Ohio Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update | March 11, 2026

Chamber Pushes for Broader K-12 Access to Computer Science and AI Classes

On March 3, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Rick Carfagna testified before the Senate Education Committee in strong support of Senate Bill 326, which would require every Ohio high school student to complete at least one computer science course as a condition of graduation. Expanding access to computer science education in Ohio's K–12 system is one of the Ohio Chamber's top ten policy priorities this General Assembly. SB 326 also represents the next logical step in building on the foundation Ohio has laid through prior investments like the TeachCS Program, licensure waivers for CS educators, and the $8 million appropriated for professional development.

In his testimony, Carfagna highlighted the urgent workforce case for the bill: nearly four in ten Ohio high schools currently offer zero computer science courses, only 3% of Ohio students enroll in a CS course annually, and the state ranks 44th in the country for growth in computer science degree production. The skill gap between CS job openings and available graduates widens by more than 11,000 positions every year. Carfagna emphasized that this is not a niche technology issue — employers across every sector, from manufacturing and agriculture to healthcare and insurance, need workers with computer science skills.

The Ohio Chamber also expressed strong support for SB 326's forward-looking requirement that qualifying courses include instruction in artificial intelligence — covering what AI is, how it works, and its societal impact. This provision ensures the graduation requirement evolves alongside the economy rather than becoming a static mandate, positioning Ohio students to compete in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The Ohio Chamber urged the committee to advance SB 326 and help ensure Ohio students are prepared for a 21st century economy.

The bill is expected to progress in the coming weeks, with revisions forthcoming to reduce the year-long requirement to a semester requirement and to remove the in-person course requirement for e-schools.

Ohio, The Heart of It All Pass

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce is supportive of HB 732 that was introduced by Representative Melanie Miller this week. It would create an "Ohio, The Heart of It All" pass that would be administered by TourismOhio and allows Ohio attractions to list discounts or benefits for passholders. TourismOhio will market the pass, and Ohioans will be able to download the electronic pass for free in 2026 and use it at hundreds of places in Ohio in connection with the America 250 Ohio celebration.

Amended Senate Bill 9 – Signed by the Governor

Last week, the House successfully passed amended SB 9 with the emergency clause and was able to send the bill to the Senate for concurrence. The Senate concurred with the House’s changes to the bill before it was swiftly sent to the Governor and signed the next day on March 5. 

SB 9, Ohio’s annual tax conformity bill, updates the Ohio Revised Code to align with several federal tax law changes to the Internal Revenue Code since March 7, 2025. Businesses across Ohio benefit significantly when state and federal tax rules match, as it allows them to prepare one consistent set of records rather than maintaining separate calculations for federal and state purposes. Reducing this duplication and unnecessary complexity saves employers both time and money, which can then be invested in the growth and wages of the company. 

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce testified in support of SB 9 and expressed the importance of including the full expensing for research and experimental expenditures, to allow businesses to reinvest in their operations quickly and encourage growth in the state. The Chamber’s testimony also voiced support of the enhancements to the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, which help working families participate in the workforce and support employers facing labor shortages.

Ohio Defense & Space Commission

The Ohio House passed HB 292 (Rep. Ty Mathews & Rep. Nick Santucci) on March 5, which would establish the Ohio Defense and Space Commission. The Ohio Chamber supports this bill and its companion SB 362 (Sen. Reineke). These bills would create an Ohio Defense and Space Commission that will help the private sector, public sector, and universities work together to support aviation, aerospace, and defense companies choosing to locate in Ohio or expand their operations in Ohio.  

Capital Budget

Leadership has announced that there will be a capital budget this year. The capital budget is enacted for a two-year period and funds construction or purchase of capital assets or property for state agencies, colleges, universities, and community projects. Capital budget requests are submitted through your state legislator(s) and due by March 12.