Mike DeWine

DeWine signed an executive order requiring more frequent revalidation of certain Medicaid providers in response to a U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigation into fraud in Ohio's Medicaid program. The executive order directed Ohio Medicaid to seek federal approval for a six-month moratorium on new provider enrollments in hospice, home health agencies, waiver organizations, private duty nursing, personal care aides, and home care attendants, while also denying pending enrollment applications in these categories. The congressional task force, chaired by Rep. Brandon Gill, initiated its investigation following reporting on billing practices within Ohio's Home and Community-Based Services waiver program.

DeWine instructed the Ohio Department of Medicaid to seek federal permission to impose a moratorium on new home-healthcare and hospice businesses becoming Medicaid providers. DeWine also announced plans to issue an executive order establishing more stringent oversight of certain providers already participating in the Medicaid program. DeWine stated in a May 13 press release that these initiatives were designed to protect taxpayer funds and enhance oversight of the state's Medicaid program.

Governor DeWine responded to State Representative Ty Mathews' proposal for a three-month suspension of Ohio's motor fuel tax by stating that such a suspension would constitute a "grave disservice" to Ohioans. DeWine noted that the fuel tax revenue supports critical infrastructure maintenance, including road construction, highway repairs, and pothole repairs. The statement came as gas prices in Ohio remained above $4 per gallon and similar suspension proposals were being discussed at the federal level.

DeWine appointed Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, as interim Ohio Attorney General following Dave Yost's resignation effective June 7. Wilson, who previously served as a Clark County prosecutor, will complete Yost's term through January 11, 2027. Wilson currently oversees the Ohio Department of Public Safety's ten divisions, nearly 4,000 employees, and a $2.5 billion biannual budget.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine appointed Nicholas Sylvain to the Montgomery County Common Pleas juvenile division and Steve Abshire to the general division in April 2026. Sylvain, a magistrate in the domestic relations division, replaced retiring Judge Julie Bruns with an office start date of May 18, while Abshire, a Greene County Juvenile Court magistrate, replaced retiring Judge Dennis J. Adkins with an office start date of May 4. Both appointees will serve until county voters determine their permanent tenure through scheduled elections.

DeWine unveiled a new public school attendance tracking portal on April 15, 2026, accessible at attendance.ohio.gov, which displays attendance data from participating schools filterable by district, building, and grade level with weekly updates rather than the previous annual reporting. The portal was developed in collaboration with Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin to help schools, parents, and communities identify attendance trends and underlying causes of chronic absenteeism. As of the announcement, approximately 24 percent of Ohio's districts and schools had not yet participated in sharing their data with the system.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost called for action on the state's death penalty system in April 2026, following the death of Samuel Moreland, who had spent 40 years on Ohio's death row after being convicted in 1986 of killing five people in Dayton, including three children. Moreland died of natural causes on February 27, 2026, at a Columbus prison hospital at age 72, making him southwest Ohio's longest-serving resident on death row. Yost's demand for action addressed the lengthy period Moreland spent incarcerated under a death sentence before his natural death.

Governor DeWine is in the final stages of selecting appointees to fill two vacant judicial seats in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court and Montgomery County Juvenile Court following the retirements of Judge Dennis Adkins in December 2025 and Judge Julie Bruns in February 2026. The Montgomery County Republican Party provided recommendations to the governor's office for both positions. DeWine's appointees will serve in these roles until the general election this fall, when voters will select permanent replacements.

DeWine proposed additional funding for Central State University, Ohio's only public historically Black university, while indicating the institution would need to implement reforms. DeWine identified two major areas of concern at the university: significant infrastructure deficits and questions about the institution's future role within Ohio's higher education system. DeWine stated that Central State was pursuing expansion of allied health course offerings and noted that the university's leadership, including President Morakinyo A.O. Kuti and the board of trustees, had committed to implementing necessary changes.

Vertiv, a digital infrastructure corporation, announced a $49 million manufacturing facility expansion in Ironton, Ohio, expected to create up to 520 jobs by 2027. The expansion was coordinated through state and local economic development organizations including JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development. DeWine stated that the investment demonstrates Ohio's role in the technology industry and that the state's workforce would support Vertiv's work in the AI supply chain.

DeWine affirmed the state's commitment to constructing the Ohio Behavioral Healthcare facility at the former Hara Arena site in Trotwood and Harrison Township, stating that the state owns the property and will proceed with demolition and construction as ground conditions permit. DeWine indicated the location would not be changed despite concerns raised by local officials, noting that similar state behavioral health facilities in Columbus and Cincinnati have provided employment and economic benefits to their regions. The facility is scheduled to be operational by 2030 and is intended to serve the Miami Valley population requiring mental health and behavioral health services.

In March 2026, DeWine responded to a proposal by gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to consolidate Ohio's universities by stating the idea was not "a good idea." Ramaswamy had argued that Ohio had too many universities and that consolidation could create centers of excellence and reduce excess spending. DeWine did not elaborate on specific alternative approaches to higher education policy in the reported exchange.

DeWine signed legislation that prohibits Ohio municipalities from adopting ranked choice voting systems in their elections. The bill restricts local communities from implementing this alternative voting method at the municipal level. The action standardized voting procedures across Ohio by preventing individual jurisdictions from selecting ranked choice as an electoral option.

Governor DeWine signed Ohio Senate Bill 56, legislation that recriminalized marijuana in the state by prohibiting its use in public places, outlawing importation from other states, and requiring specific transportation procedures in vehicle trunks. The bill reversed the legalization of marijuana for adult use that had been approved by 57 percent of Ohio voters in November 2023. Marijuana arrests in Ohio had declined from 7,438 in 2023 to 1,538 in 2024 prior to the bill's enactment.

DeWine assembled a working group that evaluated nutrition data and implementation feasibility regarding changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Ohio. The state sought and received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a waiver to ban the purchase of sugary carbonated beverages with SNAP benefits, effective October 1. The waiver prohibits drinks with sugar, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, or other sweeteners as the primary ingredient and little to no nutritional value.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 295 into law on Friday evening, legislation that extends the maximum time allowed for a defendant to be restored to competency to stand trial in Ohio to three years in cases of aggravated murder, murder, or where life in prison is a possible sentence. The bill originally passed the Ohio Senate with a five-year timeline before the Ohio House reduced it to three years, which the Senate concurred with prior to DeWine's signature. The legislation requires mental health hospitals to notify the court within fourteen days when a defendant refuses to comply with their treatment plan, with any period of refused treatment deducted from the three-year restoration period.

DeWine warned reporters that a growing movement to eliminate all property taxes in Ohio through a proposed constitutional amendment could raise the state sales tax to 17 to 20 percent. DeWine stated that eliminating property taxes would be devastating to local government entities including schools, police, fire departments, and children's services. The group Citizens for Property Tax Reform is seeking to place a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would eliminate both residential and commercial property taxes in the state.

DeWine commented on marijuana activists who were collecting signatures to place a referendum on the November 2026 ballot to repeal portions of Senate Bill 56, legislation signed into law in December that restricted marijuana usage and banned intoxicating hemp products. The governor characterized the activists' complaints as "whining" in response to their efforts to reverse the restrictions implemented by Republican legislators. Senate Bill 56 eliminated hemp product sales at retailers such as gas stations and smoke shops while making changes to recreational cannabis regulations that had been approved by Ohio voters in November 2023.

DeWine launched OhioSEE (Ohio Student Eye Exam), a state pilot program providing free eyeglasses to kindergarten through third-grade students in 15 counties, including Butler, Clark, and Montgomery counties in the Dayton area. The program, operated by the Ohio Department of Health, will deploy mobile vision screening vans and in-school clinics to conduct comprehensive eye exams and provide glasses at no cost to families over a two-year pilot period. The initiative is expected to serve up to 14,000 children annually once fully operational.

DeWine wrote to the Secretary of Commerce in December requesting specific details regarding findings from a Department of Commerce audit that resulted in the freezing of nearly $6 million in federal and state funding to the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. MAGNET, Cleveland's Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, was subsequently designated as one of seven regional job hubs under the state's new WorkOhio Program despite the funding freeze. The organization responded to the funding halt by reducing its workforce by 36 staff members.

DeWine launched the OhioSEE program on Wednesday at Campus International School in Cleveland, which provides free eye exams and glasses to students in kindergarten through third grade. The program addresses barriers to vision care by delivering examined and fitted glasses at no cost to students, with schools conducting initial screenings. Four Northeast Ohio programs are currently participating in OhioSEE alongside eleven others across the state, with DeWine indicating an intent to expand the initiative to all 88 counties in Ohio.

DeWine signed House Bill 186 in December 2025, legislation that caps revenue increases from levies affected by Ohio's 20-mill school funding guarantee and authorizes a property tax credit for property owners in school districts at the 20-mill floor. The credit, effective with the second half of 2026 property tax bills, will provide homeowners in Montgomery County with estimated savings ranging from $16 to $80 per $100,000 in home value depending on their school district. Montgomery County Auditor Karl Keith stated that while the changes will help homeowners in the future, additional tax relief measures are necessary to address residents' concerns about affordability.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 293, legislation that eliminates a grace period for mail-in absentee ballots in Ohio elections, requiring all domestic mail-in ballots to arrive by the time polls close on Election Day rather than within four days after the election. The grace period had previously allowed ballots postmarked the day before the election to be counted if received within four days, a system designed to account for postal service delays. DeWine stated he was reluctant to eliminate the grace period but supported the change in response to anticipated U.S. Supreme Court rulings on similar ballot-counting procedures in other states.

Ohio Gov. DeWine held a press conference to address viral fraud allegations involving childcare centers, stating that the Department of Children and Youth employs extensive fraud prevention measures including attendance-based payment, audits, and surprise visits. DeWine reported that of approximately 5,200 childcare centers in the state, 12 facilities were shut down in 2025 for fraud-related issues, representing less than 1% of state-funded centers, and that the department recovered approximately $2 million in overpayments from about 60 cases deemed unintentional. The Department of Children and Youth initiated 400 random inspections of licensed childcare programs across the state beginning January 2, 2026, as part of enhanced safeguards established after June 2025.

Governor DeWine signed legislation in December 2025 that eliminated Ohio's four-day grace period for mail-in ballots, requiring all ballots to arrive by Election Day to be counted. DeWine stated he signed the bill reluctantly, citing concerns about a potential Supreme Court decision on grace period constitutionality and the Department of Justice's position under the Trump administration regarding late-arriving ballots. The legislation brought Ohio into alignment with 33 other states that do not provide a grace period for mail ballot receipt.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 56, legislation that overhauls Ohio's regulation of marijuana and hemp products by restricting intoxicating hemp products to licensed dispensaries and prohibiting their sale in gas stations, convenience stores, and cafes. The law also caps THC levels, prohibits possession of recreational marijuana purchased out of state, and limits home cultivation to six plants, with the restrictions scheduled to take effect in mid-March. Cannabis advocates launched a campaign to place the measure on the November ballot, citing concerns about the restrictions, while DeWine stated the changes address public safety.

DeWine signed an executive order on October 8 banning the sale of intoxicating hemp products for several months. The order took effect on October 15 and prevented retailers from continuing to sell THC-infused beverages and related products that had previously been legally available. The ban remained in place pending further regulatory action regarding hemp-derived intoxicating substances in Ohio.

DeWine signed legislation on December 19 that bans the sale of intoxicating hemp products in Ohio outside of state-licensed dispensaries, with the ban taking effect 90 days after signing. The bill was signed days after Fairborn police boarded up Bud City Dispo, a smoke shop that had offered intoxicating hemp products to customers. Similar retail locations operated by the same business in Chillicothe and Waverly were also raided on the same day as the Fairborn action.

DeWine signed legislation that reduced Ohio's absentee ballot grace period. The law shortened the timeframe during which absentee ballots could be accepted after Election Day. Civil rights organizations stated concerns regarding the change to absentee voting procedures.

DeWine signed House Bills 186, 335, 309, 129, and 124 into law, measures designed to provide property tax relief through mechanisms including limiting school district revenue from rising home values, allowing county budget commissions to reduce tax levies, implementing checks on school levy increases, and granting county auditors greater oversight of property valuations. DeWine stated the bills aimed to achieve property tax relief while protecting funding for schools, police, fire, and essential services. Despite the legislation's passage, anti-property tax advocates indicated they would continue pursuing a constitutional amendment to abolish property taxes entirely.

DeWine signed legislation that prohibits the sale of intoxicating hemp products and THC-infused beverages in Ohio. The bill establishes restrictions on hemp-derived products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol and creates regulatory parameters for their distribution. The measure takes effect at a specified date following DeWine's signature.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 56 into law, which bans all intoxicating hemp products in Ohio, including beverages and gummies containing low-level THC. The legislation provides a 90-day period for hemp sellers to remove affected products from inventory before the ban takes effect. DeWine stated the law addresses what he characterized as a regulatory gap created by the 2018 Farm Bill that allowed hemp products with 0.3% THC or less to be sold without age restrictions or regulations.

DeWine released a state audit evaluating whether Ohio's 48 teacher-training colleges aligned their curricula with the Science of Reading instruction method, which emphasizes phonics-based reading instruction. The audit found that 10 colleges failed to comply with Science of Reading requirements, including Ohio State University, Ohio University, and Cleveland State University, while 33 colleges demonstrated full compliance and five demonstrated partial compliance. Schools that failed the audit were instructed to modify their curricula or cease violations, with the state authorized to revoke teaching program approval within one year for non-compliance.

Ohio Governor DeWine supported legislation to ban the sale of intoxicating hemp products outside of state-approved recreational marijuana dispensaries. DeWine stated that the ban would bring regulation to the intoxicating hemp market, citing concerns about the lack of mandatory testing, marketing practices, and unrestricted age-based purchasing. The ban was expected to eliminate a significant revenue source for hundreds of small businesses across Ohio while directing sales toward licensed recreational dispensaries.

In October, DeWine signed a temporary executive order banning hemp products that produce intoxicating effects in users. Following this action, state lawmakers voted to advance legislation to DeWine that would ban the vast majority of intoxicating hemp products, with a carved-out exception allowing retailers with liquor licenses to sell low-level THC beverages until a federal hemp ban takes effect. The executive order and proposed legislation resulted in approximately a 50 percent sales decline for Ohio businesses producing THC-infused beverages.

DeWine vetoed legislation that would have allowed 14- and 15-year-old workers in Ohio to work extended hours on school nights. The bill would have modified existing child labor restrictions in the state. DeWine's veto prevented the measure from becoming law.

The Ohio House and Senate passed a package of property tax reform legislation totaling approximately $3.8 billion in tax credits and revenue reductions, which included increasing the owner-occupied property tax rollback from 2.5% to 15.38% over four years. The bills were sent to Governor DeWine for signature in November 2025. DeWine's spokesman indicated the governor would likely sign the legislation, noting that school leaders had participated in discussions through the governor's working group during the bill's development.

Governor DeWine expanded his crisis mental health program, known as MRSS, which allows teens aged 14 and older to access temporary mental health services including six weeks of counseling without parental consent. State Representative Johnathan Newman introduced House Bill 172, which would require parental approval for minors to receive these temporary mental health services and would repeal the existing state law allowing such care without parental notification. Violence prevention advocates expressed concern that the proposed legislation could discourage sexually abused teens from seeking emergency mental health support due to fear of parental disclosure.

Governor DeWine advocated for a new Ohio law that took effect on September 30 requiring individuals aged 18 to 21 to complete driver's education before receiving a driver's license, whereas previously this age group could obtain a license without formal driving instruction. DeWine stated that the requirement was necessary because many young people turning 18 had never received driver training and frequently failed initial licensing attempts. The state established the Drive to Succeed grant program, allocating $6 million to driving schools across Ohio and offering scholarships for new driving instructors to help address implementation costs.

The Ohio Public Defender's Office issued a statement opposing House Bill 36, which would authorize nitrogen hypoxia as a second legal method of execution in Ohio alongside lethal injection. The office characterized nitrogen hypoxia as a cruel and inhumane execution method and urged lawmakers to reject the bill. DeWine had implemented a de facto moratorium on lethal injections beginning in 2018, citing unavailability of required drugs.

DeWine signed legislation requiring all drivers under the age of 21 to complete a driver's education course before obtaining a license, effective in 2025. The new law mandates 24 hours of classroom or online instruction, eight hours of behind-the-wheel training with an instructor, and 50 hours of supervised practice driving, including ten hours at night. Previously, individuals aged 18 and older were exempt from driver's education requirements.

Ohio Gov. DeWine established a SNAP working group composed of health and business leaders that released a report recommending the state restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits from being used to purchase carbonated beverages with sugar or artificial sweeteners as primary ingredients. The working group's proposal defined restricted beverages based on FDA Nutrition Facts labeling while carving out exceptions for products like juices, sports drinks, and electrolyte solutions used for medical purposes. DeWine stated support for the restriction and indicated the state would seek a federal waiver to implement the policy, which would align Ohio with twelve other states that have adopted similar SNAP limitations.

DeWine visited Portsmouth, Ohio in August 2025 to announce the launch of a new barge, dubbed the "Queen of Clean," dedicated to removing debris and trash from the Ohio River as part of the H2Ohio Initiative. The 30-foot vessel, equipped with a hydraulic crane, was built and purchased by the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District with support from the H2Ohio Rivers program and local county commissioners. DeWine stated the project exemplified community support in H2Ohio initiatives and would assist in large-scale cleanup efforts to preserve the Ohio River's natural resources.

Governor DeWine announced nearly $20 million in grants over two years distributed through the Ohio Parenting and Pregnancy Program to entities providing prenatal education, parenting classes, case management, referrals, and material assistance. The grants were presented as part of the administration's effort to reduce infant mortality rates in Ohio. The funding announcement occurred as anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers received state grants while funding faced reductions at other women's health facilities.

DeWine announced that he was requested by the Secretary of the Army to deploy Ohio National Guard members to Washington, D.C. to support the D.C. National Guard following the Trump administration's takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. Over 150 military police from Ohio were to be sent to the nation's capital in the coming days to conduct presence patrols and provide added security.

Governor DeWine signed a state budget bill in July 2025 that allows county commissions to establish "piggyback" Homestead Exemption and Owner Occupancy Credit programs, which would double tax savings for qualifying homeowners in participating counties. According to the Montgomery County Auditor's Office, implementing these programs in Montgomery County could result in up to $32 million in lost revenue to local governments and school districts that depend on property tax funding. County commissions in Montgomery, Greene, Butler, Warren, and Miami counties were evaluating whether to adopt the optional programs following the budget's passage.

DeWine included a new $10 million Ohio Student Eye Exam (OhioSee) program in the state's two-year operating budget to provide comprehensive eye exams and glasses to students in kindergarten through third grade at schools. The program, which will be administered by the Ohio Department of Health, resulted from a Children's Vision Strike Force that DeWine commissioned in 2024 and will initially focus on areas of the state with the highest need. According to state estimates, at least 35,000 Ohio students who needed glasses did not receive them during the 2022-23 school year.

DeWine vetoed provisions in the two-year state operating budget that restricted school districts' ability to place emergency levies on the ballot or request increases to current levies. Ohio House Republicans overrode this veto, eliminating levy replacements on property taxes for school districts. The override prevents school districts from using emergency or substitute levies and levy increases to fund operations.

DeWine vetoed three school-specific provisions included in the state operating budget. The vetoed provisions would have restricted emergency levies on school ballots, altered levy replacement procedures on property taxes, and modified the calculation of school funding floor requirements. Ohio House Republican leaders subsequently attempted to secure votes to override the vetoes.

In May 2024, DeWine signed legislation requiring Ohio school districts to establish policies limiting personal device use in classrooms by July 2025. The updated law, included in the recent state budget, permits exceptions for students monitoring documented health conditions and allows phones for instructional purposes. Schools must have their policies in place by January, with DeWine noting in an April press conference that schools implementing cell phone bans had reported increased student socialization and improved teacher-student communication.

Governor DeWine signed legislation included in Ohio's $60 billion operating budget in July that expands driver training requirements to adults under 21 years old. Previously, Ohioans 18 and older could apply for a driver's license by bypassing most training requirements, but the new law requires all drivers under 21 to complete the same 24 hours of classroom instruction, eight hours of monitored driving practice, and 50 hours of supervised driving practice that currently applies to 16 and 17-year-olds. DeWine stated that the requirement would improve safety outcomes, citing data that young people who complete driver training become safer drivers.

DeWine signed Ohio's state budget on June 30, which redirected $30 million in fracking revenues from state park facility improvements to general park operations. The budget allocation freed general fund spending for a new $1.1 billion annual flat tax, with the wealthiest 20% of households receiving 96% of the tax benefits. A panel of 19 Ohio economists surveyed after the budget's passage unanimously affirmed that public spending on state parks constitutes an efficient investment strategy for producing recreation, environmental quality, and health benefits for Ohio residents.

DeWine vetoed three school-related provisions in the state budget that would have restricted school districts' ability to levy taxes and allowed county budget commissions to reduce passed school levies. Ohio House Republicans announced plans to override these vetoes, stating the provisions would provide property tax relief to taxpayers, though public school advocates contended the measures would harm education funding. The override vote was expected to be closely decided, with House GOP leaders requesting lawmakers return from summer recess to proceed with the vote by November 1st.

Governor DeWine signed Ohio's state budget in the week of July 7, 2025, which included a "trigger" provision to withdraw Ohio from Medicaid expansion if federal lawmakers reduced their funding share for the program. The federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, approved by President Trump the same week, proposed reducing the federal share of Medicaid spending, but this reduction was not included in the final federal budget bill. As a result, the trigger mechanism in Ohio state law was not activated, and Ohio's approximately 760,000 Medicaid expansion recipients retained their coverage status.

Governor DeWine sent a letter to Vice President Vance regarding the White House's proposed budget for NASA Glenn Research Center, which calls for cutting approximately 554 jobs over the next year, representing a 38 percent reduction in federal civil servants at the facility. The proposal would reduce NASA Glenn's workforce from approximately 1,400 civil servants to 837, with the aeronautics program facing a cut from 399 employees to 182. Lawmakers were scheduled to begin reviewing the budget proposal following DeWine's communication to the Vice President.

DeWine signed legislation that modified the composition of the State Teachers Retirement System board by reducing elected educator positions from seven to three over several years through attrition. The bill, included as a provision in the state budget, eliminates four educator seats that will be replaced with appointed members selected by state officials including the treasurer, legislative leaders, and the chancellor of the Department of Higher Education. The change was proposed by state Representative Adam Bird in response to ongoing litigation involving the board chair and concerns about the board's governance.

DeWine issued a line-item veto of a budget provision that would have eliminated Ohio's sales tax exemption for newspaper subscriptions and printing equipment used in news production. The veto preserved the existing tax exemption status that had applied to newspapers for over 90 years. DeWine's stated rationale in the veto message referenced newspapers' role in informing the public and supporting civic engagement and local communities.

DeWine's proposed state budget would reduce funding to Ohio food banks from $32.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025 to $24.5 million in Fiscal Year 2026, representing a 23 percent decrease despite increased demand at food pantries across the state. The food banks had requested approximately $30 million to account for inflation and rising need, a request not included in the governor's budget proposal. The budget also cuts funding to the Children's Hunger Alliance from $7.5 million to $5 million, according to versions passed by the House and Senate.

DeWine included a provision in his budget proposal that would eliminate Ohio's Medicaid expansion program if federal funding support decreases by 1% or more from its current 90% level. The budget proposal also included elimination of a Medicaid waiver that would have provided continuous coverage for children up to age 3. The Ohio Senate maintained both provisions from DeWine's proposal as it moved forward with its budget.

Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law on March 28, legislation that prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at Ohio's public universities and community colleges, effective June 23. The law also restricts faculty strikes, regulates classroom discussion of controversial topics, implements post-tenure reviews, creates retrenchment provisions affecting union negotiations on tenure, shortens university board of trustees terms from nine to six years, and requires students to take an American history course. In response to the law, Ohio University announced it would close its Pride Center, Women's Center, and Multicultural Center and sunset its Division of Diversity and Inclusion over the following weeks.

Governor DeWine signed Senate Bill 1 into law on March 28, which implements restrictions on higher education institutions including prohibitions on diversity efforts, regulation of classroom discussion of controversial topics, creation of post-tenure reviews, and modification of university governance structures. The law takes effect at the end of June and applies to Ohio's public universities and community colleges. Faculty members at Central State University, Ohio's only public historically Black university, have expressed concerns that the legislation may discourage them from teaching certain course content despite no explicit prohibition.

Governor DeWine signed the Social Media Parental Notification Act into law in July 2023 as part of an $86.1 billion state budget bill. The law would have required children and teens under 16 to obtain parental consent to use social media and gaming apps, and mandated that companies provide privacy guidelines to families. A federal judge permanently struck down the law in April 2025, finding it unconstitutional as an overly broad impediment to free speech.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 1, legislation that bans diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Ohio public colleges and universities and makes sweeping changes to higher education governance. The bill also prohibits faculty strikes, limits classroom discussion on controversial topics, requires a three-hour civics education course for all Ohio college students, and rescinds certain collective bargaining and tenure protections for faculty. The measure passed the Ohio Senate 20-11 on Wednesday after clearing the House 59-34 the previous week, following its introduction in January.

DeWine signed Senate Bill 1, legislation that restructures Ohio's higher education system by banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public universities, restricting instruction on controversial topics, and eliminating tenure protections for faculty. The bill prohibits public universities from maintaining diversity offices, providing diversity-focused training, or awarding diversity-based scholarships, and takes effect 90 days after signing unless subject to legal challenge. The legislation passed the Ohio Senate in February and the House the following week after undergoing amendments that required a Senate concurrence vote.

DeWine signed legislation banning most diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at Ohio public universities. The law also restricts the ability of faculty members at these institutions to engage in strikes. The measure applies to all state-funded higher education institutions in Ohio.

Senate Bill 1, a comprehensive higher education overhaul measure passed by the Ohio General Assembly, was sent to Governor DeWine's desk in March 2024. The bill eliminates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at public universities, restricts instruction on certain topics identified as controversial, and removes tenure protections for faculty. DeWine stated he was reviewing the legislation and would make a decision within the ten-day signing period provided by state law.

DeWine proposed a refundable child tax credit worth up to $1,000 per young child as part of multibillion-dollar budget negotiations in the Ohio legislature during the 2025 session. The proposal would be funded through an increase in tobacco taxes and would deliver cash directly to Ohio parents. If enacted, Ohio would become the first Republican-controlled state to implement a refundable child tax credit.

DeWine included $50 million in grant funding in his budget proposal to restore driver's education programs to Ohio public schools. The funding would enable schools to reinstate driver's education courses that had been previously eliminated or reduced. DeWine's budget proposal represents an allocation of state resources directed toward reinstating this educational component in secondary schools across the state.

DeWine signed Ohio's transgender school bathroom ban into law in November, which took effect in February. The law requires students at Ohio K-12 public schools and public and private colleges and universities to use restrooms and overnight accommodations corresponding to their sex assigned at birth. The law includes exceptions for single-occupancy facilities, individuals assisting people with disabilities, and children under ten years old being assisted by a parent, guardian, or family member.

In May 2021, DeWine announced that Ohio would end its participation in the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which had provided $300 in weekly supplemental federal assistance to unemployed workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. DeWine stated that the assistance was intended to be temporary and characterized the decision as a means to stimulate economic activity. In 2024, a Franklin County judge ordered the state to pay out nearly $900 million in withheld pandemic unemployment benefits to approximately 300,000 Ohioans, a ruling the state subsequently appealed.

DeWine included a proposal to double Ohio's excise tax on recreational cannabis sales from 10 percent to 20 percent as part of his state budget proposal. The tax increase would generate revenue for county jails, police training, mental health services, and the 988 suicide prevention line, according to Kimberly Murnieks, DeWine's Office of Budget Management director. This proposal was submitted alongside a separate bill by State Senator Steve Huffman that would increase the excise tax to 15 percent and limit home-grown cannabis plants per household.

DeWine signed into law the Strong Foundations Act through House Bill 7, legislation passed by the Ohio General Assembly addressing infant health outcomes in the state. The bill was enacted despite not including a requested $35 million in appropriations for infant health programs. Advocates for mothers and infants have indicated that additional policy changes remain necessary to address Ohio's infant mortality rate, which ranks among the highest in the nation, and to reduce health disparities between white and Black infants.

Anduril Industries announced plans to construct Arsenal 1, a 5 million-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility near Rickenbacker International Airport in Pickaway County, Ohio, creating approximately 4,000 jobs with production of military drones and autonomous air vehicles beginning in July 2026. DeWine declared the project the largest single job creation and payroll initiative announced by Ohio, citing the state's aerospace workforce, training infrastructure, and historical aviation legacy as factors in attracting the facility. DeWine and state economic development officials characterized the project as consistent with Ohio's economic development strategy in the aerospace sector.

DeWine signed House Bill 8 into law, which mandates that Ohio school districts establish a religious release time policy, effective in April. The previous Ohio law had permitted such policies but did not require them. The legislation enables expansion of LifeWise Academy, a religious instruction program based in Hilliard that currently serves approximately 160 Ohio school districts.

DeWine signed House Bill 29 into law, legislation that eliminates driver's license suspensions imposed for failure to pay court fines and fees and removes school truancy as a basis for license denial or suspension. The bill also permits individuals with suspensions for unpaid child support to petition the court for driving privileges. The law is scheduled to take effect on April 10, at which time existing suspensions for unpaid fines and fees will be removed both automatically and retroactively.

Governor DeWine assembled a juvenile justice working group in 2024 following high-profile incidents at state correctional facilities, including a violent standoff at Indian River Correctional Facility in 2022. The working group recommended replacing larger detention facilities with smaller, trauma-informed centers, resulting in plans to construct four 36-bed facilities in Grafton and Bedford to replace the larger Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility in Highland Hills. The Department of Youth Services prioritized this facility replacement as the first of 26 recommendations to improve safety and outcomes in Ohio's juvenile justice system.

DeWine signed the Never Alone Act into law, which entitles patients to access to an advocate during hospital visits. In response to increased influenza activity in the region, hospitals within the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association implemented visitation restrictions beginning January 3, 2025. The restrictions prohibit visits from individuals under 14 years old and anyone presenting symptoms of respiratory illness.

Senate Bill 54, which includes funding appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 and capital appropriations for FY 2025-26, was passed by the Ohio House of Representatives on December 18 and sent to Governor DeWine for signature. The legislation creates the nine-member Ohio River Commission within the Department of Development to promote economic development, marine cargo terminal operations, and travel and tourism on the Ohio River and its tributaries. The bill also appropriates $600,000 for the Pike County Capital Case and $10 million to soil and water districts for 2024 drought relief.