OHIO STATE LAWS
LAW CONFIRMATION
Law or Bill: Statutory Minimum Wage Adjustment
Official Title: Annual Minimum Wage Increase Under Ohio Law
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Primary Sources:
Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services press release/official notice on minimum wage law changes taking effect Jan 1, 2026
LAW SUMMARY
What it does: Increases Ohio’s statewide minimum wage on January 1, 2026 according to the statutory adjustment schedule in existing state law.
Cost to taxpayers or employers: Raises payroll costs for employers paying minimum wage; no new general tax is created. Specific fiscal impact figures are NOT SPECIFIED IN PUBLIC RECORDS.
Who it affects: Minimum wage workers and employers across Ohio.
Who sponsored or initiated it: Implemented under existing statute; adjustment occurs automatically.
Who opposed it or concerns raised: Some business groups cite concerns about higher labor costs.
✅ PROS
• Raises wages for low-wage workers
• Adjusts annually in line with statutory schedule
• Applies statewide
❌ CONS
• Higher payroll costs for employers
• Possible price increases for consumers
• May affect hiring decisions
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Ohio’s minimum wage rises in 2026 under existing law. Employers must comply with the higher rate starting January 1.
LAW CONFIRMATION
Law or Bill: Statewide School Cell Phone Ban (policy included in enacted legislation)
Official Title: Requirement for School District Policies Prohibiting Student Cellphone Use During Instructional Hours
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Primary Sources:
Ohio news reporting on laws taking effect Jan 1, 2026 (school cellphone ban for instructional hours)
LAW SUMMARY
What it does: Requires Ohio public school districts to adopt policies that ban student cellphone use during instructional hours.
Cost to taxpayers or employers: No statewide tax; cost primarily administrative for school districts implementing and enforcing policies.
Who it affects: Students, school staff, and local school boards statewide.
Who sponsored or initiated it: Passed by the Ohio Legislature and signed by the Governor.
Who opposed it or concerns raised: Some parents and education advocates expressed concern about enforcement and student communication access.
✅ PROS
• Reduces classroom distractions
• Supports focused learning environments
• Standardizes district policy requirement
❌ CONS
• Enforcement challenges
• Possible communication limits for students
• Administrative burden for schools
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Ohio requires school districts to ban student cellphones during class time starting January 1, 2026. Districts must adopt and enforce policies statewide.
LAW CONFIRMATION
Law or Bill: Senate Bill 293 (2025 Session)
Official Title: An Act Relating to Absentee Ballot and Election Rules
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Primary Sources:
Media reporting on bill signing and changes to absentee ballot deadlines and voter verification rules
LAW SUMMARY
What it does: Modifies Ohio absentee ballot procedures, including elimination of grace period for absentee ballot returns and updated verification requirements for voter registration.
Cost to taxpayers or employers: NOT SPECIFIED IN PUBLIC RECORDS.
Who it affects: Voters using absentee ballots and county boards of elections.
Who sponsored or initiated it: Ohio Legislature; signed by the Governor.
Who opposed it or concerns raised: Election advocacy groups raised concerns about access and voter information clarity.
✅ PROS
• Clarifies absentee voting rules
• Standardizes return deadlines statewide
• Supports uniform election administration
❌ CONS
• Potential barriers for some absentee voters
• Timing and delivery concerns with mail ballots
• Additional verification procedures required
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Ohio updates absentee ballot return deadlines and voter verification rules effective January 1, 2026, standardizing statewide procedures.
LAW #1: SENATE BILL 1 — ADVANCE OHIO HIGHER EDUCATION ACT
Statute / Bill: S.B. 1 (136th General Assembly, Ohio) (Wikipedia)
Effective: June 27, 2025 (Wikipedia)
What it does: Overhauls how state universities and colleges operate under the new “Advance Ohio Higher Education Act.” (Wikipedia)
Bans diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) based hiring and enrollment in state higher ed institutions. (Wikipedia)
Prohibits faculty strikes in public colleges or universities. (Wikipedia)
Cost to taxpayers / state budget: State might save or redirect funds used for DEI programs / enforcement; possible costs for implementing compliance and monitoring.
Potential legal costs (if lawsuits over DEI ban or related claims arise).
Who it helps / affects
Helps: Those who prefer policies focused on merit/hiring without DEI; institutions that opposed DEI mandates.
Affects: DEI offices, faculty/staff whose work involves DEI; students who may be impacted by enrollment or support changes.
Who sponsored / who opposed
Sponsor: Sen. Jerry R. Cirino (and others) (Wikipedia)
Opposition: Advocates for diversity/higher education, civil rights groups.
✅ PROS
Simplifies/harmonizes higher ed policy; may reduce administrative burdens relating to DEI compliance.
❌ CONS
Many argue DEI helps underrepresented students; removing it may reduce access or support.
Potential reputational / accreditation / litigation risk.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
As of June 27, 2025, Ohio’s SB 1 reshapes higher education by removing DEI hiring/enrollment policies and banning public college faculty strikes — a major shift, with trade-offs in diversity and institutional flexibility.
LAW #2: HOUSE BILL 96 — STATE OPERATING BUDGET & “INNOCENCE ACT” PROVISIONS
Statute / Bill: H.B. 96 (136th General Assembly) (Wikipedia)
Effective: Signed June 30, 2025; most provisions effective September 30, 2025 (Wikipedia)
What it does: Sets the state operating budget for FY 2026-2027. (Wikipedia). Merges in the “Innocence Act,” which requires age verification (ID or another proof) to access adult content websites. (Wikipedia)
Cost to taxpayers / state budget: Budget allocates funds for state programs; cost is what’s appropriated. Compliance for websites with “Innocence Act” provision may impose operational / verification costs on site operators, not directly state cost.
Who it helps / affects
Helps: State programs funded under this budget; proponents of youth protection online.
Affects: Businesses/websites that host adult content (they’ll have to verify age); citizens’ access to content may change.
Who sponsored / opposed: Sponsored by Ohio Legislature and signed by Governor Mike DeWine. (Wikipedia). Opposition likely from privacy advocates, internet industry or free-speech interests.
✅ PROS
Ensures protection of minors from viewing explicitly adult content.
Provides stability through the budget cycle for state operations.
❌ CONS
Adult content providers have extra compliance burden.
Could raise questions about free speech and privacy.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Ohio’s HB 96 becomes law Sept 30, 2025: funding for state operations plus rules requiring age verification for adult content sites via the “Innocence Act” — balancing youth protections with free speech concerns.
LAW #3: HOUSE BILL 8 — OHIO PARENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS
Statute / Bill: HB 8 (136th General Assembly) (Axios)
Effective: April 9, 2025 (Ohio Secretary of State)
What it does: Requires schools to notify parents of substantial changes to a student’s health, well-being, or identity requests (e.g. gender identity) if different from biological sex. (Axios)
Mandates that students be allowed to attend private religious instruction during school hours. (Axios)
Cost to taxpayers / state budget: Minimal direct state cost; school districts need to update policies.
Some administrative cost for implementing policy changes and communication.
Who it helps / affects
Helps: Parents who want to be informed; those supporting religious instruction rights.
Affects: School districts; potentially students whose privacy around identity is sensitive; education staff.
Who sponsored / opposed: Supported by proponents of parental rights and religious liberty.
Opposed by LGBTQ+ advocates concerned about student privacy and inclusion.
✅ PROS
Enhances transparency and involvement for parents.
Recognizes religious instruction preferences.
❌ CONS
Could create tension around student privacy and identity.
Some say puts parents in unequally strong position over children’s rights.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Effective April 9, 2025, Ohio’s Parents’ Bill of Rights (HB 8) requires schools to inform parents of changes in a student’s health or identity and allow religious release time — increasing parental say, raising debates around privacy.
LAW #4: NEW SCHOOL CELL PHONE POLICY REQUIREMENT & MISCELLANEOUS K-12 RULES
Statute / Bill: Part of new laws going into effect 2025 per news summaries (WKYC)
Effective: Schools must adopt cell phone / electronic device policies by July 2025, ahead of 2025-26 school year. (WLWT)
What it does: Requires all public schools to have written policies limiting or prohibiting student use of cell phones or similar devices during school hours. (WLWT)
Ohio Department of Education will provide a model policy schools may use. (WLWT)
Cost to taxpayers / state budget: Very minimal. Mostly policy drafting and training for school staff.
Who it helps / affects
Helps: Teachers & students (reduces distractions); parents who believe devices disrupt learning.
Affects: Students who use phones; schools that must enforce policy.
Who sponsored / opposed: Supported by education stakeholders looking for consistency. Some opposition or concern from students / parents who believe phones have legitimate uses (e.g. emergencies, education apps).
✅ PROS
Helps reduce distractions; may improve academic focus.
Establishes clear rules and consistency across schools.
❌ CONS
Enforcement could be uneven; students may push back or find ways around rules.
Some use of phones in instructional or emergency settings might be restricted.
THE BALLOT BEACON TAKEAWAY:
Starting July 2025, Ohio public schools must have cell-phone policies in place for the 2025-26 year — limiting student use in class, with model policy support; small admin cost, big impact on daily school life.