Ohio lawmakers famously (or infamously) cram a bunch of work into the final weeks of the legislative session in December.
Today at the statehouse feels like that − a mini lame duck, if you will.
The House and Senate are slated to pass dozens of bills today before they break for the summer, and they may not come back until after the November election.
The headline is the capital budget, which awards millions of dollars to local projects. Some of the highlights include nearly $200 million for the Ohio Expo Center and Fairgrounds, plus building upgrades at Ohio State University, Miami University and the University of Cincinnati. This is on top of projects funded through the "super duper fund," a windfall of tax revenue that came after Ohio got federal COVID relief money.
Other items on the docket today include:
- Legislation that would crack down on catalytic converter thefts.
- A ban on sexual extortion, named for an Olentangy High School student who died by suicide in 2021.
- A plan to charge utility customers up to $1.50 to cover rebates and discounts on smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances and other tools to reduce electricity use.
- A bill that would allocate $20 million in loans for companies that build natural gas pipelines in certain parts of the state.
Our entire team is at the statehouse today, so stay tuned for updates on our papers' websites.
JD Vance surges to top of Trump VP list
The chances of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance becoming the GOP vice presidential nominee are looking higher by the day.
NBC News reported last week that Vance is one of two finalists being considered by former President Donald Trump. This comes after Vance joined Trump for fundraisers in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Silicon Valley and submitted vetting papers to the campaign.
Trump initially said he would announce his VP pick around the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next month. Per NBC News , it could also happen this week as Trump gears up for his first debate with President Joe Biden on Thursday.
Vance joined Fox and Friends with his wife, Usha, to discuss his VP prospects and how he thinks he'd fare on the debate stage against Vice President Kamala Harris.
"I actually do what I believe and I’m not afraid to say, 'Look, I was wrong or I was right about this issue,'" Vance said, according to a transcript of the interview. "It's not talking points with me, right? Politicians are really good at saying things very well, but not actually saying anything at all."
Attorney General Dave Yost eyes future
It's no secret that Attorney General Dave Yost is eyeing a run for governor.
Gov. Mike DeWine is term limited, which means the floodgates will be open for that seat in 2026. Yost and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted are among the leading contenders for the job, but others could join the fray in the coming months.
My colleague Laura Bischoff looked at how Yost is using his current job as a springboard for his future campaign. He's grabbed headlines for bringing state charges over the House Bill 6 bribery scandal, campaigning against the abortion rights amendment and defending a law that would restrict health care for transgender minors.
Yost dismissed questions about whether his office activity is tied to his political ambitions.
You can read Laura's story here .
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We'll be off next week ahead of July 4. Have a great holiday, and enjoy the fireworks!
Haley BeMiller, political reporter
Questions or story ideas? Email me at hbemiller@gannett.com. You can find me on X @haleybemiller .
Check out the latest episode of Ohio Politics Explained and tune in for a new episode on Friday. You can subscribe through Apple , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A bananas day for the Ohio Legislature
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