHI) tool for local governments to Ohio school districts. The FHI looks at 16 areas of public financial, including general fund balances, revenues, deficits and debt service, among others, and categorizes each as “positive,” “cautionary” or “critical.” The auditor’s office has offered similar tools to assess the health of local governments since 2016.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) approved amendments to three facilities plans Thursday with no new plans considered. Commissioners approved an amendment to the Accelerated Urban School District Agreement for Akron Central School District. The amendment calls for a budget increase of $4,408,497 for the agreement due to market conditions and a claim resolution. OFCC Chief of Planning Melanie Drerup said the amendment will not require any new state spending. Commissioners also approved a budget decrease for the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program Master Facilities Plan for Washington Local School District in Lucas County. The Master Facility Plan and Project Agreement for Oberlin City School District in Lorain County was also amended Thursday by OFCC after previous approval by the school district board.

ELECTIONS 2026

Attorney General Dave Yost announced Friday, May 16 he is suspending his campaign for governor, one week after Ohio Republicans closed ranks around Vivek Ramaswamy with an official endorsement of him as their 2026 gubernatorial nominee. “I do not wish to divide my political party or my state with a quixotic battle over the small differences between my vision and that of my opponent. I am simply not that important,” Yost wrote in a message to supporters, also acknowledging that “a steep climb to the nomination for governor has become a vertical cliff.”

FEDERAL

The U.S. House early Thursday passed the spending bill dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Act,” sending it on to the U.S. Senate. The bill, which reflects a number of President Donald Trump’s priorities, prompted reaction from Ohio members of Congress, as well as state and national groups.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Admirers of the late House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson recalled not only her own trailblazing political achievements but also her dedication to helping other women climb higher in leadership during a signing ceremony Monday for legislation to designate a day in her honor. Under SB14 (Reynolds), Sept. 28, Davidson’s birthday, will be known as “Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Day.” Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill Monday in front of a crowd of graduates from the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute, which Davidson founded to help train women for roles in government and politics.

Rep. Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) testified Tuesday on legislation that would continue a program that was a priority of his as Speaker of the House to address road and bridge projects in rural areas. Stephens gave sponsor testimony to the House Transportation Committee Tuesday on HB151, which he said would continue the Connect4Ohio Program, which had been created and funded with $500 million in the previous biennial budget – 135-HB33 (Edwards).

Wednesday’s House session included passage of HB5 (Willis-Williams), to increase penalties for repeat firearm offenses; HB144 (J. Miller-K. Miller), regarding law enforcement training and hiring; HB114 (Bird-Ritter), regarding age requirements for kindergarten; HB104 (Lawson Rowe-Deeter), designating Feb. 14 as “Cardiovascular Health Awareness Day;” HB171 (Schmidt) to designate a portion of State Route 28 in Clermont County as the “Cpt. Louis John Speidel Memorial Highway;” SB21 (Brenner-Reineke) to designate Oct. 4 as “Rutherford B. Hayes Day;” and HCR8 (J. Miller-A. Holmes) to support and encourage the work of the Ohio Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial in celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

House Democrats held a press conference Wednesday to highlight legislation meant to address the type of corruption highlighted in the recent HBO documentary, “The Dark Money Game,” such as HB250 (Sweeney-Isaacsohn), which focuses on dark money, and forthcoming legislation to ban harassment of petition circulators, among other proposals.

Rep. Dontavius Jarrells (D-Columbus) announced Wednesday he is continuing his effort to have all lead water service lines replaced in Ohio, now with Rep. Monica Robb Blasdel (R-Columbiana) as a Republican co-sponsor.

Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) told reporters Wednesday he believed the public would “benefit greatly” if Medicaid work requirements are put in place. That would help provide more workers, supporting businesses and alleviating current challenges in public access to goods and services as a result, he said. “Thirdly, I would argue that in general, people are better off if they’re going to work every day than when they’re not,” Huffman continued. He acknowledged exceptions include people with disabilities, those who cannot work or choose not to work while not receiving Medicaid benefits.

House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) told reporters Wednesday her caucus has “huge concerns” about HB1 (King-Klopfenstein) “because of its very broad, far-reaching impact on people who are here legally.” She noted that includes active-duty military members and veterans who were originally from a county considered an adversary, and said the bill needs a “significant amount of work.” “I can appreciate some of the national security concerns, but I think as the bill is written, it is hugely problematic,” Russo continued.

In other legislative action, House Transportation Committee reported out HB234 (Swearingen), a road naming bill; House Development Committee reported out HB86 (Demetriou), regarding tax foreclosures and land banks; House Health Committee reported out SB27 (Johnson), to designate March 20 as “Ameloblastoma Awareness Day;” and HB32 (Jarrells-Cockley), to designate July as Celebrating Disabilities Month; and House Veterans and Military Development Committee reported out HB204 (E. White-M. Miller), to designate March 9 as “6888th Postal Directory Battalion Day.”

HIGHER EDUCATION

As current Wittenberg University President Michael Frandsen prepares to retire as Wittenberg’s 16th president in June, the university recently announced Christian Brady as Frandsen’s replacement as president. Brady had been dean of the Lewis Honors College at the University of Kentucky. Prior to that, Brady led the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University and served as interim dean of the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Bowling Green State University (BGSU) School of Engineering recently signed an AI based agreement with Kata Solution LLC and IoTco, that leverages the university’s educational resources and research expertise in the growing field of AI to work toward a shared goal of strengthening Ohio’s economy, according to a statement released by BGSU. The two Ohio-based companies are partnering with the university “to seek pilot program opportunities and a comprehensive strategic understanding that builds upon educational innovation from BGSU, provides students with real-world opportunities and aids the state’s economy by working directly with industry partners,” the statement read.

Supporters of HB157 (Brennan-Hoops), legislation to enact the “Hunger-Free Campus Act,” Tuesday were greeted with skepticism and a lot of questions from members of the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee about just why the bill is needed, how it fits with other needs the committee has heard about recently and just how widespread the issue of food insecurity is on Ohio’s campuses.

Jo Alice Blondin, president of Clark State College in Springfield, announced her plans to retire in June 2026. Blondin has served since 2013 as the college’s fifth president, capping a 33-year career in high education.

The University of Toledo Board of Trustees announced Thursday that it has selected Dr. James Holloway as the university’s 19th president following an extensive national search. Holloway, currently serving as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of New Mexico, will assume the role on Tuesday, July 15, succeeding Interim President Matt Schroeder.

PENSIONS

Records provided by the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) indicate the head of an Iowa public pension fund and the former head of North Carolina public pension funds are in the running for the role of STRS executive director. Hannah News submitted a public records request for resumes of finalists for the position and received resumes for Gregory Samorajski and Steven C. Toole. A third, internal candidate – Christina Elliot, chief benefits officer for STRS – notified the board she was withdrawing from consideration. The STRS Board of Trustees had voted in April to grant interviews to Elliot, Samorajski and Toole.