The Ohio Statehouse has been largely quiet this summer as lawmakers spend time in their districts and on the campaign trail. Members returned this week to pass a temporary gas-tax moratorium, an issue that has emerged from the gubernatorial campaign and carries an estimated $726 million price tag.
Meanwhile, the state’s FY 2028–2029 budget process officially got underway Tuesday with the release of the Office of Budget and Management’s (OBM) operating budget guidance. State agencies will submit their budget proposals throughout October, but they have been instructed to maintain the status quo and propose no new initiatives given the upcoming change in administration.
The budget process will mark a significant transition as Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration comes to a close. His administration will review agency requests focused on the funding needed to continue current constitutional, statutory, and other legal responsibilities through the next biennium. The proposals will then be passed to the next governor, Democrat Amy Acton or Republican Vivek Ramaswamy, for further consideration and development of the final budget.
In the next biennium, policymakers have an opportunity to preserve and strengthen the programs and infrastructure that help older Ohioans remain independent in their homes and communities. o4a’s 2026 policy priorities call for preserving the critical role of Area Agencies on Aging in Medicaid home and community-based services, expanding sustainable funding for services and supports, and strengthening Ohio’s aging and disability network.
o4a is also calling for strong state-level leadership and a continued commitment to aging as a statewide policy priority, recognizing that aging intersects with nearly every major area of state government, including healthcare, Medicaid, housing, transportation, workforce, and public health.