Budget Bill Update - Your Outreach Is Critical!

By Katie Johnson posted 03-31-2023 11:45 AM

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We crossed an important milestone in the budget process this week with the full House Finance Committee wrapping up its first round of hearings on House Bill (HB) 33, the FY24-25 biennial budget.

Members from the Fair School Funding Plan Workgroup testified on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of continuing the phase-in and the necessity of updating the base cost inputs from FY18 values to FY22 values. You can find their testimony here.

The House Finance Committee members need to hear from school district leaders stressing that same message and sharing the difference this will make for students in your district. To ensure the formula operates as intended, we must continue the phase-in and update the base cost inputs to FY22. Please take a few minutes to email the members of the House Finance Committee with this important message. Your outreach matters – every contact counts!

Please see the contact information for the House Finance Committee members below.

Next steps in the budget process

All House members must have their budget amendments submitted next week. The House will be on break from April 10th-14th, but will work on changes to the budget bill during this time. A substitute version of the budget bill is expected to be unveiled in House Finance Committee the week of April 17. House members will then have another opportunity to submit changes to the substitute bill with those amendments due Friday, April 21. The committee will then entertain an omnibus amendment (a large amendment full of many smaller amendments) on April 24 or 25. The final House version of the budget is expected to be passed by the end of April.

Your advocacy is needed during this critical time. Please reach out to your legislators and Finance Committee members listed below. It is a critical time for public education and your advocacy makes all the difference!

Please contact us with any questions.

Chair Edwards - rep94@ohiohouse.gov

Vice Chair LaRe - rep73@ohiohouse.gov

Ranking Member Sweeney - rep16@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Abrams - rep29@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Callender - rep57@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Carruthers - rep47@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Cross - rep83@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Cutrona - rep58@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Ghanbari - rep75@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Hoops - rep81@ohiohouse.gov

Rep. Jones- rep95@ohiohouse.gov