Ohio lawmakers fail to pass data center rules during marathon session | Reporters Roundtable

A marathon legislative session this week in Columbus produced several measures that we'll be unpacking here to begin the show. We start with what didn’t get done: new rules for data centers. That legislation went off the rails over tax abatement. Data centers currently receive a 100% sales tax exemption. Proposed legislation would have reduced that tax break to between 50% and 75%. But many lawmakers, responding to concerns from constituents, say the industry should receive no exemption at all. Property tax relief remains a priority for Ohioans and lawmakers took action during their marathon session to provide help qualifying senior and disabled homeowners. More than 700,000 Homestead Exemption recipients will receive a nearly $500 credit toward their tax bill in January. Voters will decide whether to put photo-identification requirements for in-person voters – already a law in Ohio – into the constitution after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment for the fall ballot. In a separate measure lawmakers sent to the governor a bill that extends voter ID to those casting votes by absentee/mail-in ballot. Ohio Republicans who say they are concerned about fraud in Medicaid in Ohio passed new regulations but first stripped out a provision that would have denied funding for those who care for sick family members. That provision had sparked spirited protests at the Statehouse. The Cleveland Clinic agreed to a deal with the Department of Justice this week that will end gender-affirming care for minors for at least the next 20 years. Prompted by an investigation into billing irregularities for such care, the agreement would remain in effect even if the current state law prohibiting gender-affirming care would be overturned. The MetroHealth System will not seek recertification of its Level 2 pediatric trauma center in 2027, though it will still treat children through its broader Level 1 trauma center for adults which also can treat minors. It will transfer pediatric cases to University Hospitals, which runs the region's only Level 1 pediatric trauma center, saying it's better for the broader system not to duplicate efforts. We will discuss these topics and the rest of the week’s news on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests:- Abbey Marshall, Local Government Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Conor Morris, Education Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau