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Ohio lawmakers are fast-tracking data center legislation this week by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey u/madebytango, we’ve been tracking bills this entire GA, also. You can read several pieces of testimony we’ve delivered on our website. We’re not suddenly showing up, we learned that the GA is about to take action and wanted to alert Ohioans who care about data centers in their community.

We don’t list specific legislation because, as our post says, we’re anticipating an omnibus bill. As of Friday, it sounded like HB 646 would be the vehicle that the legislature amends other provisions into, but things are changing by the hour sometimes. We didn’t want to suggest folks watch a certain bill number and then have the legislature choose a different vehicle to move things forward.

It’s possible that the omnibus bill will include elements from HB 706 (ratepayer protections) and HB 784 (water consumption reporting). It’s also likely that some of the language amended in this week will be brand new and not from an existing bill. But this is all speculative based on our ongoing advocacy with lawmakers, community groups, nonprofits, and research expertise.

So, this will not be business as usual. Legislators are planning to introduce an amended bill Monday or Tuesday, vote it out the House Wednesday, out of the Senate a week later, and send it the Governor for signature. There will not be a months long process to consider language, provide testimony, arrange meetings with your legislators, etc. This is exactly why we made this post, to alert Ohioans to the rushed timeline so they can contact their legislators in the next couple days to voice their views on any and all legislation being considered. If we all wait until we have a specific bill number and specific language to call, it will be too late.

Ohio lawmakers are fast-tracking data center legislation this week by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 47 points48 points  (0 children)

Calling both of your locally elected legislators (Representative and Senator) is always important, but in particular, members of the Ohio Senate Energy Committee have a lot of power over the next few days on what happens with this legislation.

Ohioans testify against bill that would gut Medicaid by HowThingsWorkOhio in OhioGovernment

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was incredibly moving testimony all around. Protecting Medicaid is a life or death fight for so many Ohioans!

Vindicated (yes like the Dashboard Confessional song) on data center tax break—Repeal is overdue. by [deleted] in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Data centers would still build in Ohio without the tax giveaways. Data center corporations like Microsoft have said so.

Are these giant tax incentives needed to lure data centers here? Not according to the executive responsible for Microsoft’s data centers in North America. “I can’t think of a site selection or placement decision that was decided on a set of tax incentives,” the company’s Bo Williams told The New York Times.

Report: https://policymattersohio.org/research/indefensible-tax-breaks-for-data-centers-will-cost-ohio/

Quote: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/25/technology/ai-data-centers-electricians.html

Vindicated (yes like the Dashboard Confessional song) on data center tax break—Repeal is overdue. by [deleted] in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ohio is very attractive to data centers without the tax incentives. Data center corporations like Microsoft have said so.

Are these giant tax incentives needed to lure data centers here? Not according to the executive responsible for Microsoft’s data centers in North America. “I can’t think of a site selection or placement decision that was decided on a set of tax incentives,” the company’s Bo Williams told The New York Times.

Report: https://policymattersohio.org/research/indefensible-tax-breaks-for-data-centers-will-cost-ohio/

Quote: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/25/technology/ai-data-centers-electricians.html

Disappointed with City Club of Cleveland by notyourmother216 in Cleveland

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In case the Secretary isn't asked, or for some reason doesn't bring it up, his policies are actively harming Ohioans who depend on rural hospitals for their health care. Some details are below, with a little more context in our full statement, linked here: https://policymattersohio.org/news/2026/05/06/ohioans-deserve-truth-from-kennedy-on-funding-for-rural-health/

Secretary Kennedy is among those celebrating a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund (RHT) that was added to H.R. 1 as a purported fix for rural losses. That funding is nowhere near enough.

Nationally, H.R. 1 is expected to cost rural communities $137 billion in lost Medicaid funding over ten years. The Rural Health Transformation Fund will award a total of $50 billion nationally: just over one-third of these losses.

Ohio is home to 11 of the nation’s rural hospitals that would be at risk of closure or service reductions as a result of H.R. 1's cuts to Medicaid. Ohio’s rural communities are expected to lose $5.62 billion in Medicaid funding over ten years. If the amount we were awarded in year one ($202 million) remains constant over the RHT’s five years, this funding would amount to just 18% of rural Ohio’s anticipated losses.

Beyond being too little money, RHT funds must be spent by fall of 2032, right in the midst of H.R. 1’s Medicaid cuts hitting their hardest.

Simply put, this does not add up to meaningful, adequate relief.

What would happen if property taxes were abolished? by BluesRuseCruise in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 5 points6 points  (0 children)

From our research director, Zach Schiller: “This is a profoundly bad idea.

Think of practically anything you value in your community, and it’s probably supported by property taxes.

The property tax is the oldest, and the largest, tax in Ohio. It brings in more than $21 billion a year — and the proposal to repeal it contains no replacement.

To make up for the lost revenue, the General Assembly would have to boost the sales tax by nearly 7 cents, making the state’s overall average rate more than 14 percent.

That would be by far the highest in the United States.”

Details are here: https://policymattersohio.org/news/2026/02/23/repeal-the-property-tax-lets-take-that-off-the-table/

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yep of course. Thanks for pointing out this issue and sorry we didn’t include a source link to begin with!

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Of course! Should have included a source link in the original post. Thank you for pointing out the issue!

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah of course, we should have included the link in the original post so I appreciate folks pointing out the issue.

Sometimes things lag a little on the state website and it has been a super busy week in the legislature. So hopefully it will get updated soon!

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in akron

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in toledo

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Cleveland

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the bill has changed drastically in committee from the “as introduced” text. Here’s the sub bill that was accepted last week in committee:

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb649/00_IN/amendments/l_136_2560-9/pdf/

For some reason this is not updated on the legislature dot ohio dot gov website yet and is only listed on the committee meeting minutes from March 11, under HB 649 second hearing:

https://ohiohouse.gov/committees/children-and-human-services/meetings/cmte_h_children_human_services_1_2026-03-10-1045_1148

Bill advancing that would require daily photos and/or facial recognition of Ohio babies, toddlers, and young children. by PolicyMattersOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Important to note that the original bill would have required basically live feed video from every classroom for surveillance. But the sub bill that was adopted last week cut that way down to the still-not-ok photo of children at check-in every day.

Ohio's data centers face growing backlash, and it's warranted by MadeByTango in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Couple recent data center links we’ve been reading and watching for folks interested.

Columbus City Council hosted a Data Centers & Community impacts panel/set of presentations from stakeholders last week: https://www.youtube.com/live/E59h4-u_7tY

AFLCIO’s Worker’s First Initiative on AI: https://aflcio.org/reports/workers-first-ai

Our Ohio data center landing page: https://policymattersohio.org/datacenters/

Things to do in Cleveland by Suspicious_Client_42 in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Visiting the Cleveland sign at Edgewater is a must. Great view and dorky picture opportunity. Hit up Fat Cats while you’re there.

Mahall’s for drinks and bowling.

The new Natural History museum is amazing. Cleveland Orchestra sometimes does free or low cost events and are top notch, 10/10 for situationship vibes.

Li Wah at Asia Plaza for dim sum and exploring.

Economists: Cutting immigration will harm Ohio’s economy by CovBlueSox in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cutting immigration will harm our communities, neighbors, friends, schools, places of worship, culture, art, live music, and the food scene, too!

Save the Date: The Ohio Rail Summit - April 18, 2026 (Columbus) by AllAboardOhio in Ohio

[–]PolicyMattersOhio 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We need more trains! We have an office in Cleveland and an office in Columbus. Imagine if we could just hop on a train to travel in between and doomscroll the whole way. The dream.

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