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…”

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.”

In The Hill, The Buckeye Institute praises federal efforts to hold states accountable for mismanagement and fraud in welfare spending—particularly Medicaid and SNAP—and applauds U.S. Sen. Jon Husted for his recently introduced Upward Mobility Act, which will combine “several federal assistance programs to make them more efficient and encourage program recipients to work more,” and  will “reduce the impact of ‘benefit cliffs’ — which can eliminate public assistance if a recipient earns too much.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the December 2025 jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “With national job gains slowing, Ohio’s sluggish private-sector job growth is not surprising. And while the unemployment rate is strong by historical measures, more Ohioans need to be in the job market, and more jobs need to be created if Ohio, its communities, and its workers are going to thrive.”

The Buckeye Institute commented on the November 2025 jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “Despite the improved unemployment rate, November’s private-sector employment is 14,000 jobs below August’s peak, confirming that Ohio’s job market is weakening.” The federal government shutdown led to the cancellation of the October jobs report and a delay in the release of the November report. 

The Buckeye Institute commented on the September jobs report from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, saying, “While Ohio’s unemployment rate fell from five to 4.8 percent, the September jobs report showed that Ohio’s job market took a step backward, as the private sector lost 2,000 jobs and more workers left the job market, leading to a decline in the labor force participation rate to 62.4 percent, which tied the national average.”

At The Center Square, The Buckeye Institute looks at the “elegant solution to one of Ohio’s thornier property tax problems” that the Ohio House of Representatives drafted and the General Assembly sent to Governor DeWine. The question: How to cut property taxes without hurting local public schools. The answer: Reduce the state’s annual sales tax holiday—a counterproductive tax gimmick—and use those funds to lower property taxes.

As Ohio lawmakers look for solutions to fix a broken 340B drug pricing program, The Buckeye Institute released a new policy brief—The 340B Fix: Federal Bipartisan Effort Best Path to Reform—outlining how the program came to neglect its well-intended goals and urged Ohio policymakers to encourage federal reforms percolating in Washington. “The 340B program requires federal reforms to fix the broken program, and Ohio leaders should encourage that effort.”

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio Senate Health Committee on the policies in Ohio House Bill 52, which, if adopted, will help ease Ohio’s care provider shortage. House Bill 52, Buckeye points out, will “ease the pain of some care provider shortages by allowing certified registered nurse anesthesiologists (CRNA) to practice to the full extent of their medical training and collaborate with physicians.”