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Budget Advocacy

FY2026-2027 Budget Secures Modest Wins, But Fails to Meet the Moment for Ohio’s Youngest

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“We are hopeful that—even in a challenging fiscal and political environment—the final budget keeps Ohio moving with intention toward the goals set forth by Governor DeWine to improve outcomes for young children and families", said Lynanne Gutierrez, Groundwork Ohio President & CEO. "We appreciate the Governor’s continued advocacy, the leadership of legislative champions who prioritized protecting core early childhood investments, and, most especially, the families who bravely shared their stories to keep kids at the center of this debate.” 

 

The path forward is uncertain. Without new action, Ohio will face a $600 million shortfall in child care funding next biennium as one-time federal dollars dry up. At the same time, looming federal proposals to slash Medicaid threaten hard-won protections for moms and babies. “We have serious work ahead to defend progress and push forward.” 

View Letters to Policymakers:

Our Key Budget Priorities

1

Make work pay for working families with young children. 

  • RESTORE publicly funded child care eligibility to 160% of the Federal Poverty Level.

  • RESTORE the Child Care Choice Voucher program to $75M in FY26 and $150M in FY27.

  • RESTORE the proposed refundable Child Tax Credit of up to $1,000 per child under age 7.

2

Improve health outcomes for moms and babies.

  • RESTORE $22.5M in proposed investment in Home Visiting, an evidence-based program.

  • RESTORE the originally proposed infant vitality funds to $7.5M each fiscal year.

  • RESTORE existing law requiring multi-year continuous Medicaid enrollment for babies
    ages 0-3 championed by House leaders last budget cycle.

  • STOP restrictions on the use of doula services to Medicaid eligible women.

  • RESTORE funding for the Lead Safe Home and Lead Abatement programs within the
    Ohio Department of Health.

  • RESTORE funding for tobacco prevention programming.

3

Support quality early learning experiences that prepare children for Kindergarten.

  • RESTORE requirements to integrate the science of reading in early learning.

  • RESTORE additional funding for the Governor’s Imagination Library.

Read Key Testimony on the Budget

Groundwork Ohio staff, our Advisory Council, and numerous public partners are all raising their voices for investments in Ohio's young children.
Read Testimonies
Know the Issues

Know the Issues:

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Affordable, High-Quality 
Child Care

View the Factsheet
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Improving Health Outcomes for Moms and Babies

View the Factsheet
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The Refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) 

View the Factsheet
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Supporting Quality Early Learning Experiences 

View the Factsheet
View County Data

Ohio County Fact Sheets:

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Understand the state of young children specific to each Ohio county's facts.

A L L    T E S T I M O N Y

Groundwork Ohio
Public Testimony
2025 • 136th General Assembly
 

Ohio House Bill 96: introduced by Representative Brian Stewart, is the state's operating budget bill for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. The bill includes a
provision for a new Child Tax Credit, allowing taxpayers to claim a $3,000 credit per child, up to $6,000 per family, specifically for child care expenses. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on families by offsetting child care costs. The bill was referred to the House Finance Committee on February 12, 2025.

Testimony from Advisory Council Members
2025 • 136th General Assembly
 

Ohio House Bill 96

Related Public
Testimony
Investments for Young Children

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Ohio House Bill 96

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