Legislative liaison briefs board on state bills including proposed public-expenditure database and constitutional amendment

Don, the district legislative liaison, told the Fremont City Schools Board on Monday that several statewide work groups are nearing deadlines and discussing policies that could affect school funding and district planning. “They have that September deadline,” he said about the governor’s work group.
The liaison summarized three recurring topics raised by the work groups: cybersecurity training opportunities through organizations such as Cyber Ohio; a property-tax work group that is examining cash-balance recommendations and levy types; and upcoming presentations from the Fair School Funding Group. “One positive thing, I think, is the Fair School Funding Group will be attending their meeting,” Don said.
Don said a new bill, House Bill 113, would create a public-expenditure database for entities receiving public tax dollars and noted one early exclusion in the draft: private schools receiving voucher funds. “They’ve already made in there one exception, and that is that like the private schools that are getting some tax money for the vouchers ... are excluded,” he said.
The liaison also flagged House Joint Resolution 6, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution, and reminded the board that the governor’s office is involved in upcoming congressional mapping if the Ohio legislature does not agree on new maps.
The board took the report as information; no formal district action was taken on state legislation at the meeting.
The update was presented during the agenda item labeled “legislative report.”