Architypes Winter 2025 – Government Affairs Update

New Legislative Session. Legislators returned to Columbus to begin their new biennial session, the 136^th Ohio General Assembly.

Members elected their separate leadership by caucus votes.  The House majority Republicans chose Matt Huffman (R, Lima) as Speaker.  Being newly-elected to the House after retiring as Senate President, Huffman could serve 8 years, or 4 General Assemblies through 2032.

The House minority Democrats returned Representative Allison Russo (D, Upper Arlington) as Minority Leader, who is term limited after this biennial session.

Senate Republicans elected Senator Robert McColley (R, Napoleon) as Senate President, while Democrats returned Senator Nicki Antonio (D, Lakewood) as Minority Leader.

On the legislative agenda is passage of the State Budget, effective for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 beginning July 1, 2025.

Voters will decide at a Special Election to be held May 6, 2025 whether to renew Ohio Public Works Commission’s funding with issuance of $2.5 billion in bonds over ten years. Local projects are selected by bipartisan district public works integrating committees, from applications by local governments.

Introduced in January 2023, Senate Bill 41 proposed expedited appeals of building code department decisions, with a hearing in five days.  The bill passed the Ohio Senate and Ohio House unanimously, but the Senate failed to ratify House amendments.  So, the bill lapsed.  With sponsor Senator Kristine Roegner (R, Hudson) returning to the Senate, she re-introduced the legislation as Senate Bill 6.

Statewide Elections.  The incumbent Governor, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State are term limited, so campaigning for these open seats begins now for election on November 3, 2026.

With Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted appointed U.S. Senator to fill the vacancy left by J.D. Vance, Republicans appear to be setting up a three-way primary for Governor, with Attorney General David Yost, Treasurer Robert Sprague, and Cincinnati-native Vivek Ramaswamy announcing for the seat.

Current Auditor Keith Faber will vie for Attorney General, and Senator Niraj Antani (R, Miamisburg) will run for Secretary of State.  Former Director of Health during COVID, Dr. Amy Acton announced a run for Governor as a Democrat.