Selected Ohio agencies would justify budget requests from zero

The budget director and selected agencies would prepare budget estimates using zero-based budgeting. The requirement covers state agencies selected under section 126.026. Zero-based budgeting starts at zero and requires each requested or proposed appropriation to be justified by its purpose, without reference to the prior year's appropriation. The requirement starts with the General Assembly convening in 2029 and applies to each General Assembly after that.

A rotating finance committee chair would choose agencies for zero-based budgeting and notify state officials. The House and Senate finance committee chairs take turns, starting with the House chair. Selected agencies submit their estimates to the budget office. The chair must select at least one-third of state agencies and may select more. Elected officials, the General Assembly and its agencies, and the Supreme Court and its agencies are excluded. The chair must select agencies by June 30 of each even-numbered year.

The budget director would set a method for including zero-based budgeting principles in agency budget request forms. The forms go to affected state agencies for preparing their budget requests. The text places this duty in the regular budget request process but gives no separate start date.