State lawmakers have officially launched the FY27–28 capital infrastructure budget process, setting in motion what is expected to be another multi-billion dollar investment in buildings, universities, parks, and local community projects across Ohio.
Municipal officials should be aware that proposals for community projects are due to legislators by March 12, and OML strongly encourages communities to connect with their House and Senate members as soon as possible if they have not already done so. Legislators must submit their requested projects to leadership by March 26. The form legislators are using to collect proposals can be found here.
Earlier this month, Speaker Matt Huffman gave the go-ahead for the capital budget process to move forward. The capital budget is funded through state bonds and supports long-term infrastructure investments throughout the state.
While Mike DeWine and Rob McColley have supported advancing a capital bill, Speaker Huffman previously raised concerns about available state resources. Those concerns follow a recent ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court requiring the state to pay nursing homes up to $1 billion related to Medicaid reimbursement calculations.
Requests for capital funding consistently exceed available dollars, meaning lawmakers must carefully evaluate projects to ensure they represent sound, long-term investments. Because capital projects are financed through bonds that must be repaid over time, legislators are emphasizing projects with demonstrated public value and strong likelihood of success.
Leadership in both chambers has indicated a desire to collaborate earlier in the process this year, with the goal of developing a unified capital plan that can pass by summer. The last capital budget, enacted in 2024, totaled $4.2 billion—the largest in state history.
OML will continue to monitor the capital budget process and provide updates as it moves forward.