COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a move widely seen as a preemptive strike against both Governor Mike DeWine’s property tax task force and the growing momentum behind the Ax Ohio Tax ballot initiative, the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee has approved Substitute House Bill 186, a sweeping proposal that supporters say will deliver $1.7 billion in property tax relief over three years.
The bill’s approval marks a significant step in the legislature’s response to mounting public pressure over rising property taxes. It comes just days after the release of a report from the Ohio Education Policy Institute, which warns that the state has reached what it calls a “real property tax tipping point.”
The report points to a sharp shift in the tax burden over time: in 1975, Ohio homeowners and farmers paid just over 46% of all property taxes. By 2023, that share had surged to 67.5%, raising concerns about affordability for middle-class and rural property owners.
Backers of the bill say the measure will help offset years of rising tax bills, particularly in communities where property values have climbed faster than incomes. “This is about fairness and sustainability,” said one committee member. “Ohioans are paying more than their fair share, and this bill helps correct that.”
Critics, however, warn the legislation could impact funding for essential local services, particularly public schools, which rely heavily on property tax revenues.
The bill now moves to the full House for consideration. Meanwhile, Gov. DeWine’s task force continues its work, and organizers behind the Ax Ohio Tax initiative are pushing forward with their campaign to put the issue directly before voters in 2026.
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