HB 129 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Limit ability to reallocate certain school property tax millage

Summary
To amend sections 319.301 and 5705.314 of the Revised Code to limit the ability of school districts to reallocate unvoted property tax millage and to include certain property and school district income taxes in the calculation of a school district's effective millage floor.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Oct 2025
House Passage
Oct 2025
Senate Passage
Nov 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Feb 24, 2025 Signed Mar 20, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the Senate As Enrolled · 6 edits · Dec 19, 2025
MODERATE
This bill amends Ohio tax law to include fixed-sum levies in the calculation of a school district's millage floor, which affects how property tax reductions are applied. The changes clarify definitions related to property taxation, establish new procedures for tax reductions, and update provisions regarding railroad bankruptcy claims and school district funding calculations. These modifications impact how school districts calculate and collect property taxes, particularly concerning fixed-sum levies and tax reduction mechanisms.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of tax reduction calculations to include fixed-sum levies, which were previously excluded from the millage floor calculation. This affects all school districts in Ohio that levy fixed-sum taxes.
REQUIREMENT

Modified the tax reduction calculation process in Section 319.301 to include fixed-sum levies when determining a school district's millage floor, changing how property tax reductions are applied.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'carryover property,' 'effective tax rate,' and 'taxes charged and payable' to clarify how property tax calculations should be performed.

ENFORCEMENT

Modified enforcement provisions in Section 323.32 to clarify how railroad bankruptcy claim payments should be distributed to taxing districts and updated procedures for note exchanges and bond issuances.

TECHNICAL

Added new sections 5705.195, 5705.196, and 5705.197 to provide detailed procedures for fixed-sum levy elections, ballot language, and implementation timelines.

FISCAL

Modified Section 5709.92 to update calculations for school district funding allocations, including adjustments for fixed-sum levy losses and capacity quintile thresholds.

TIMELINE

Modified effective dates and certification timelines, with certain provisions applying to tax year 2026 and subsequent years, and updated election submission deadlines.

Floor votes · Senate Nov 20, 2025 · House Oct 8, 2025

How they voted

2310
Passed
Total votes 33
Nov 20, 2025
D Democratic9
9 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican24
23 Yea 1 Nay
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
14
Key actions
5
Committee
2
Amendments
1
Dec 9, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Sent To The Governor
legislature
Nov 20, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (23-10)
senate
Nov 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed
upper
Nov 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Concurred in Senate amendments
lower
Oct 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
upper
Oct 14, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Oct 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors