DeWine Signs Budget With Stadium, Tax Cuts, Vetoes

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a $60 billion two-year state budget, which includes a $600 million grant from unclaimed property funds toward a $2.4 billion domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park, with private investment and additional local contributions. DeWine issued a record 67 line-item vetoes, blocking measures that would have restricted LGBTQ materials in libraries, defunded shelters for transgender youth, limited school district reserves, and made local school board races partisan. Despite these vetoes, the budget retains controversial provisions, such as a ban on Medicaid funding for transgender mental health services and a binary legal definition of sex. A flat 2.75% income tax rate will be phased in over two years, delivering $1 billion in tax relief and eliminating higher tax brackets. The Haslam Sports Group is contributing over $2 billion in private investment, with further funding from Cuyahoga County and Brook Park. Lawmakers may still override DeWine's vetoes, and lawsuits over the use of unclaimed funds for the stadium are expected.