JULY 1, 2025 BUDGET UPDATE:

Governor DeWine used his line-item veto authority to strike harmful language on library materials from the state budget, House Bill (HB) 96, prior to signing it into law on June 30. In total, the governor vetoed 67 provisions.

Among the items vetoed were several provisions that directly impacted public libraries, including:

• A requirement that libraries place material related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the library that is not primarily open to the view of those under the age of 18.
• The elimination of the option for local governments to seek a replacement levy.
• Specific language regarding County Budget Commissions (partial veto)

Is the veto the final word?

The Ohio General Assembly has the authority to override a gubernatorial veto with a three-fifths majority in both the House and Senate. Any attempt to override this veto would begin in the Ohio House of Representatives, where HB 96 originated. There is no specific deadline for this process, which means a vote could take place anytime before the end of the 136th General Assembly in December 2026.

What about public library funding?

We lost the fight to preserve the Public Library Fund and as of July 1, 2025, funding for Ohio public libraries will no longer be calculated as a percentage of Ohio's annual revenue. Instead, public library funding is now a flat line-item appropriation in state budgets. 

Further, the amount of public library funding allocated in this new budget has been reduced by $24.9 million. This allocation takes Ohio's libraries back to 2004 funding levels.