The Statehouse News Bureau

Established in 1980, the Statehouse News Bureau offers thorough and educational reporting on legislation, elections, and various activities related to the Statehouse for Ohio's public radio and television stations. It continues to be the sole broadcast source focused on detailed coverage of state government news and issues that matter across the state. The Bureau receives funding from the Broadcast Educational Media Commission and is operated by ideastream.

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Ohio GOP leaders still want 60% threshold for amendments that come from citizens or groups

1 week ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Secretary of State Frank LaRose was all decked out for Election Day this Tuesday, from his custom-made "I Voted" sticker socks hidden under his khakis to his walkie-talkie that connected him with all 88 county boards of elections. During a May election with just one statewide race, a legislative-led constitutional amendment, and dismal turnout, it’s hard not to think about future cycles, and LaRose certainly was.
Speaker says he hasn't read new analyses critical of $600m in state bonds for Browns stadium project

2 weeks ago | statenews.org | Karen Kasler

The leader of supermajority Republicans in the House said on Wednesday he hasn’t seen two analyses from state entities of the tax revenue projections for the Cleveland Browns domed stadium development in Brook Park. The House budget includes a package of $600 million in 30-year bonds to help finance that project, which Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) has supported.
Omnibus energy bill off to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine after months of hearings

2 weeks ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

The legislature sent Gov. Mike DeWine an extensive bill Wednesday that lawmakers and lobbyists have said will prompt new energy generation and otherwise overhaul the system as power-hungry consumers, like data centers, put increasing pressure on the grid statewide. As Ohio stares down eventual electric shortages from growing demand, House Bill 15 could take effect as soon as three months from now, if DeWine signs it. Leaders have said it could take years for increased activity on plants’ parts.
Legislative researchers say tax revenue estimates for new Browns stadium are "overly optimistic"

2 weeks ago | statenews.org | Karen Kasler

The bipartisan office that reviews legislation for state lawmakers says the tax revenue estimates provided by the owners of the Cleveland Browns for a $3.4 billion new domed stadium and development are "overly optimistic." House Republicans approved in the budget $600 million in 30-year bonds for the project, which the Browns have claimed will raise $1.3 billion more than the billion dollars the state will need to pay back the bonds.
Bill allowing Ten Commandments to be displayed in Ohio's K-12 classrooms stalled in committee

4 weeks ago | statenews.org | Jo Ingles

A Republican-backed bill making its way through the Ohio Legislature would require schools to display of certain historical documents - and that could include the Ten Commandments. The Ohio Senate Education Committee has held multiple hearings but hasn’t yet voted on the bill from Sen. Terry Johnson (R-McDermott), which would require one of nine historical documents to be displayed in classrooms of public schools.
Ohio House passes its own new energy generation provisions. What next?

1 month ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Ohio House legislators voted Wednesday to advance their own version of lengthy energy generation legislation, which—like the Senate’s—includes an immediate rollback of controversial subsidies to two aging power plants. House Bill 15 got nearly unanimous backing on the floor, but first saw some fierce debate in committee over how best to eliminate bailouts that have cost Ohioans more than $450 million, according to the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel.
This Ohio library book was returned nearly a century after its due date

1 month ago | statenews.org | Tana Weingartner

Librarians at the Westwood and Price Hill branches of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library got quite a surprise late last year. A copy of "Wild West" by Bertrand W. Sinclair was returned after 98 years. "I've been here a while, and I've seen books come back that were due in the '80s and the '90s and even the '70s, but this is the first time I've come across a book that was almost a century overdue," Christopher Smith, genealogy and research services reference librarian, tells WVXU.
Meet the "bounty hunter" filing lawsuits in the name of government transparency

1 month ago | statenews.org | Erin Gottsacker

Brian Ames has spent the last decade filing upwards of 160 lawsuits against local governments. “I go find public bodies that are not following the Open Meetings Act, and I bring cases against them that require them to comply with the law,” he explained. He’s sued school boards, budget commissions, boards of elections and village councils — everywhere from Hamilton County to Ashtabula — for failing to comply with the state’s sunshine laws, which are meant to ensure government transparency.
Vaccine rates against measles, other infections sliding in Ohio kids

1 month ago | statenews.org | Sarah Donaldson

Fewer and fewer children statewide are being immunized against preventable diseases, such as polio or measles, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Between the 2023-2024 academic year and the 2024-2025 one, department of health data shows vaccination rates again slid among Ohio kindergarteners. The percentage of students entering school with all their recommended shots fell from 86.2% to 85.4%. Just prior to the pandemic, that figure hovered at nearly 90%.
Protestors across Ohio and the U.S. show anger over many issues, but united in opposition to Trump

2 months ago | statenews.org | Karen Kasler

Protestors came out for demonstrations around the country Tuesday, organized by the 50501 Movement, a national effort that opposes many of the actions taken by the second administration of President Trump. Several hundred protestors stood on the sidewalk in front of the Statehouse with signs reading “diversity equals unity”, “deport Musk”, “restore our democracy”, “DOGE is a ponzi scheme”, and “there are too many problems for just one sign”.