COLUMBUS, Ohio March 8, 2026 – Mike DeWine will deliver his 2026 State of the State address Tuesday at noon at the Ohio Statehouse in downtown Columbus.
Lawmakers from the Ohio General Assembly will gather for the speech in the Ohio House chamber.
This will be DeWine’s seventh and final State of the State address before his second term ends in January 2027.
Governors usually use the annual speech to explain their policy plans and goals for the year.
People across Ohio can watch the address live on The Ohio Channel starting at 12 p.m.
Budget and Education Issues
Lawmakers are currently reviewing the governor’s new state budget proposal.
During recent hearings, officials from Columbus City Schools told lawmakers the district could lose about $45 million in funding under the proposal.
A report from the Ohio Education Policy Institute said school districts across the state could lose about $103 million if the proposal becomes law.
Dispute Over Data Center Tax Policy
The speech also comes after a disagreement between DeWine and some Republican lawmakers.
Earlier this month, the Ohio General Assembly voted to override the governor’s veto of a bill that restores a tax break for large data center projects.
Some lawmakers say the tax break helps bring technology companies and jobs to Ohio.
Questions About the H2Ohio Program
Another issue is the future of the state’s water quality program, H2Ohio.
Matt Huffman has raised concerns about a proposal to use bonds to fund the program long term.
Funding for H2Ohio was reduced in the most recent state budget.
Several state agencies help run the program, including Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Ohio Department of Agriculture and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Jobs and Economic Growth
DeWine has often focused on jobs and workforce training.
The governor says about 5.7 million people in Ohio are currently working, and more than 81,000 private-sector jobs have been added in recent years.
One major project shaping the region is the $28 billion semiconductor factory planned by Intel in Licking County.
It is one of the largest economic development projects in Ohio’s history.
Jim Tressel has also been helping lead workforce development programs across the state.
How to Watch
Ohio residents can watch the State of the State address live on The Ohio Channel, Through local television coverage and online streaming. Also the speech and decisions will be updated independently by ColumbusFrontline.com
The speech begins Tuesday, March 10 at 12 p.m. ET.
Sources: Office of Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News Bureau, Ohio Education Policy Institute