Lawmakers continue budget negotiations, bills await House floor
Lawmakers at the Statehouse remain busy until summer break. The Ohio Statehouse is busy with budget negotiations, with both chambers working to secure a final capital budget bill before their summer break. The Speaker of the House, Jason Stephens, highlighted House Bill 7 as a top priority for sponsors, which supports doula services, early intervention and child care. The bill's sponsor, Democrat Latyna Humphrey, believes it could potentially remove barriers to women of color. Stephens also highlighted that legislation moving to the House floor on Wednesday could gain traction. Meanwhile, there are 16 other bills set to be introduced on the House. The capital budget is typically approved every two years when the chambers appropriate funding for community projects.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers remain busy at the Ohio Statehouse as both chambers work together to negotiate a final capital budget bill ahead of their summer break.
What You Need To Know
• Ohio capital budget negotiations continue in the House and Senate chambers
• The Ohio House session plans to take 16 bills to the floor
• House Bill 7 was highlighted by the Speaker, and remains a top priority for sponsors
The Speaker of the House Jason Stephens told reporters on Tuesday they are having positive discussions. He also highlighted that legislation moving to the Ohio House floor on Wednesday could gain traction. Meanwhile, there are 16 other bills to hit the House floor this week.
“One we’ve been talking about a lot is House Bill 7,” said State Rep. Jason Stephens, (R-Kitts Hill)). “Which is a bill that takes care of or helps to take care of babies and mamas throughout Ohio.”
House Bill 7 supports doula services, early intervention and child care. The goal would be to help take care of mothers struggling, and target those that need extra support. A total of $34.5 million dollars could help these services. The bill’s sponsor Democrat Latyna Humphrey says it could help potentially remove barriers to women of color.
“I think these are good investments,” said State Rep. Allison Russo, (D-Columbus). “It’s been a good bipartisan effort.”
“I think there’s always more to be done to address the issues of infant mortality and to ensure that our children are thriving,” Humphrey said. “My hope is that it passed the House floor, and then the bill still remains intact once it makes it over to the Senate. But, it’s still a beautiful, vibrant bill that is going to help babies and children all across the diaspora from urban communities all the way to Appalachia.”
Meanwhile, The Speaker of the House also mentioned how critical it is to get a capital budget completed. It’s typically passed every two years when the chambers appropriate funding for community projects. And this year, the “One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund” appropriated an extra $350 million to each chamber to spend.
“I think it’s important that we get this right and that we get this money into the communiti’s hands,” Stephens said. “These are the type of projects that are going to impact the next decade or two, maybe even longer.”
“Well, the devil is in the details,” Russo said."We’ll see what this looks like and how it shapes up over the next two weeks."