The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio House Development Committee on the policies in Ohio House Bill 161, which, if adopted, will impose new taxes on homeowners who rent their homes for short-term stays. House Bill 161, which extends Ohio’s lodging tax to short-term rentals, is a “misguided move that undermines private property rights and costs families supplemental income when they need it most.”

The Buckeye Institute submitted a proposed rule change to the Ohio Supreme Court that would allow non-lawyer professionals—specifically public accountants, general and real estate appraisers, real estate brokers, and other persons who hold a designation from a professional assessment organization—to represent property owners before a county board of revision in connection with a property evaluation complaint. The proposed amendment allows those experts to file the complaint on behalf of homeowners, provide additional evidence or documentation, and represent homeowners at local board of revision hearings.

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio House Local Government Committee on the policies in Ohio House Bill 361, which, if adopted, will cut government red tape that slows construction projects, limits housing supply, and increases the cost of a home. By requiring local building departments to complete building plan reviews and inspections within 30 days of a request, House Bill 361 “creates a transparent and fair expectation for government timeliness.”

As the Ohio Supreme Court prepares to consider whether American Electric Power’s (AEP) data center tariff plan constitutes discriminatory pricing, The Buckeye Institute is out with a new policy brief—Undermining Ohio’s Competitive Edge—that outlines how the pricing plan harms Ohio’s economy and will leave residential ratepayers on the hook for infrastructure costs. “While PUCO’s approval of AEP’s data center tariff was a short-term win for the utility, it will produce a long-term loss for Ohio.”

As the Ohio Supreme Court prepares to hear Columbus v. Ohio—a case challenging Ohio’s preemption power—The Buckeye Institute released its most recent policy brief, Striking a Balance: Local Governance, Individual Rights & Economic Growth, which makes the case for a predictable and uniform regulatory environment across the state that supports pro-growth activities and respects constitutional rights. “State preemption is a necessary tool to protect fundamental rights, promote economic opportunity, and ensure regulatory clarity.”

The Buckeye Institute reacted to Governor Mike DeWine’s 2026 State of the State speech, saying, “In his last State of the State, Governor DeWine highlighted several initiatives that will define his legacy, including the importance of childhood education and the science of reading.  But there is more that Governor DeWine and the General Assembly have accomplished over the past seven years, including the enactment of universal school choice, landmark energy reform, and a low flat income tax rate…”

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio Senate Education Committee on the policies in Ohio Senate Bill 328, which will help Ohio’s students build pathways to successful careers. In his testimony, Greg R. Lawson, a senior research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, noted that Ohio “finds itself playing a meaningful role at the center of technological transformation,” but that “economic development announcements and press releases do not guarantee prosperity.”

A new report, Continuing Kentucky’s Tax Reform Efforts, by The Buckeye Institute, found that cutting the commonwealth’s personal income tax to three percent would create nearly $2 billion in economic growth and 7,000 new jobs. The Buckeye Institute partnered with Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute to conduct the research. “To compete with its lower-tax neighbors and remain economically competitive, Kentucky must continue its pro-growth reforms.”

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio Senate Health Committee on the policies in Ohio Senate Bill 230, which, if adopted, will provide more access to healthcare by permitting pharmacists to test and treat patients for common illnesses. In adopting the policies in Senate Bill 230, Ohio would join 13 states that allow pharmacists to independently test and treat patients, and deliver “low-risk, quality patient care at an affordable cost.”

The Buckeye Institute filed its amicus brief in Columbus v. Ohio, calling on the Ohio Supreme Court to uphold Ohio’s broad preemption power, arguing that the state is supreme in matters of general concern and, as a result, state laws preempting local regulations do not violate Ohio’s Home Rule Amendment. “Before Ohio adopted its 1912 Constitution, the meaning of the phrase ‘general laws’ was well-understood as meaning a law of statewide effect.”