HB 645 Ohio House · 136th Legislature (2025-2026)

Require the use of zero-based budgeting every ten years

Summary
To amend sections 107.03, 126.02, 126.13, and 126.27 and to enact section 126.025 of the Revised Code to require the use of zero-based budgeting in the development of the state budget every ten years.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Jun 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jun 11, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced As Passed by the House · 5 edits · Jun 9, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was expanded to require zero-based budgeting for specific state agencies starting in 2029, a requirement that was previously limited to the transportation budget. The legislation also added new sections to mandate detailed performance reports for appropriated programs and clarified budget submission rules for new governors.
Scope change
The scope of zero-based budgeting was broadened from applying only to the transportation budget to applying to at least one-third of all state agencies selected by the finance committees, beginning with the 2029 legislative session.
REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for zero-based budgeting for selected state agencies, effective starting with the 2029 general assembly convening.

Added a mandate for agencies to submit detailed program performance reports to justify expenditures, with the director of budget and management having the authority to disapprove budget requests that fail to include these reports.

TIMELINE

Extended the requirement for new governors to submit a specific budget containing a complete financial plan, clarifying that only the new governor submits this budget during inauguration years.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'zero-based budgeting' to clarify that all requested funds must be justified based on current purposes rather than prior year spending.

TECHNICAL

Removed page numbers and 'As Introduced' headers, replacing them with 'As Passed by the House' formatting and a list of cosponsors.

Floor votes · House Jun 10, 2026

How they voted

8114
Passed
Total votes 95
Jun 10, 2026
D Democratic32
19 Yea 13 Nay
59% Yea
R Republican63
62 Yea 1 Nay
98% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Jun 11, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Jun 10, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (81-14)
house
Jun 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed
lower
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to committee
lower
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
Introduced
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mike Dovilla
Mike Dovilla
RRepublican
OH
17