Rotunda Rumblings
Escheat sheet: As previously promised, two Democratic former state officials on Monday filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the new state budget’s raid of $1.7 billion from Ohio’s unclaimed property fund to, among other things, offer $600 million toward a new Cleveland Browns stadium. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the Franklin County lawsuit asserts that having the state “escheat” (or seize ownership of) the unclaimed money violates both the federal and state constitutions, among other things. A spokesman for Senate Republicans, who authored the scheme, questioned whether the suit’s plaintiffs have standing, as people still have a decade to claim unclaimed money that’s currently in the account.
Buried treasure: While much of the attention paid to the new state budget has focused on high-profile items like a $1 billion income-tax cut and Browns stadium money, there are a lot of other major policies stuck in it that now will become law. As Pelzer explains, they include a near-total school cell-phone ban, requiring porn sites to verify users’ ages, higher pay raises for many elected officials, raising the age to get a driver’s license without passing a driver’s ed course, and overhauling how the state handles claims of campaign-finance violations.
Ticket to Ride: State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan, a Parma Democrat, wants to ban Ohio legislators from accepting free or discounted tickets to professional sporting events, Mary Frances McGowan reports. The legislation, which is expected to be formally introduced in the coming weeks, would require lawmakers to pay fair market value. An announcement from Brennan’s office pointed to the state budget bill that allocates $600 million for a new Cleveland Browns stadium as an example of why the legislation is needed.
In or out? Ex-U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown indicated to Semafor’s Eleanor Mueller that he’s torn about whether to run for office in 2026 – specifically, for U.S. Senate again or Ohio governor. “I’m concerned about the direction of my state; I’m concerned about the direction of my country. So, I don’t know,” said the suburban Columbus Democrat, who said “everything’s on the table” but that he’s “talking to family and friends” about whether he “want[s] to get back in and do this.” Several other potential Ohio Democratic candidates have been waiting for Brown to say what he’s doing before announcing their 2026 plans.
Hip to be square: U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Columbus Democrat, has finally provided details about why she missed a key June vote on public media funding and a foreign aid vote. She received a hip replacement. She announced this on TikTok with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. She later had eye surgery and traveled against doctor’s wishes for a key vote on the so-called Big Beautiful Bill. TikTok users criticized Beatty, 75, for not retiring, the Dispatch’s Shahid Meighan reports.
Sour note: Czech clarinetist Jaroslav Skuta, who flew into the country to perform several free concerts in Ohio and other states, said he was held for hours by immigration officers at the Detroit airport, subjected to aggressive questioning and sent back to his home. Skuta, who attended Kent State University on a scholarship, called the experience humiliating and traumatizing, but a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman said he lacked the correct visa, reports the Beacon Journal’s April Helms.
Cannabis classroom: A new session of marijuana industry courses begins Tuesday at Kent State University. There are five certificate programs, in areas such as business and marketing as well as health care. The content and teaching is provided by Green Flower, a cannabis educator in California, Laura Hancock writes.
End on a high note: Ohio state income tax revenue swelled in June, just as state officials put the finishing touches on a $1 billion income-tax cut for those making $100,000 or more. As Jim Provance of the Toledo Blade reports, newly released financial data shows the State of Ohio finished its fiscal year last month riding high, with tax revenues beating expectations by just over $1 billion. The majority of that surplus came from income tax revenues, which were $691 million higher than expected for the year and $190 million more than anticipated for June.
Deployed: About 40 Ohio Army National Guard soldiers based in Marysville are being deployed to the Middle East for Operation Inherent Resolve, which fights ISIS. The unit will use the Avenger Air Defense System to provide short-range air and missile defense against unmanned aerial systems, among other weapons and aircraft, according to the Dispatch.
Lobbying Lineup
Five organizations involved in the state’s marijuana program that lobbied on House Bill 96, the two-year state budget bill that Gov. Mike DeWine signed last week.
1. ATCPC of Ohio LLC, doing business as Klutch Cannabis
2. Ohio Cannabis Coalition
3. Cresco Labs
4. Buckeye Relief
5. Battelle Memorial Institute
Birthdays
Mehek Cooke, attorney and GOP political strategist
Straight from the Source
“Early morning, July 7, a post was mistakenly published on this page claiming that Torres is dropping out,” it reads. “We want to make it absolutely clear: Roberto remains fully committed to his campaign and to the people of Toledo. The information was false and the post has since been taken down.”
-A Facebook post by the campaign of Roberto Torres, who is running for Toledo mayor. An earlier Facebook post said that Torres was going to walk away from his campaign, which he told the Blade’s Alice Momany was posted by mistake.
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