Policy Matters Ohio

DeWine vetoed SB 50, which would have extended working hours for young teens to 9pm on school nights, in violation of federal law.

This veto is good for kids, businesses, and workers. Thank you to everyone who signed our petition urging for this veto!

policymattersohio.org/news/2025/12...

For anyone alarmed by cost increases for '26 Health Insurance Marketplace plans:

Join PMO and @protectourcare.org to learn about why costs are increasing, steps you can take to protect your wallet, and ways to advocate for affordable coverage.

Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Next week, show your support for Tanisha’s Law, which would create a non-police mental health crisis response in Cleveland.

Cleveland City Council meeting on Monday, December 1 at 7PM.

Details: www.naswoh.org/events/Event...

Ohio’s GOP lawmakers want more child labor. Will Gov. DeWine stop them? Ohio lawmakers are pushing a bill that would expand child labor by letting young teens work later for lower pay. Gov. Mike DeWine should veto it to protect kids from being exploited as a cheap fix for...

The threat is real – and potentially imminent in Ohio.

Governor DeWine has the opportunity to stop GOP lawmakers from putting more--and younger--children to work. @policymattersohio.bsky.social

The federal budget bill passed in July will cut health care, food assistance and more in exchange for tax cuts that most benefit the wealthy.

Our latest report outlines how (and when) H.R. 1 will impact Ohioans: policymattersohio.org/research/fal...

Just Say No to Child Labor in Ohio In March, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 30, which would allow employers to schedule children ages 14 and 15 for work as late as 9:00 p.m., beyond the 7:00 p.m. limit maintained by federal law. We expect the Ohio House to vote on and pass this bill in the coming days. Then it will go to Governor Dewine to be signed into law. The Governor says he has a commitment to Ohio children, and we need all hands on deck urging him to veto this bill. Not only is it in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, it's just plain wrong for our kids. Please sign on and share, we will be delivering the petition, with all our names, in person when the time comes for him to consider signing.

Last chance to sign the letter urging Gov. DeWine to VETO SB 50. We're delivering it to him this afternoon.

Child labor is not the solution to adult workforce issues. Add your signature now: actionnetwork.org/petitions/sa...

Just Say No to Child Labor in Ohio In March, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 30, which would allow employers to schedule children ages 14 and 15 for work as late as 9:00 p.m., beyond the 7:00 p.m. limit maintained by federal law. ...

Take action with @policymattersohio.bsky.social to stop Ohio's rollback on child labor protections!

Just Say No to Child Labor in Ohio In March, the Ohio Senate passed Senate Bill 30, which would allow employers to schedule children ages 14 and 15 for work as late as 9:00 p.m., beyond the 7:00 p.m. limit maintained by federal law. We expect the Ohio House to vote on and pass this bill in the coming days. Then it will go to Governor Dewine to be signed into law. The Governor says he has a commitment to Ohio children, and we need all hands on deck urging him to veto this bill. Not only is it in violation of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, it's just plain wrong for our kids. Please sign on and share, we will be delivering the petition, with all our names, in person when the time comes for him to consider signing.

SB 50 passed out of the Ohio House yesterday. It would allow employers to schedule kids ages 14 and 15 as late as 9pm, beyond the 7pm limit set by federal law.

Child labor is not the solution to adult workforce issues.

Tell the governor to veto SB 50: actionnetwork.org/petitions/sa...

Town Hall on the Future of Public Education for Children with Disabilities · OH Organizing Collaborative As Congress passes Medicaid and education cuts, the U.S. Department of Education faces elimination, and Ohio’s legislature continues further divestment in public schools, the future for Ohio students ...

Next week in Toledo: Join our friends at Parents United for Public Schools to raise awareness about the policy changes impacting the education of all children, while elevating the voices of parents, educators, and students with disabilities.

RSVP: www.mobilize.us/ooc/event/84...

Open enrollment for ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plans begins today. Enrollees can expect to see increases in premiums if US Congress doesn’t extend the enhanced premium tax credits.

To estimate your premiums based on your household circumstances: www.kff.org/interactive/...

Thank you, Governor DeWine, for stepping up. Now let’s go further. Let’s demand the Trump admin do its job: Deploy the SNAP contingency $$, stop trying to break the health insurance marketplace with sky-high premiums, and pass premium tax credit reforms #SNAP #Ohio #FoodSecurity #HealthCare

People who could use a little help to cover the skyrocketing costs of food and health insurance are our neighbors, coworkers, and family. They are not bargaining chips to be pitted against one another for partisan points.

Congress’s failure to extend enhanced ACA premium subsidies is hurting working families. But so is the administration’s refusal to fund SNAP. These are not competing priorities—they’re basic needs. Food and healthcare are essential to economic security.

*The Billionaire Class didn’t have to pick between football stadiums and an income tax cut—They got both from Ohio's legislature in the state budget!*

Gov DeWine did the right thing but failed to call for solutions that don’t pit hungry families against those facing skyrocketing health insurance premiums. Both are victims of congressional inaction. Ohioans shouldn’t have to choose.

But let’s be clear: this crisis was avoidable. The Trump Administration has tools to fund SNAP during shutdowns. Past administrations used them. This one chose not to. Hungry families and families facing loss of their health insurance shouldn’t be pawns in partisan games.

The order directs $7M to Ohio food banks and $18M in emergency relief to 63,000 low-income Ohioans, including 57,000 children through TANF. These families are at or below 50% of the federal poverty level. This is real help for real people.

Nearly 1.5 million Ohioans face food insecurity as federal SNAP funding halts due to the Trump Administration’s failure to deploy contingency funds. Governor DeWine’s executive order to provide $25M in emergency food assistance is a welcome step. We thank him for acting swiftly. 🙏 #Ohio #SNAP

Earlier this week, we called on state and federal policymakers to drop the petty politics and fund #SNAP.

While we're still waiting on our senators & representatives to stand up for Ohio families, Gov. Mine DeWine took action.

Punchbowl reports “White House officials determined they do not have the authority” to use contingency reserves —billions of $ that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate— to fund Nov. SNAP benefits. But, that’s not what USDA’s now-deleted shutdown plan says:

NEXT WEEK: Trans+ people are being targeted at both the state and federal level. Trans+ veterans, in particular, are experiencing government-sanctioned discrimination on multiple fronts.

Join support-providers to learn more and connect with resources. Register: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

The nation's community health centers face money troubles • Ohio Capital Journal Community health centers provide care to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. But the federal government shutdown, freezes to federal grants, looming cuts to Medicaid and new Trump…

Community health centers disproportionately serve low-income people and rural residents. Amid funding cuts, half of community health centers have fewer than 90 days of cash on hand, and one-quarter operate with margins below -4%, according to the audit. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/10/16/r...

Two weeks from today! Join us in Youngstown to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio workers right now and in the year to come. RSVP: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

Legislators abandon Fair School Funding Plan, funnel state support away from high-poverty districts - Policy Matters Ohio Great public education isn’t cheap, but Ohio spends far more on tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations Learn how the state budget could impact your district. Every child deserves a supportive, well-resourced learning environment where they can thrive. In Ohio, access to high-quality education too often depends on where a child lives, their race, […]

Instead of adequately funding critical investments in public schools, Ohio legislators prioritized a billion-dollar giveaway to Ohioans making six figures or more. Read our latest brief for more, including fact sheets for each school district: policymattersohio.org/research/law...

Read the full report here: policymattersohio.org/research/a-q...

For too long, federal and state policymakers have prioritized so-called “business-friendly” policies, favoring loopholes for the wealthiest and corporations, instead of policies that build the economy from the middle out and bottom up.

policymattersohio.org/research/a-q...

Ohio's veterans could suffer from federal Medicaid cuts • Ohio Capital Journal Military veterans in Ohio could suffer from the cuts to Medicaid in the federal budget bill signed by President Trump in July, and a fading level of safety-net supports for veterans could have…

Military veterans in Ohio could suffer from the cuts to Medicaid in the federal budget bill signed by President Trump in July, and a fading level of safety-net supports for veterans could have consequences when it comes to recruiting new service members. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/09/02/o...

A quarter century of working Ohio - Policy Matters Ohio The State of Working Ohio, 2025 In 1999, the year before Policy Matters was founded, Amy Hanauer and Mark Cassell published the very first State of Working Ohio report. Among their findings: In the previous 20 years, Ohio’s median wage had fallen, including decreases for men, Black men, Black women, workers without a high school […]

For each of the past 25 years, the State of Working Ohio has been our annual look back at how public policy affects Ohio’s working people. Read this year's brief edition for data from last year and for changes over the last quarter century.

policymattersohio.org/research/a-q...

TONIGHT: What can Ohio veterans expect after recent budget cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP and reductions to the VA workforce?

We want to hear your concerns, answer your questions, and share resources from veterans support providers.

Register: bit.ly/47yvOW8

Policy Matters turns 25 this year! Next month, join our staff and board for a casual open house in Cleveland to celebrate our accomplishments, stand in solidarity, and connect with each other.

RSVP here: bit.ly/45k355V