Ohio House budget scraps DeWine’s crackdowns on vapes, cigarettes: Capitol Letter

Rotunda Rumblings

Tobacco freedom: The Ohio House’s budget proposal gutted a number of anti-tobacco priorities of Gov. Mike DeWine. As Jake Zuckerman reports, that includes slashing funding for a tobacco cessation hotline, nixing a tax hike on cigarettes and vapes, and scrapping a state enforcement mechanism for under-21 tobacco sales.

Death drug search: Newly added state budget bill language seeks to end Ohio’s years-long moratorium on executions by requiring state prisons officials to seek federal help in acquiring long-sought lethal-injection drugs. As Jeremy Pelzer reports, the proposal comes in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump empowering U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure states have the enough drugs needed to carry out executions. Ohio hasn’t executed anyone since 2018, as U.S. and European pharmaceutical companies have cut off sales of drugs used in lethal injections on moral and legal grounds.

Congressional rematch: Former GOP Ohio legislator Kevin Coughlin announced Wednesday that he’s running for Congress again in the 13th Congressional District currently represented by Akron Democrat Emilia Sykes, Sabrina Eaton reports. After winning a three-way GOP primary last year, Coughlin, of Bath Township, won 48.9 percent of the vote against Sykes in November.

Penalty box: The Ohio Casino Control Commission has issued cease-and-desist letters to three companies, ordering them to immediately stop offering sports betting products in the state without a license. Molly Walsh writes that the state sent notices on Monday to KalshiEX LLC, along with Robinhood Markets Inc., and Foris DAX Inc., which operates Crypto.com. The letters say the companies have been offering event contracts on sporting events to Ohio residents, in violation of the state’s gambling laws.

Empty shelves: The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently canceled 553,000 pounds of food, equivalent to 20 semi-truck loads, that were slated for delivery to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank between April and July as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program. Walsh went inside the food bank to show what the fallout from that decision could mean.

Full Disclosure

Here’s five things we learned from the Feb. 13, 2024, financial disclosure statement of House Finance Chairman Brian Stewart, a Pickaway County Republican.

Alongside his legislative work, he earned more than $100,000 from his legal practice; between $10,000 and $25,000 in rental income; and less than $10,000 in military disability compensation
He owns common stock in Amazon, Apple and Disney, plus two mutual funds, a retirement account, and two 529 accounts
At some point during the year, he owed at least $1000 to PenFed Credit Union, Citibank, and Consolidated Direct Loans
He reported no debtors during the year
He’s a licensed attorney and title agent

On the Move

Reps. Jack Daniels and Elgin Rogers Jr. and Sens. Shane Wilkin and Bill DeMora announced the formation of the Ohio Trucking Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators committed advancing policies that will positively impact the trucking and logistics industries, per a news release from a trucking industry group.

Craig Riedel, a Republican former state representative and 2024 congressional candidate from Defiance, announced Wednesday he will run in 2026 for Senate District 1, currently held by term-limited Senate President Rob McColley, a Napoleon Republican.

Birthdays

Tommy Rolf, former Ohio House Republicans policy adviser

Straight From The Source

“I had a great meeting with Governor DeWine today. He didn’t grab me by the throat and, you know, shove me up against the wall or anything like that.”

– Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, speaking to reporters about some noticeable chasms between the House and governor’s budget priorities.