Senate Budget Includes Timken Bill Addressing Student Cell Phone Use
COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate passed the two-year Operating Budget, which includes legislation sponsored by State Senator Jane Timken (R-Jackson Township) to prohibit student use of cell phones in public schools during the school day.
"I am grateful that my colleagues included this important reform in the biggest bill we will pass this year,” said Timken. “It is imperative we change this culture that keeps kids more connected to their phones than their studies and classmates. As I like to say, we need to make sure we are plugging our kids into a brighter future by unplugging them from their phones.”
Some school districts have already banned cell phones, following the enactment of a law last year requiring local policies to be implemented that address the use of cell phones in schools. Staff members in those districts have seen positive results in student engagement, attendance, grades, socialization, and communication.
Reducing Income Tax Burden with Fair Flat Tax
Over the last decade the Republican Senate has prioritized reducing the income tax burden on Ohioans. The Senate reached a milestone in the new Operating Budget by building on that progress with the implementation of a flat income tax.
The 2.75% flat rate will take effect in tax year '26, while tax year '25 will also see an immediate reduction of the highest bracket, which will drop from 3.5% to 3.125%.
"The first thing moms and dads see on payday is the often disappointing amount of taxes taken out of their hard work," said President McColley. "I'm proud of the progress we have been able to make over the last decade by reducing the overall number of income tax brackets from nine down to one."
Anyone making $26,050 or less will pay ZERO state income tax.
Acting with Meaningful Property Tax Reform
Ohio homeowners hit with troubling property tax increases have been adamant about the General Assembly modernizing the property tax system and improving local tax transparency.
Over the last forty years, revisions have weakened the anti-inflationary guardrails as originally intended. Among them are emergency and replacement levies that skirted those guidelines.
"There is no world where Ohio's retirees should need to worry about losing their homes due to sky-high property taxes," said Senator Timken. "This budget enacts common sense property tax reform to establish the transparency and relief that Ohioans deserve."
The budget will abolish any new emergency or new replacement levies and require improved rules and plain language for future ballot issues to provide more transparency for voters when considering levy requests.
The Senate also recognized the importance of maintaining home rule and local control on property tax matters by enhancing the role of County Budget Commissions.
Budget Commissions consist of the local elected county prosecutor, auditor, and treasurer, and the budget empowers the commission to review and even reduce the financial impact on property owners.
Nearly $1 Billion More for K-12 Public Schools
The operating budget builds on the historic investments over the last two budgets that poured more than an additional $3 billion into public education.
This budget adds nearly a billion dollars more into Ohio's public schools.
Every district will receive at least the same amount as FY '21.
77% of districts will receive an increase over what they received in FY '25 in the first year of the budget, and 75% of districts will receive an increase in the second year compared to FY '25.
Districts will also receive additional state aid for significant academic improvement as well as those that have received a 4-to-5 Star rating from the Department of Education and Workforce.
"Every child in Ohio deserves that opportunity to receive a world-class education," said Senator Timken. "We need to recognize the importance of performance in public school and use this opportunity we have to improve our schools."
Protecting Ohio's Elections
The Operating Budget included provisions from Senate Bill 4, which established the Election Integrity Unit in the Office of the Secretary of State and modifies laws governing the prosecution of Election Law violations in Ohio.
The unit is required to investigate allegations of election fraud and voter suppression, allow the public to submit complaints, refer cases to a prosecutor, law enforcement or another state or federal agency for review, and submit a report to the General Assembly detailing investigations undertaken by the unit. If the County Prosecutor declines to prosecute cases referred by the Election Integrity Unit, then the Attorney General may proceed with the prosecution.
Investing in Rural Ohio
The Operating Budget included $100 million allocated to the Residential Development Revolving Loan Program, providing low-interest loans to political subdivisions in rural counties to finance housing infrastructure. This investment addresses the high development costs that have hindered housing expansion in Appalachia and other rural regions.
The Operating Budget also appropriated $1.5 million to the Rural Practice Incentive Program, which provides qualifying attorneys who practice in rural areas student loan repayment aid.
"The rural access incentive program is supporting access to legal services in areas of the state where there is need."
Revitalizing Ohio
The Operating Budget increased the tax credit for investments in economically depressed communities from $25 million to $50 million, creating a pathway for the revitalization of struggling communities across Ohio.
"Too many communities in Ohio are struggling to revitalize themselves," said Senator Timken. "Increasing the tax credit for investment in opportunity zones will allow them to rebuild themselves and encourage new residents and businesses to move in."
House Bill 96 transferred $200 million to the Brownfield Remediation Fund to be used for economic development and cleanup of contaminated land.
Senator Timken was proud to secure funding for the Regional Transportation Improvement Project to continue their efforts to improve safety and support economic development along US Route 30.
The Senate also increased the maximum amount of credits allocated for TMUD projects near major cities from $80M to $100M, driving investment toward areas with high development needs while still ensuring that the program has a statewide impact.
The Operating Budget also included a Timken amendment that revised the conditions under which D-5j liquor permits may be issued in a community district, allowing communities that were incorporated after 1880, such as North Canton, to receive such a license.
Senator Timken was proud to include funding for the Stark Education Partnership, an organization which drives sustainable improvement and innovation to provide all students with education and career success.
Investing in Families
The Senate's commitment to Ohio's families continues with a $20 million investment for Ohio's Fatherhood Commission which will run the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative.
Recently national leaders joined President McColley to support the effort to address the startling statistic that 53% of Ohio's children live in single parent homes.
"We know that children living without both parents are much more at risk of living in poverty," said President McColley. "We know that dads provide stability at home, and this program is vital in teaching young men, who grew-up without a father, how to be an active and involved father."
Senator Timken was proud to support increased funding for the Parenting and Pregnancy Program, which will receive $10 million per fiscal year. This program is designed to provide services to pregnant women and parents, or other relatives, caring for children under 12 months of age by promoting childbirth, parenting, and alternatives to abortion.
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