The Statehouse News Bureau

3 days ago | statenews.org | Jo Ingles

While advocates continue to back legislation that would outlaw or limit abortion though Ohio has a constitutional amendment protecting reproductive rights, a new bill goes too far for many abortion opponents. The Ohio Prenatal Equal Protection Act would treat abortion like homicide by granting criminal and civil protections from the point of fertilization. A so-called “personhood” bill has been introduced in Ohio before, but this is the first time since voters approved the 2023 amendment.

4 days ago | statenews.org | Karen Kasler

The 2.75% flat income tax in the Senate budget got the approval of all but one Republican senator, and House Republicans who favor tax cuts seem to like it as well. But there’s one key Republican who may be showing doubts. And he has the power to strike the idea entirely. Gov. Mike DeWine hasn’t proposed an income tax cut in any of his four budgets, and has said no company has ever told him they wouldn’t come to Ohio because its income taxes were too high.

4 days ago | statenews.org | Karen Kasler

Opposition is growing against a Republican state lawmaker’s bill that would cut property taxes by eliminating the 1% of property tax value that schools and local governments can levy without voter approval – known as inside millage. House Bill 335, sponsored by Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson), would eliminate inside millage, which legislative researchers say would affect $3.5 billion in property taxes collected by local governments and schools.

4 days ago | statenews.org | Karen Kasler

Six state lawmakers on the conference commitee are now going over the differences between the budgets approved by the House and Senate, with the deadline of June 30 looming. Among the big items: plans to use 30-year bonds or unclaimed funds for $600 million to go to the Cleveland Browns domed stadium in Brook Park, a cap on collected property taxes districts can hold, and a potential income tax cut for Ohioans making over $100,000 a year.

5 days ago | statenews.org | Erin Gottsacker

The Sandusky County Jail in northern Ohio is relatively small. On average, about 80 people are incarcerated there and most don’t stay for more than a year. So, for a long time, there wasn’t much investment in educational programming. “They had tried off and on for a few years with a GED program,” said Deputy Caren Nemitz. “That didn't really gain any traction.”But recently, that’s changed.