COLUMBUS, Ohio — Governor Mike DeWine delivered his State of the State Speech on Wednesday. He named children and education as his top priorities. He noted his concerns about mental health and discussed his desire to make it tougher for the youth to buy tobacco products.

"Our children today are more isolated, more anxious, more depressed, and more suicidal," said Gov. Mike DeWine.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Mike DeWine’s State of the State Address touched on children and education as top statewide priorities

  • Political scientists say the speech could have been strategically catered to the legislature by addressing concerns they care deeply about, and helping calm the inparty Republican fighting 

  • In the coming months, it will be up to the state legislature to address DeWine’s priorities if lawmakers wish to do so 
 

DeWine noted that the legislature has made tremendous growth in the career technical field by making it more available to kids. During his speech, DeWine pointed to nearly $200 million spent to build new career technical classrooms across the Buckeye State. He also praised the existing scholarship programs helping youth across the state, estimating graduating youth will receive an estimated $15,000 in merit-based scholarships.

He also called on the legislature to pass legislation to crack down on cellphones in classrooms and revisit the topic of marijuana and its impact on the state, but political scientists said to get movement on some topics it would depend on the way it is structured. 

“A lot of this will depend on how the proposals are written,” said Justin Buchler, a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University. “It’s relatively easy to agree on broad goals depending on how they are stated.” 

“There are some aspects on childcare, smoking, vaping, school, social media, where there’s somewhat of a consensus,” said Terry Casey, a Republican political strategist. “It’s just a matter in the limited number of sessions they’re going to have between now and Election Day. What can they work out?”

One obstacle lawmakers would address with some of DeWine’s priorities is the amount of funding that could be required. Plus, limited sessions left in this year in both the Senate and House chambers could slow down the pace at which lawmakers move on legislation, ideas, and proposals. 

“It depends on what does it cost short term, and long term,” said Casey. “Because a lot of legislators are worried about too much spending, and what’s going to happen when the belt needs to be tightened?” 

During this session, the House and Senate chambers have only concurred on 20 bills. Those pieces of legislation range from the ‘SAFE Act,’ bail reform, and even legislation the Ohio Senate and House passed excusing breastfeeding mothers from jury duty. They have also agreed on private school vouchers, various legislation targeting Second Amendment rights and property taxation. Political scientist David Niven believes DeWine used his speech strategically.

“I think it’s very interesting that the controversies never came up,” Niven said. “There is no scandal, no bribery scandal in this speech. There was no fight over reproductive rights in this speech. The legislature spends a lot of time fighting against trans Ohioans. That was also never mentioned. So, this was a very carefully constructed, and carefully edited speech.” 

The Governor did bring up revisiting the topic of marijuana statewide, along with Delta-8 and other cannabis. He also brought up statewide seatbelt laws for children that he hopes the legislature will discuss with the limited time that is left in the session.