Ohio Budget Vetoes : The Good, The Bad, and What's Next
It’s official. Ohio’s massive state budget bill has been signed into law.
It’s still the cruelest state budget I've ever seen. But Governor DeWine vetoed (AKA removed) a shocking 67 items from the budget before signing it. Many of the 67 are items we’ve been pushing him to veto. That is not a coincidence.
Every call, email, and tweet that you sent to the governor truly mattered.
Here is a breakdown of the governor’s vetoes, the items he refused to veto, and what happens next:
THE GOOD:
The governor VETOED language requiring all school board elections to be partisan.
Without this veto, all local school board candidates (and ESC board candidates) would have to run with a political party designation (D or R) next to their name
If this veto stays in place, local school board candidates will be able to focus on helping kids rather than on party politics.
The governor VETOED language requiring libraries to hide books and materials “related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.”
Without this veto, based on what has happened in other states, many Ohio library branches would be forced to shut down or become "adults-only.” The language was written so broadly that ANY book could potentially be included in its requirements. It would be completely unworkable.
If this veto stays in place, it will be a huge victory. Ohio libraries already have strict policies to ensure age-appropriate books. Anything more is unconstitutional censorship. This veto preserves the core mission of libraries – to provide free and open access to information.
The governor VETOED the creation of Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) for unregulated religious (“non-chartered nonpublic”) schools
Without this veto, Ohio students and taxpayers would suffer. ESAs are broader and even less regulated than universal vouchers. They are basically a flexible spending account. They can be spent on ANYTHING — not just tuition (which is what vouchers cover).
If this veto stays in place, Ohio will be saved from an even less accountable use of our tax dollars.
The governor VETOED language punishing school districts that carry over 40% of their operating budget into the next year
This provision was outrageous because school districts carry money over SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO GO TO THE BALLOT. School districts never know what funding will look like in the next state budget. They carry money over so they won’t need to put a levy on the ballot and ask voters for more money.
Without this veto, Statehouse Republicans would essentially be punishing schools for being fiscally responsible
If this veto stays in place, your local school district will be able to plan and budget responsibly. This will mean fewer levies on your ballot.
The governor VETOED language forcing babies and toddlers to regularly re-enroll in Medicaid
Yes, you read that correctly. Current law requires Ohio to try and provide continuous Medicaid enrollment for Medicaid-eligible children from birth through age three. But Statehouse Republicans added item to the budget bill that would eliminate current law.
Without this veto, Ohio parents would be forced to re-enroll their babies and toddlers in Medicaid on a regular basis. Another burden on overworked, exhausted parents of young kids. Another barrier to care for Ohio’s babies.
If this veto stays in place, Medicaid-eligible Ohio children will continue to be automatically enrolled in Medicaid from birth through age three.
The governor VETOED property tax changes that would have devastated local communities, schools, and first responders.
Statehouse Republicans’ budget would have banned replacement levies and key types of school renewal levies (emergency levies most notably).
Statehouse Republicans’ budget also would have banned renewal levies with an increase — meaning you would have to do a vote on the renewal and a vote on new millage separately.
Without this veto, local communities, schools, and first responders would be in big, big trouble.
If this veto stays in place, as the governor’s veto message said, “these levies [will continue to] serve as important tools for school districts as they seek to maintain their long-term financial stability.”
The governor VETOED language banning H2Ohio funding from being used to purchase land or conservation easements.
Without this veto, it would be much harder for Ohio to protect lands for ongoing, long-term cleanup
The governor VETOED several dangerous provisions that would have fast-tracked fracking, forced Ohioans to pay for oil and gas accidents, and defunded the entity responsible for plugging orphan wells
The governor VETOED cruel budget language that would have banned funding for all youth homeless shelters “that promote or affirm social gender transition.”
THE BAD — These items will become law:
The governor DID NOT VETO the massive “flat tax” for the rich.
This item will phase Ohio’s income tax down to a flat rate of 2.75%, which is literally a tax cut ONLY for the richest people in the state.
Ohioans making between $26,000 and $100,000 already pay a 2.75% income tax — so this proposal only eliminates the higher tax bracket for people making over $100,000.
Even worse, this “flat tax” will create a ONE BILLION-DOLLAR hole that the state will have to make up by cutting programs and services that everyone else uses.
ARTICLE: Ohio Senate GOP moves to give wealthiest Ohioans tax cut
ARTICLE: Senate gives $1 billion tax cut to wealthy Ohioans in state budget
The governor DID NOT VETO the budget’s Medicaid Trigger Language, so Ohio is likely going to lose Medicaid expansion.
This provision will immediately end Medicaid expansion in Ohio if the federal government reduces its share of paying for the program’s costs.
770,000+ Ohioans are currently covered under Medicaid expansion, and will likely lose their insurance immediately when this “trigger” occurs.
The governor DID NOT VETO heavy restrictions on politicians’ public records
Ohioans will no longer be able to public records request most communications that state legislators send to each other
Ohioans will no longer be able to public records request most communications that Statehouse staff send to each other
This provision will shield early ALL documents/communications from Ohio legislators and their staff to other legislators and their staff from public records disclosure during the 2-year term in which the conversations occur.
It essentially ensures that all Ohio lawmaking in the future will be kept secret from the public
The governor DID NOT VETO heavy restrictions on criminal justice public records
This language heavily restricts public access to victim statements, personal notes, incident reports, arrest reports, videos, and more
These provisions are cruel — innocent people will spend longer in prison, and some will never get out of prison.
These provisions are also dangerous — innocent people will rot in prison while the people who actually committed the crimes will remain free for longer. They could easily cause more harm in that time.
ARTICLE: New Ohio Public Records Law Could Cripple Access to Law Enforcement Records
ARTICLE: Wrongfully convicted? Ohio could limit access to records from criminal investigations
The governor DID NOT VETO the $600 million for the Cleveland Browns
Yep. Ohioans’ unclaimed funds will be used to build a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns
Get your unclaimed funds before the Haslams do:
The governor DID NOT VETO language abolishing the Ohio Elections Commission
The Ohio Elections Commission (ELC) is a panel that investigates complaints about campaign-finance law violations.
Instead, the ELC will be replaced with a five-member “Ohio Election Integrity Commission” appointed by the Secretary of State and Statehouse leaders…I’m sure nothing corrupt will come from that setup.
The governor DID NOT VETO language getting rid of ALL elected State Board of Education members
State Board of Education membership will be decreased from 11 elected members and 8 Governor-appointed members to a total of 5 members…all appointed by the Governor.
Sadly, there are a lot of other evil budget provisions that were signed into law as well. Check out our budget tracker for more info.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Some of Ohio’s most extreme legislators are very angry at Governor DeWine for his vetoes.
Republicans have a supermajority in Ohio’s legislature, which means there are enough Republicans in the House and Senate to override the governor’s vetoes. If they want, they can force the vetoed items to become law.
The legislature can override the governor’s vetoes anytime between now and midnight on December 31, 2026 (the end of this General Assembly).
They would vote to override each budget item individually. So they could potentially override some of the governor’s vetoes, but not all of them.
BUT we also know that several Statehouse Republicans quietly hated this budget. Hopefully, the governor’s vetoes give them a perfect excuse to say, “well, we shouldn’t override our Republican governor on his last budget…”
NEXT STEP: Push your state legislators NOT TO OVERRIDE ANY OF THE GOVERNOR’S VETOES.
Find your state senator by typing your address below this map.
Find your state rep by typing your address below this map.
DRAFT SCRIPT:
Hello. My name is [NAME], and I am a voter in your district. My zip code is [ZIP CODE].
I’m asking you not to override ANY of the governor’s budget vetoes.
No one got everything they wanted in this budget. There are definitely some things I’m angry about. But it’s good that we have checks and balances in our state government.
Please respect the executive branch and just let the budget remain as-is.
Does [LEGISLATOR] promise to vote NO on any budget veto overrides?
I will be sharing your responses with my networks and urging more people to call you.
Thank you.
I’ll end this post by just saying thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every person who called or emailed or tweeted or rallied or lobbied to get these budget vetoes.
You have save and improved countless Ohioans’ lives with your actions. You are doing real, meaningful work.
Thanks for always being focused and pragmatic to help us all keep on, keepin’ on.
Thx again for all you do, Rachel. He vetoed a number of bad things that I had called about, thanks to your list.