The Ohio Operating Budget has officially been introduced in the Ohio General Assembly as House Bill 96, and the Ohio Poverty Law Center has taken a close look at the lead poisoning provisions of the operating budget to see if Governor DeWine has included any funding increases, as well as included authority for the state of Ohio to administer and enforce the Renovation, Repair, and Painting Rule (RRP). Both provisions are key to expanding Ohio’s capacity to keep kids safe from lead poisoning. 

In 2023 Ohio officially created the Lead Safe Home Fund which provided local communities with funding to create or expand lead poisoning prevention efforts. Over the last two years the Lead Safe Home Fund funded 16 different projects around the state in nine different counties. Increased funding would allow more communities to take advantage of this critical funding source. 

RRP is a rule that requires contractors performing renovation, repair, or painting work in older homes built before 1978 to use common sense lead safe work practices. The federal government is supposed to enforce this rule, but enforcement has been inconsistent. However, states are allowed to take over enforcement and tailor the program to suit their needs. The Governor had included RRP in his previous two budgets, but he has left it out of HB 96. Additionally, the budget cuts roughly $450,000 out of the lead abatement fund in fiscal year 2026, which is the main funding source for Ohio’s lead poisoning prevention efforts. OPLC will be working with our partners in the legislature to restore both RRP and the funding cuts so that all children can grow up safe from lead hazards.

Ohio’s Latest Proposed Budget Includes Child Tax Credit

House Bill 96, the state’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, includes a Child Tax Credit provision.

Ohio families would qualify for the tax credit under the following conditions:

• Be a parent of a child aged six or younger
• Earn less than $94,000 annually as a married couple filing jointly
• Earn less than $56,000 as a married couple filing separately 
• For all other taxpayers, earn less than $69,0000

The credit amount would be either: a five percent credit based on a taxpayer’s annual income that could be as much as $1,000 per child or a refund if the credit exceeds what the taxpayer owes in state taxes so long as they earn at least $22,500 per year.

The credit would taper down as income increased:

• Married filing jointly at $75,000
• Married filing separately at $37,500
• Single filer phase out starts at $50,000

To cover the costs of the tax credit, Governor DeWine proposed doubling state taxes on cigarettes from $1.60 per pack to $3.10, according to budget documents. He also recommended raising wholesale taxes on other tobacco products from 17 percent to 42 percent.

Proposed Budget Includes Medicaid “Trigger” Language

House Bill 96, the state’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027, includes a clause to immediately end Medicaid expansion coverage in Ohio if the federal government reduces its share of coverage costs.

Under the proposed provision, if the federal medical assistance percentage for medical assistance provided to members of the expansion eligibility group is set below 90 percent, the Department of Medicaid shall immediately discontinue all medical assistance for members of the group.

A separate provision in the bill addresses changes to state programs receiving federal funding with corresponding federal programs. This section states if the federal government reduces, discontinues, pauses, or otherwise suspends any federal program that provides federal funds for any corresponding state program, such program may be reduced, discontinued, paused, or suspended. This shall include any contract, agreement, memorandum of understanding, or any other covenant entered into by the state that is dependent on federal funding.

According to state data, 7700,000 Ohioans are covered under Medicaid expansion. Approximately 3 million Ohioans are on Medicaid overall.