Staff report

Ohio now has its fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law on July 1. Area representatives in the state house and senate cast their votes along party lines. 

Rep. Jack K. Daniels (R-New Franklin), Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) voted in favor of the bill. 

Rep. Derrick Hall (D-Akron), Rep. Veronica Sims (D-Akron) and Sen. Casey Weinstein (D-Hudson) voted against it.

The Republican legislators made no public statements in support of the bill’s passage while all three Democrats issued news releases condemning it. 

“This budget is an absolute failure for everyday Ohioans,” Hall said. “From gutting Medicaid for those who need it most, underfunding our schools by using outdated data, cutting childcare initiatives, and eliminating lead abatement programs. I cannot and did not support a budget that does more harm than good to my constituents.”

Weinstein recognized that it was the first time since 2001 that not a single Democrat voted to support the budget. He described it as a misalignment of Ohioans’ values.

“We had a choice in this budget: support our schools, support our food banks, invest in research that could save children's lives, or subsidize billionaires,” he said. “Unfortunately, this budget chooses the latter. This budget cuts pediatric cancer research in half while finding $600 million for a professional football stadium. When children are fighting for their lives, our priorities should be crystal clear.”

Sims said it prioritizes tax breaks for wealthy residents over school, community and health care funding while also recognizing positive line-item vetoes.  

“Again, budgets are about choices, and the choices made even in the items vetoed did not go far enough to prioritize everyday Ohioans,” she said.

Roegner was the primary sponsor of two bills in June related to health and human services. She proposed that child care providers certified by a branch of the U.S. armed forces be exempt from state licensing in Senate Bill 218, which was referred to the armed services, veterans affairs and public safety committee.

Roegner also proposed spending $5 million to audit the Aged, Blind, and Disabled Medicaid

eligibility group with Senate Bill 222. After the audit, the Department of Medicaid “shall initiate a corrective action plan, designed to reduce spending in the Medicaid program for individuals in the aged, blind, and disabled eligibility group by $2.4 billion during the biennium,” according to the bill, which was referred to the finance committee.

Daniels introduced one bill — House Bill 367. It was co-sponsored by Joe Miller (D-Amherst) and would amend sections of the Ohio Revised Code related to “dedicated organ recovery vehicles,” which are defined as a vehicle used for transporting human organs that are clearly labeled as such with a driver experienced in emergency vehicle operations. 

The traffic law changes seek to treat organ recovery vehicles the same or similar as emergency vehicles in some cases. It was introduced on June 17 and had not been moved to a committee by the end of the month.

Also on June 17, Hall introduced House Bill 365 or the Property Tax Refund Act. It was referred to the ways and means committee the next day.

The bill would establish a refundable income tax credit or rebate for homeowners and renters whose property taxes or rent exceed 5% of their income. State Rep. Sean P. Brennan (D-Parma) co-sponsored the legislation. 

U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes introduced two bills in early June, both of which were referred to committees.

Sykes’ Closing Bribery Loopholes Act is part of a joint legislative effort aimed at ending corruption and restoring public trust in government. It would expand the definition of an “official act” by public officials, which currently includes legislative actions like casting votes, to include any action, such as hosting a promotional event on public property, done in their official capacity.

She also introduced the Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act, which would amend the National Quantum Initiative Act. The amendments would promote partnerships with public and private entities to accelerate the development of domestic technologies and components needed for quantum computing, among other changes aimed at supporting the industry. 

Roegner voted for and announced the Ohio Senate passage of her bill that would prohibit public officials from obstructing immigration-related arrests and providing other protections from enforcement action. It was sent to the House on June 23.

"The United States is a nation of immigrants, but we are also a nation of law and order. To have a civilized society, laws must be respected, this includes immigration laws," she said in a prepared statement.

Weinstein denounced Senate Bill 172 as an anti-immigration proposal that would allow people to be detained based on suspicion about their immigration status. He noted that the bill was a response to the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas’ rules, issued in February, that limit civil immigration arrests on courthouse grounds.

“S.B. 172 doesn’t make Ohioans safer,” he said in a news release. “It undermines our legal system and threatens the constitutional rights of everyone in this state, regardless of immigration status. By allowing people to be detained based solely on suspicion without due process or oversight we open the door to wrongful arrests, racial profiling, and deep erosion of public trust.”     

In the state House, Daniels cast his vote for a bill, which he jointly sponsored with state Rep. Roy Klopfenstein (R-Haviland), that would enhance regulations and require more prominent labeling for imitation meat and egg products. The bill unanimously passed the House on June 11 and has been referred to the agriculture and natural resources committee in the Senate.

“We are taking a clear step toward transparency in food labeling and protecting Ohio’s consumers and agricultural producers,” Daniels said in a news release. “This bill ensures that families know exactly what they’re putting on the dinner table, while supporting the integrity of our state's meat and egg industries.”

Sykes’ latest votes included a “no” on the U.S. House’s final vote on the federal spending bill or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. She has criticized the bill, which passed on July 3 in a 218-212 vote with all Democrats opposed and all but two Republicans in favor, for health care and food assistance cuts. President Donald Trump was expected to sign the bill into law on July 4.

Sims co-chaired the state’s first Ohio Aging Caucus meeting alongside state Rep. Daniel P. Troy (D-Willowick) in the third week of June. 

The caucus is intended to foster discussion about how to ensure senior citizens live “full, vibrant lives,” according to a news release from Sims. 

“As co-chair of Ohio’s Aging Caucus, I am proud of the bipartisan commitment in ensuring that all Ohioans have the ability to age with dignity,” she said. “I look forward to determining the Caucus' legislative priorities so that we can make meaningful progress for all of Ohio’s seniors.”

There was no shortage of political appearances by area representatives in June.

Daniels toured the new visitor’s center construction site at Portage Lakes State Park with state Rep. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown). 

Hall shared on Facebook that he met with Sherwood Acres residents in support Stow City Council candidate Kim Young, incumbent Councilman Kyle Herman, Law Director Drew C. Reilly, and municipal judge candidate Amber Zibritosky.

Hall also visited the Tallmadge Library, spent time at the Stow Historical Society’s annual Joshua Stow Festival, and participated in the “No Kings Day” protest on June 14 in Cuyahoga Falls.

Roegner gave a keynote speech at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Professionals of Ohio’s annual Chamber Day event in Columbus. She also joined state Senator Jane Timken and spoke at an Americans for Prosperity event in Massillon, calling it a “great conversation” on X. 

Weinstein hosted a “Democracy and Donuts Drive-thru,” which involved collecting petition signatures to repeal Senate Bill 1 or the Advance Ohio Higher Education Act, in his driveway. He also hosted a fundraiser to support Zibritosky’s campaign. 

Sykes hosted a ceremony for the renaming of Wolf Ledges Parkway Post Office in Akron to the “James R. Williams Post Office” to honor the late judge. She introduced the legislation to rename the post office late last year, and President Joe Biden signed it into law in January.  

She also attended the East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation Middlebury Festival and the annual StarkPRIDE festival in Canton. 

Several area lawmakers expressed their concern and condolences after the June 14 killings of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.

Vance L. Boelter, of Minnesota, was later arrested and charged in connection to the politically-motivated attacks. 

“A gunman, impersonating a police officer, deliberately lured public servants to their own doorstep and opened fire,” Alvin M. Winston Sr., the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Minneapolis Field Office, said in a news release. “A Minnesota lawmaker and her spouse were murdered in cold blood, and others wounded, simply for serving as elected officials.”

Sykes was informed by U.S. Capital Police that her name was found among Boelter’s notes. In a statement three days after the killings, she called for an end to “vitriolic rhetoric” in politics. 

“Senseless violence claimed the lives of Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and left Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette in critical care,” she said. “My heart breaks for their families, friends, and communities impacted by this tragedy. I commend the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies for apprehending the suspect.

In a Facebook post, Hall said his heart goes out to the victim’s families and that “violence has no place in our political discourse.” Weinstein also shared his condolences to the families on Facebook and thanked DeWine for increasing security for Ohio legislators.

“Honestly I’m struggling with this news. I’m worried for my family. I worry I’m putting them in harm’s way by being in office. It’s a terrible feeling,” Weinstein posted. “This is NOT a partisan issue. There is never - ever - justification for violent rhetoric and especially violence against our elected officials.”