The conclusion of the budget process for fiscal year (FY) 2026 and 2027 has made notable expenditures across Ohio departments and agencies. House Bill 96 of the 136th General Assembly (GA) provides $44.42 billion of federal and state appropriation to the General Revenue Fund (GRF) in FY 2026, and $46.08 billion for FY 2027. State GRF appropriations amount to $29.84 billion in FY 2026 and $30.72 billion in FY 2027. There is a grand total of $99.53 billion for FY 2026 and $101.16 billion in FY 2027 across all funds. This provides an overview of spending in the major health and human services agencies and focuses on the major programmatic changes in this budget.
Department of Job and Family Services
The Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) administers public assistance programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, oversees child support payments and unemployment services, along with other job readiness programming. The agency’s stated mission is “to improve the well-being of Ohio’s workforce and families by promoting economic self-sufficiency and providing assistance to some of Ohio’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Highlighted below are the significant changes in this budget, compared to the last biennium, while the continued core functions of the agency are covered here. The Community Services Block Grant and other energy assistance programs will move from the Department of Development (DEV) to ODJFS, accounting for the significant increase in federal funding from 2026 to 2027. Additionally, the administration of Ohio Benefits, which is the online benefits portal for several public assistance programs, will shift from the Department of Administrative Services to ODJFS.
Overall, over $2 billion dollars, both state and federal, flow through ODJFS in 2026 and over $3 billion in 2027.
The federal, state, and local governments work collaboratively to fund, supervise, administer, and provide the services that fall under the auspices of ODJFS.
Assistance programs moving from Development to Job and Family Services
The following programs, currently housed at DEV, will move to ODJFS beginning in FY2027 (the second year of the biennium):
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Program,
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP),
- Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP), and
- Targeted Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Program
DEV and ODJFS are tasked with developing a transition plan for these programs to ensure smooth and continued operations, including the consumer outreach elements of the programs.
The Community Services Block Grant, also currently housed at DEV, is a federal program that provides funding to states to address the causes and conditions of poverty, support communities and promote self-sufficiency. At the state level, most of the funding is passed through to community action agencies (CAAs) who work at the local level to target the funds to the needs of individual communities. Shifting these programs over to ODJFS brings most of the assistance programs that aim to address poverty and target families who have low incomes under the umbrella of one agency.
Upgrading the unemployment compensation (UC) system
Ohio’s unemployment system’s technology has long needed an upgrade. This budget funds this upgrade with a fee on employers. The “technology and customer service fee” will equal no more than 0.15% of wages paid per covered employee from employers who contribute to UC and a service fee of no more than $13.50 for nonprofit organizations that file or renew a surety bond, which is insurance for nonprofits that protects against things like theft and fraud. This upgrade aims to modernize the benefits and appeals process and has already begun with expected completion in 2026.
SNAP waiver to limit certain categories of food/drink
The GA included in its final version of the budget a provision that requires Ohio via ODJFS to apply for a waiver to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that would limit the use of SNAP benefits for certain sugary foods and beverages. While the requirement to apply for the waiver remained (as did the requirement to reapply each year if the waiver request is not approved), the Governor vetoed the definitions of sugary foods and beverages in the budget language, citing the complexity that these specific definitions brought to getting a waiver approved and implemented. The Governor directed ODJFS to convene a working group to develop waiver recommendations “for the most efficient and effective implementation that best supports public health.” This working group will release its final recommendations this fall.
Read the series, analysis by individual agency
Department of Behavioral Health
Department of Job and Family Services
Department of Children and Youth
