Ohio Advocacy Update: Wins, Challenges, and What’s Next in 2026
As the Ohio Legislature’s 136th General Assembly hits the halfway mark and lawmakers leave for winter recess, it is a good time to recap the progress made and look ahead to what we will continue to advocate for in 2026.
Advocates successfully used their voices to champion a $1 million per year appropriation for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Double Up Food Bucks Program. This funding will provide all Ohioans who use SNAP twice as much money to spend on produce at farmers’ markets and local grocers.
The House Agriculture Committee recently added a provision to House Bill 364 that would require chain restaurants to add a simple warning label to menus for items with more than half the daily recommended intake of sodium. This will help provide Ohioans with the information they need to make heart-healthy choices when dining out. You can support this bill by taking action here.
A new bill threatens Ohio’s clean indoor air laws. House Bill 549 seeks to create a dangerous exemption to the Ohio Smoke-Free Workplace Act that would allow cigar bars. The legislation would roll back public health protections that keep workers and customers safe from secondhand smoke. It hasn’t received any hearings in the House, but if this bill does move forward, your voice will be essential to keeping Ohio smoke-free.
As an American Heart Association Heart Powered advocate, you help shape Ohio’s laws and make your community healthier. Thank you for all your support so far this session. Keep an eye on your inbox for simple actions that make a big difference.