Ohio sets county Memorial Day funding caps for eligible groups

County commissioners must set aside annual Memorial Day money for eligible groups that request it, capped at $1,000 per group. Eligible recipients are local Army and Navy Union branches and local units of veterans organizations recognized and chartered by Congress. Advance requests must arrive no more than 120 days before Memorial Day and include expenses already incurred. Recipients must report spending under oath and return unused money within 60 days after Memorial Day. Missing the report makes them ineligible the following year. Groups may pool their money for community observances, work on veterans’ graves, and related expenses. The signed law takes effect October 6, 2026.

County payments to civic organizations for Memorial Day observances are capped at $200. The $200 limit covers county money given to civic organizations that take over Memorial Day observances. The veterans post must no longer exist or be unable to handle Memorial Day services. The civic organization must be willing and able to carry out the observance. The signed law takes effect October 6, 2026.