House Finance Committee adopts omnibus amendment to HB 96, advances state operating budget after testimony on school funding and foster scholarships

The Ohio House Finance Committee on April 8 accepted an omnibus amendment to the state operating budget and voted 19-10 to favorably report amended substitute House Bill 96 to the Rules and Reference Committee after hours of testimony on school funding and a foster-to-college scholarship proposal.

The omnibus amendment (Amendment 2698-1) reflecting additional House changes to the state operating bill was accepted by voice vote during the committee meeting; the committee later voted by roll call to favorably report amended substitute HB 96 to Rules and Reference, 19-10.

Why it matters: HB 96 is the state operating bill that will reach the House floor; the committee’s action moves the amended measure toward full-chamber debate and a final vote. Witnesses and members used the hearing to press budgetary priorities and to flag potential consequences of specific provisions, notably an amendment discussed in testimony that would direct the auditor to suspend property tax collections for districts whose unreserved cash balances exceed 25 percent.

Superintendent Angie Hamburg, superintendent for the Westerville City School District, told the committee that her district of nearly 15,000 students — which employs almost 2,000 people and spans Franklin and Delaware counties — relies on planned cash balances to cover recurring operations as state support falls.

"Only looking at a year of the forecast ... The only band aid we have right now is our cash balance, and like many districts, losing it abruptly would be catastrophic for us," Hamburg said. She told members the district spent about $638,000 a day, that it lost $4 million in state share this school year, and that the district has been using one-time federal ESSER funds to pay positions while shifting costs back to the general fund, producing year-over-year deficit spending.

Hamburg said the district had banked $25 million in expedited local partnership credits for facilities work, had planned a levy and a small, no-new-millage bond that failed in November, and had used reserves to keep the five-year forecast positive through 2029. She warned that under the proposed 25 percent cash-balance suspension, "our treasurer predicts that we would quickly run out of cash. It would have to make major cuts to programming unless we continue to successfully ask for small regular levies. We would anticipate having to be on the ballot yearly."

Members pressed Hamburg on particulars. She said special education costs were increasing sharply; the district added eight specialized-learning classrooms this year and faces costly outside placements and transportation for some students. On rating agencies, Hamburg said her district has an AAA rating from the last bond sale in 2019 and that cash and forecast stability are important in rating reviews.

Julia Marino, a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University and a member of the Junior League of Columbus, urged lawmakers to include the Foster to College Scholarship Act in the budget. Marino invoked testimony from foster youth and advocates and described the bill as a bipartisan measure that would provide after‑aid tuition support and mentoring to young people exiting foster care.

"I think the American dream depends in part on ensuring we don't forget young people who don't have parents to advocate for them," Marino said, adding that many foster youth express a desire to attend college but lack financial and mentoring supports.

Committee debate and action

Vice Chair De Villa (motioning as recorded) moved to amend substitute HB 96 with Amendment 2698-1; the vice chair described the amendment as reflecting additional House changes to the state operating bill and instructed members to the committee website and members’ iPads for the text. The omnibus amendment was accepted by the committee after the chair asked if there were objections and none were offered.

Later, Vice Chair De Villa moved that the House Finance Committee favorably report amended substitute House Bill 96 and recommend its passage. The clerk called the roll; Representative votes recorded on the motion were: Stewart (yes), Davila (yes), Sweeney (no), Abrams (yes), Baker (no), Bird (yes), Calendar (yes), Glassburn (no), Grimm (no), Hall (yes), Hoops (yes), Isaacson (no), Jerrels/ Gerald (no), John (yes), Johnson (yes), Jones (yes), Manning (yes), Piccolantonio (no), Plummer (yes), Ray (yes), Robinson (no), Romer (yes), Schmidt (yes), Simms (no), Thomas (yes), Troy (no), White (yes), Willis (yes), Young (yes). The committee reported the bill to Rules and Reference with 19 affirmative votes and 10 negative votes.

Representative Sweeney, the ranking member, acknowledged the committee’s long process and the remaining policy differences. "At this point, we have simply two different versions of what the Ohio budget should be," Sweeney said, praising staff and the committee process while reserving floor debate for the next day.

Next steps

The committee granted Legislative Service Commission harmonizing authority for the committee report. The amended substitute HB 96 will proceed to the Rules and Reference Committee and is expected to reach the House floor for further debate and a final vote. The House Finance Committee adjourned after reporting the bill.

Votes at a glance

- Amended substitute House Bill 96 (state operating bill), with Amendment 2698-1: favorably reported to Rules and Reference, 19 yes, 10 no. Mover: Vice Chair De Villa. Outcome: favorably reported.

What was not decided here: The transcript records extensive testimony about a proposed provision to suspend property tax collections for districts with unreserved cash balances above 25 percent; committee members and witnesses discussed potential fiscal impacts, but no separate committee vote on that specific provision is recorded in the transcript. Testimony and questions about special education cost growth, levy failures and the role of one-time federal funds were part of the hearing record but did not by themselves alter the committee’s recorded action to report HB 96.

(End of report)