Kent Smith

The Ohio Capital Journal's roundup highlights a submetering bill linked to GOP campaign donations and a veto by Governor Mike DeWine, the signing of a bill requiring schools to teach the 'Success Sequence,' the closure of a labor and delivery unit in Delaware County, and a campaign finance complaint against Vivek Ramaswamy alleging undisclosed payments.

Ohio lawmakers are advancing Senate Bill 294, which could add hurdles for utility-scale solar and wind projects by requiring a 50% capacity factor for reliability. The bill, influenced by ALEC, faces criticism for favoring natural gas and nuclear energy over renewables, despite earlier efforts to level the energy market through Ohio House Bill 15.

Ohio lawmakers introduced legislation to increase transparency in the EdChoice voucher program, which provides taxpayer funds to private schools. The proposed bill would mandate audits, academic reporting, and background checks, but Republican leadership is unlikely to enforce stricter oversight. Public schools face underfunding while EdChoice received $2.5 billion in the last budget.

An Ohio bipartisan bill, Senate Bill 443, would require private schools using Education Choice and Education Choice Expansion vouchers to undergo annual audits, submit weekly attendance records, conduct employee background checks, and publish graduation and dropout rates. The bill aims to increase transparency as Ohio spends over $1 billion annually on vouchers, with nearly half from the expansion program allowing eligibility up to 450% of the poverty line. Lawmakers argue the current system underfunds public schools and lacks accountability.