July 28, 2026

Tax Policy Roundtable with State Representatives Bill Roemer, Jack Daniels, and Dave Thomas

With the Ohio General Assembly nearing the end of its current session and the state preparing for a new gubernatorial administration and legislative session, many tax issues are at the forefront of discussion.

Hear from Ohio House Representatives Bill Roemer (OH-31), Jack Daniels (OH-32), and Dave Thomas (OH-65) about recently enacted policies, emerging legislative priorities, and key tax issues that will help define the 2026 General Election and 2027 legislative agenda. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share perspectives during an interactive Q&A. Join us on Monday, August 3 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at the 7 17 Credit Union Event Space at the Greater Akron Chamber.

Legislative Update

Senate Bill 462: Enact the Joining-Opportunity Business and Schools (JOBS) Act

State Senator Jane Timken introduced new tax incentives, known as the JOBS Act, for public-private partnerships focused on curriculum development for in-demand jobs. Under the “Qualified Education Partnership Program” institutions of higher education may enter into an agreement with private sector partners to support the development of a degree or certificate program that directly meets local workforce needs.

There are two new tax credits that come with the proposed Qualified Education Partnership Program:

Development tax credit: Equal to 20% of qualified expenses incurred for creating a new qualified education partnership or significantly updating a qualified education partnership. To be eligible for the credit, the educational program must have a 70% completion rate within its first two years of beginning operation or following “significant” updates made because of the qualifying educational partnership.
Hiring tax credit: Equal to $1,000 for each graduate hired and retained by the taxpayer (business) or placed in substantially similar employment in the same industry, for at least twelve consecutive months. To be eligible, a qualified education program must be eligible for the aforementioned development tax credit and achieve a 70% job placement rate.
The total value of both credits combined cannot exceed a company’s total tax liability under section 5751.02 (Commercial Activity Tax).
Unused credits can be carried forward for two years.

A qualified education partnership established under the bill must meet all of the following conditions:

The private sector partner shall significantly contribute to the curriculum of the degree or certificate program to ensure alignment with current industry standards.
The private sector partner shall contribute significant resources to the degree or certificate program, which may include proprietary software, specialized equipment, or subject matter experts to assist in the delivery of the educational content.
The degree or certificate program shall lead to a recognized post-secondary degree or a credential that is valuable in the broader labor market, portable, and credit-worthy.
The institution of higher education shall maintain academic control and deliver instruction in accordance with state and federal laws and applicable accreditation standards.

While the ACAA supports the concept behind the JOBS Act, limiting these incentives to a company’s Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) liability would significantly restrict participation. Since the last State Operating Budget raised the CAT threshold to $6 million, 90% of Ohio companies no longer have a CAT liability.

We encourage Senator Timken and others in the Ohio Legislature to allow these credits to be leveraged against other forms of taxes. Without this simple change, the program will primarily benefit Ohio’s largest companies.

State Senator Timken Outlines Senate Bill 462 at ACAA Meeting

Earlier this month, State Senator Jane Timken provided an overview of Senate Bill 462 at the ACAA’s bi-monthly meeting. Her presentation gave members the opportunity to better understand the intent of the bill, ask questions, and share initial feedback on how the proposal could impact the business community.

The meeting also included a review of the process for updating the organization’s Public Policy Agenda and annual Action Plan to ensure the agenda remains aligned with the issues most relevant to the business community and the current legislative priorities shaping decisions at the local, state, and federal levels.

The ACAA remains committed to connecting members with timely information and convening stakeholders around the issues shaping the region’s business climate. If you would like to get engaged with the ACAA, please contact Daisha Okolo.

Voter Election Guide

The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance is committed to providing pertinent information on candidates, ballot issues, and legislation that impacts your business. As such, the online Voter Election Guide serves as a one-stop resource for clear, nonpartisan information on key races and issues on the November 3 ballot.

This year’s ballot includes candidates for U.S. Senate, Ohio’s Congressional seats, Ohio Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and seats on the Ohio Supreme Court (as well as a number of Ohio House and Senate seats and local offices). The guide will feature candidate overviews, links to campaign websites, recorded conversations with candidates, and direct access to county board of elections for up-to-date local voting information.

With a full slate of candidates and issues on the ballot, make sure your voter registration is up to date.

View the Voter Guide

General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Important Deadlines

Voter registration deadline: October 5
Early in-person voting: October 6 – November 2
Absentee voting by mail: October 6 – November 2

*Absentee ballots must be received on election day by your board of elections by 7:30 PM

What You'll Need to Register Online

Ohio driver license or Ohio identification card number
Name
Date of Birth
Address
Last four digits of your Social Security number

*For more information, or to check your voter registration status, click here.

Upcoming Events

Candidates and Elected Officials Reception

Election season brings important decisions for the business community, and ACAA’s annual Candidates and Elected Officials Reception offers members a timely opportunity to connect directly with the people making and seeking decisions that impact local businesses.

In lieu of a formal program, this year’s reception will offer space for business leaders to share priorities, ask questions, and build relationships ahead of the election. Get connected and engaged with candidates and elected officials on Thursday, October 8 from 5:00–7:00 PM at House 330 in Akron.

Refreshments and heavy appetizers will be provided.

The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance is a collaboration of the Greater Akron Chamber and the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce to represent the needs of our 4,500 members and engage with elected officials and policymakers for the benefit of the Akron-Canton region.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

For more information, contact John Rizzo, Vice President, at jrizzo@akroncantonadvocacy.org or Daisha Okolo, Manager, at dokolo@akroncantonadvocacy.org.

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