Education (School Funding)

To amend sections 3310.034, 3310.51, and 3310.52 of the Revised Code to permit students to concurrently receive an Educational Choice scholarship or Pilot Project scholarship and either an Autism or Jon Peterson Special Needs scholarship and to make an appropriation.

Proposing to enact Section 12 of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to conditionally authorize the issuance of state obligations to refund pending school district obligations, to conditionally waive, beginning in 2027, the requirement that schools levy property taxes to pay debt charges on their obligations, and to conditionally authorize a treasury fund that is restricted exclusively to educational purposes.

HB 562 allocates state funding to school districts to help them provide food options that meet students' religious dietary restrictions, such as halal, kosher, or vegetarian needs. The bill directly affects students with these restrictions and school nutrition programs responsible for meal planning. Its key mechanism is a specific appropriation (funding allocation) to support the development or expansion of compliant food services. This policy change requires schools to use the funds to improve dietary accommodations, without specifying exact menu requirements. The bill focuses on enabling schools to better serve religious dietary needs through financial support.