Senate Government Oversight committee holds informal hearing on Sub. H.B. 96 operating budget

The Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee convened for an informal second hearing on Sub. H.B. 96, the state operating budget, and heard invited testimony from a series of licensing and justice-related agencies.

Committee Chair Manchester opened the session, noted a quorum and called up Sub. H.B. 96 for a second informal hearing. "With the quorum being present, we will proceed as a full committee," the chair said. The committee approved the minutes from its April 29 meeting "without objection."

Invited witnesses presented budget requests and program overviews for the Accountancy Board; the Architects Board and the Landscape Architects Board; the Court of Claims; the Ohio Judicial Conference; the State Employment Relations Board; and the Ohio Department of Insurance. Testimony covered each agency's funding source (most said they are self-supported or non‑GRF), staffing and technology needs, and program priorities such as licensing portability, cybersecurity and public records, workforce development, and consumer assistance programs.

No committee votes on Sub. H.B. 96 or individual appropriations were recorded on the transcript during this hearing. After testimony and a brief question period for several witnesses, Chair Manchester concluded the invited testimony and adjourned the committee.

The hearing served as a forum for agencies to explain their budget requests and for senators to ask clarifying questions; several witnesses stressed that their funding is primarily fee‑driven rather than supported by the state's General Revenue Fund.

Procedural notes: the committee called for and approved the previous meeting's minutes, then took invited testimony on Sub. H.B. 96 and adjourned.