Skip to content

State Budget Information

Fiscal Year 2026-2027 State Budget

The OLC is closely monitoring the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 State Budget Bill and its impact on the Public Library Fund (PLF). Please watch this page for updates.

Recent Media Coverage: 

Ask Ohio senators a legit question and it might come back to bite you | Opinion
Columbus Dispatch

Funding stream Ohio libraries opposed included in Senate budget proposal
Ohio Capital Journal

Senate budget doesn’t save libraries – but it does rescue elections for county coroners
cleveland.com

OLC urges Governor DeWine to veto harmful provision in HB 96

The Conference Committee for the state budget issued their final report on June 25, 2025. Unfortunately, the committee didn’t make any changes related to the provisions impacting public libraries. The House and Senate will now vote to accept the changes made by the Conference Committee. Once both chambers approve the final budget, it will then be delivered to the governor for signing. Prior to signing, the governor will have the opportunity for line-item vetoes.

We are encouraging library leadership and patrons to contact Governor DeWine specifically regarding the provision in the budget bill that requires public libraries to place certain library materials in a portion of the library that is not primarily open to the view of individuals under the age of 18.

See OLC Press Release

Conference Committee

OLC is urging the conference committee and Gov. DeWine to:

  • Eliminate the $10.3 million deduction from the Public Library Fund for multiple state agencies/services. These entities should be funded directly from the General Revenue Fund.
  • Remove the provisions related to library materials. We feel parents know what is best for their children and consider this an unfunded mandate.
  • Remove the provision allowing the County Budget Commission to undermine the will of local voters.

Budget Conference Committee members:

  • Sens. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland), Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) and Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo)
  • Reps. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), Mike Dovilla (R-Berea) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland)

Ohio Senate

Senate Passes Budget: Ohio libraries will see a cut in state funding beginning July 1, 2025
6/11/25

On June 11, the Ohio Senate passed the state operating budget for FY26-27 (HB 96). Unfortunately, there were no changes to the provisions impacting public libraries despite OLC's testimony.

The Ohio House did not concur with the changes made by the Senate, so now the legislation goes to a conference committee to reconcile the differences.

The Public Library Fund (PLF) closed FY25 at $504.6 million, but under the Senate’s plan, library funding would drop to $479.7 million on July 1 due to the line-item appropriation and additional transfers to state agencies and other statewide services. It is unlikely the conference committee will agree with the governor’s proposal to fund libraries at 1.75% of the General Revenue Fund.

HB 96 changes the PLF to a line-item appropriation and funds the PLF at $490 million in FY26 and $500 million in FY27.

However, the Senate version deducts an additional $10.3 million annually ($20.6 million over the biennium) from the PLF to fund the following state agencies and statewide services: the State Library of Ohio, the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN), the Regional Library Systems, and the Ohioana Library Association.

This means that $10.3 million will be deducted from the PLF each year of the biennium before PLF funds are distributed to libraries.

So realistically, public libraries will see approximately $479.7 million in FY26 and $489.7 million in FY27.

We know the state budget can be complicated. Here's an overview:

PLF
FY 2024 Actual Distribution to Libraries: $489,347,998
FY 2025 Actual Distribution to Libraries: $504,594,157

PLF Estimates in HB 96 (Governor’s Version):
FY 2026 – $531.7 million
FY 2027 – $549.1 million

PLF Line-items proposed in Sub. HB 96 (House Version):
FY 2026 – $490 million
FY 2027 – $500 million

PLF Line-items proposed in Sub. HB 96 (Senate Version):
FY 2026 – $490 million
FY 2027 – $500 million

Additional Reductions in Senate Version — Transfers from PLF to other statewide agencies/services:

FY 2026

  • State Library of Ohio: $4,527,036
  • Ohio Public Library Information Network: $3,689,788
  • Library for the Blind: $1,274,194
  • Regional Library Systems: $494,000
  • Ohioana Library Association: $310,516

FY 2027

  • State Library of Ohio: $4,527,474
  • Ohio Public Library Information Network: $3,689,788
  • Library for the Blind: $1,274,194
  • Regional Library Systems: $494,000
  • Ohioana Library Association: $310,516

This means state funding for public libraries will be reduced to $479.7 million on July 1 for FY26 – resulting in almost a $25 million cut in state funding in comparison to FY25.

Senate Finance Committee
6/5/25

OLC testified before the Senate Finance Committee on June 5. Executive Director Michelle Francis urged lawmakers to make the following changes in the omnibus amendment:

  • Fund the Public Library Fund at the level originally proposed in the Executive Budget: $531.7 million in FY26; and $549.1 million in FY27.
  • Eliminate the $10.3 million deduction from the PLF for multiple state agencies. These entities should be funded directly from the GRF.
  • Remove the provisions related to library materials. We feel parents know what is best for their children and consider this an unfunded mandate.
  • Remove the provision allowing the County Budget Commission to undermine the will of local voters.
    Restore the ability of political subdivisions to propose replacement levies.

OLC Testimony on Substitute House Bill (HB) 96

Special thanks to the following members for also providing testimony:

 

Senate Introduces Budget
6/3/25

On June 3, the Ohio Senate introduced their version of the proposed state budget, which continues with a line-item appropriation for Ohio’s public libraries. Substitute House Bill (HB) 96 continues to place library funding into a budget line-item instead of using a percentage of the state's General Revenue Fund (GRF). Additionally, there were no changes to the distribution of library funds to counties included in the substitute bill. The distribution at the county level remains unchanged.

Line items proposed in Sub. HB 96 (Senate Version):

  • FY 2026 – $490 million
  • FY 2027 – $500 million

Line items proposed in Sub. HB 96 (House Version):

  • FY 2026 – $490 million
  • FY 2027 – $500 million

PLF Estimates in HB 96 (Governor’s Version):

  • FY 2026 – $531.7 million
  • FY 2027 – $549.1 million

The Senate is proposing to allocate funding for the State Library of Ohio, the Ohioana Library Association, the Regional Library Systems, the Ohio Public Library Information Network, and the Library for the Blind from the Public Library Fund. This amounts to more than $10 million annually deducted from the PLF before distribution to counties.

The Senate proposal keeps language proposed in the House related to materials harmful to juveniles and library boards of trustee terms.

The Senate also included new language to allow county budget commissions to reduce tax collections. In addition, the proposal eliminates the option for a replacement levy.

Senate Finance Committee
5/27/25

The OLC testified before the Senate Finance Committee, calling on senators to support Amendment SC1236, which would reinstate the Public Library Fund (PLF) at 1.75% of the General Revenue Fund (GRF). Additionally, the OLC urged the Senate to adopt Amendment SC1542 to eliminate the restrictive language on library materials included in the House version of the bill.

OLC Testimony on Substitute House Bill (HB) 96

Special thanks to the following directors for providing written testimony:

 

 

Senate Education Committee
5/12/25

The OLC testified before the Senate Education Committee. OLC urged the Senate to support Amendment SC1236 to restore the PLF to 1.75% of the GRF and to remove the restrictive materials language from the House proposals through Amendment SC1542.

OLC Testimony on Substitute House Bill (HB) 96

Special thanks to the following directors for also providing testimony:

Senate Health Committee
5/13/25

Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee
5/14/25

Senate Higher Education Committee
5/15/25

Ohio House 

House Passes Substitute House Bill (HB) 96
4/8/25
The Ohio House amended the state budget to include $490 million in library funding for FY 2026 and $500 million for FY 2027. While the OLC appreciates the House's efforts to adjust the funding proposal, it’s important to recognize that this allocation still falls $90.8 million short of the funding level recommended by Governor DeWine over the biennium. See the Appropriations Spreadsheet from the Legislative Service Commission.

Additionally, the Ohio House changed how library funding is allocated. Instead of receiving 1.7% of the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF)—as established in permanent law—the Public Library Fund (PLF) would become a line-item appropriation. This change could put future library funding at greater risk, as line-item appropriations are more vulnerable to elimination.

Substitute House Bill 96 now moves to the Ohio Senate, where lawmakers will begin shaping their version of the budget. As the state budget process advances, the OLC is urging the Ohio Senate to restore the Public Library Fund (PLF) to 1.75% of the General Revenue Fund—in alignment with Governor DeWine’s budget proposal.

Ohio House Introduces Substitute House Bill (HB) 96
4/1/25
The House's version of the state budget reduces public library funding by $100 million. OLC is urging the Ohio House to restore the Public Library Fund (PLF) at 1.75% of the state's General Revenue Fund (GRF). The amount in Governor DeWine's budget proposal.

OLC Testimony on House Bill (HB) 96
House Finance Committee
3/11/25

The OLC testified before the Ohio House Finance Committee on HB 96. OLC's Executive Director Michelle Francis urged House members to set the Public Library Fund at 2% of the General Revenue Fund.

House Bill (HB) 96 - State Budget Bill
2/11/25
House Bill (HB) 96, the state budget bill for Fiscal Years (FY) 2026-2027, was formally introduced by the Ohio House. This is the first step in the legislative process.

Governor DeWine

Executive Budget
2/3/25
Ohio’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 state budget process is underway. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Office of Budget Management Director Kim Murnieks introduced the state’s 2026-2027 executive budget. The budget proposal shows a commitment to Ohio’s public libraries, with plans to increase the Public Library Fund (PLF) share of the General Revenue Fund from 1.7% to 1.75% in FY 26 and FY 27.

The OLC is closely monitoring the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 State Budget Bill and its impact on the Public Library Fund (PLF). Watch this page for updates. Please direct questions to Jay Smith, OLC’s Director of Government and Legal Services.

Facts about Public Library Funding

  • Ohio’s public libraries experienced a $27 million loss in state funding in Calendar Year (CY) 2024 as compared to CY 2023. This resulted in libraries being funded at the same level they were 25 years ago!
  • Ohio's public libraries have had a partnership with the state to deliver services at the local level for almost 100 years.
  • The PLF is an extremely small portion of the state budget and makes up less than 0.5% of the overall budget.
  • The demand for public library services at the local level is growing, usage is increasing, and the rising cost of inflation can no longer be absorbed or ignored. In 2024, Ohioans visited their local libraries more than 48 million times.
  • 19% of Ohio’s public library systems rely solely on the PLF for their primary source of funding and DO NOT have a local property tax levy (48 of the 251).