The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in FCC v. AT&T and Verizon v. FCC with the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the U.S. Constitution does not allow federal agencies to impose monetary penalties without affording the accused a jury trial. “From the Founding, the right to trial by jury in civil cases was understood as a structural safeguard against governmental overreach. Our Founding Fathers understood that a jury was not a procedural luxury. It was a constitutional check on government power.”

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio House Technology and Innovation Committee on the policies in Ohio House Bill 646, a “timely and commendable initiative” that creates a Data Center Study Commission to assess the impact of data centers in Ohio. In the testimony, Buckeye noted a Data Center Study Commission could “help dispel inaccurate myths, better inform communities about data center benefits, including job creation and tax revenue.”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Craig v. Cromes, calling on the Ohio Supreme Court to hear the case and put an end to Cuyahoga County’s home equity theft scheme. When they loaded their wagons and lit out for the West, the men and women who settled what would become Cuyahoga County would have understood the takings clause to plainly encompass the right to recover the surplus value—or equity—of their property’s value if their property was foreclosed on and sold to settle a tax debt.

The Buckeye Institute submitted a public comment to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services offering its recommendations on how the state can better align its workforce, education, and employment programs. Buckeye urged policymakers to enhance financial stability and economic mobility for Ohio families, offer clear paths to high-demand careers, and ensure a reliable road to self-sufficiency, with every promotion signifying real financial progress.

The Buckeye Institute submitted written testimony to the Columbus City Council on its proposed rental registry ordinance, which will “raise housing costs for Columbus renters.” In his testimony, Greg R. Lawson, a senior research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, noted that while “improving housing conditions and safety is laudable and understandable,” the “proposed ordinance will be more harmful than beneficial.”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Hedgepeth v. Britton, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and protect the First Amendment rights of government employees, including teachers. This case illustrates the tension between suppressing speech based on a heckler’s veto and protecting out-of-school speech that does not actually disrupt the learning environment or undermine the employee’s ability to fulfill his or her job.

The Buckeye Institute testified before the Ohio Senate Energy Committee on the policies in Ohio Senate Bill 294, which, combined with other recent energy policy reforms, will make Ohio a “national energy policy leader.” In his testimony, Greg R. Lawson, a senior research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, noted that Senate Bill 294 “furthers the state’s effort to supply low-cost, reliable electricity.”

The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief in Carbin v. Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case and revive the judiciary’s independent duty to interpret and enforce constitutional limits. The Manhattan Institute joined The Buckeye Institute in filing its brief. “The Constitution was not designed to subordinate liberty to legislative convenience, and due respect for Congress does not entail blind acceptance of its assertions.”

The Buckeye Institute sent a proposed amendment to the Ohio Supreme Court to license legal paraprofessionals and help the more than 6.5 million Ohioans living in areas with an insufficient number of attorneys gain access to legal assistance and advice. “Chief Justice Kennedy has consistently acknowledged that Ohioans living in small communities and rural areas do not have easy access to qualified legal professionals who can help with basic legal needs. The Buckeye Institute’s proposed amendment takes a crucial step toward addressing Ohio’s legal deserts.”

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.”