Americans for Prosperity Ohio releases legislative scorecard, agenda for 2026
Americans for Prosperity-Ohio has released its 2026 legislative scorecard for every state lawmaker, along with an updated version of its “Buckeye Blueprint” legislative agenda, which includes recommendations on the economy, government regulations, education, and energy.
“AFP-Ohio is excited to share our updated legislative agenda for 2026 after a productive first half of the 136th Ohio General Assembly,” AFP-OH State Director Donovan O’Neil said in a release. “Ohio has achieved major policy victories in recent years, and our agenda for this year highlights the most ways we can protect what we’ve accomplished and position our state for even bolder reforms in the future.”
“With so many transformational policy victories possible in this year’s session, we’re keeping a close watch on how Ohio’s elected representatives vote on the freedom-forward reforms we fight for every day. Our mid-session scorecard aims to hold lawmakers accountable for supporting bad policies or celebrate policy champions who work to expand opportunity and prosperity in the Buckeye State.”
The legislative agenda includes recommendations for economic freedom as “disciplined spending, regulatory accountability, and putting Ohio on a credible path toward a 0% income tax in the next decade.”
The recommendation to move towards a 0% state income tax involves eliminating the tax over a 10-year period by enacting spending controls and reprioritizing expenses to balance the state budget. Part of the budget recommendations involves enacting a structural surplus rule that would allow surpluses in good years to offset deficits in bad years.
The agenda also recommends Medicaid reforms, stating that the program makes up about half of Ohio’s state operating budget and that spending restraint is needed to balance the budget, “while also ensuring that these programs are able to serve Ohioans most in need.”
Ohio began the process for the fiscal year 2027-28 budget earlier this month. Its overall budget has ballooned in recent years, and the 2025-26 budget included a $200 billion spending plan and also included $1 million in tax cuts.
On the topic of streamlining government, the agenda states that Ohio has the fifth-most political subdivisions in the country and that overlapping government entities “create inefficiency and hinder progress.”
The agenda recommends passing the REINs Act, legislation that would redirect “major rule-making” from regulatory bodies to the General Assembly so that regulators would have to explain the economic impact of their proposals.
The agenda also recommends passing Truth in Taxation legislation to require local governments to inform property owners of the revenue-neutral tax rate after valuation changes.
Policy reform through state preemption of city or county zoning and land-use regulations to achieve regulatory reforms that will increase housing supply and affordability is also recommended by AFP Ohio.
The agenda also included recommendations for removing barriers to school choice, providing universal open enrollment, and supporting an “all of the above” approach to fuel sources. AFP Ohio highlighted the passage of House Bill 15, which repealed taxpayer-funded subsidies for energy companies, as a model for free market energy policy.
AFP Ohio also released a legislative scorecard evaluating lawmakers on whether they voted in line with AFP-OH’s position on “Key Vote Alert” legislation.
