Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Week in Review
For the week ending December 5, 2025
Saturday, November 29, 2025
 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recognized Small Business Saturday to highlight small businesses in Ohio communities.
Monday, December 1, 2025
 Governor DeWine joined state, local, and federal officials in Dayton to announce an investment of additional state resources to support current violence reduction operations by the Dayton Police Department (DPD), Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), and federal partners.
The violent crime reduction initiatives are intelligence-driven operations in areas of Dayton where data shows repeat violent offenders are committing the most crime.
"We are using the combined expertise of state, local, and federal partners to specifically focus in on the repeat violent offenders who continuously disregard the law and illegally carry guns in the city of Dayton," said Governor DeWine. "This work is already underway, and it will be carried out over the long term to regularly go after the individuals who are causing the most problems citywide."
Governor DeWine signed the following bills into law:
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House Bill 23, sponsored by State Representative Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) and State Representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.), to create the escaped convict alert program and to allow a prior parent company of a bank to apply to the Secretary of State for the appointment and commission of banking police officers.
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House Bill 27, sponsored by State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord) and State Representative Daniel P. Troy (D-Willowick), to designate the bridge spanning the Grand River in Lake County as the "Specialist Jacob A. Ashton Memorial Bridge" and to make changes to the "Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation" license plate.
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House Bill 38, sponsored by State Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula), to designate a portion of State Route 87 in Geauga County as the "Dr. Steven Takacs Veteran Memorial Highway."
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House Bill 56, sponsored by State Representative Sharon A. Ray (R-Wadsworth), to designate a portion of State Route 421 in Medina County as the "CPL David James Amheiser Memorial Highway."
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Senate Bill 155, sponsored by State Senator Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware) and State Senator Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), to amend sections 4735.18 and 4735.24 and to enact section 5301.95 of the Revised Code to amend the law related to real estate wholesalers.
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
 With more schools in Ohio continuing to sign up for round two of the Team Tressel Fitness Challenge every day, Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel is extending the sign-up deadline to December 12, 2025.
All Ohio schools with students in grades 3-8 are encouraged to sign up now at TeamTressel.Ohio.gov.
"Our students showed tremendous heart and dedication in round one, and we're just getting started," said Lt. Governor Tressel. "The response to this challenge has been incredible, and we want every school to have the chance to join in. We're extending the deadline so more students have the opportunity to build those healthy habits that will last them a lifetime."
Lt. Governor Tressel Soundbite and B-Roll
Led by Lt. Governor Tressel, the challenge has inspired more than 100,000 young Ohioans to create lasting, healthy habits in fitness, nutrition, and sleep through individual goal setting. More than 700 schools with almost 183,000 students participated in the first round of the challenge this fall. Participating schools have seen strong engagement from students, excitement from staff, and positive feedback from families.
Governor DeWine signed the following bill into law:
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Senate Bill 152, sponsored by State Senator Andrew O. Brenner (R-Delaware), to amend sections 4729.01, 4729.36, 4729.531, 4729.532, 4729.54, and 4729.55 of the Revised Code to allow wild animal rehabilitation facilities to receive a limited license to administer euthanasia drugs and to modify the law regarding the use of terms that are limited to pharmacies and pharmacists.
Governor DeWine vetoed the following bill:
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Senate Bill 50, to amend sections 3331.02 and 4109.07 of the Revised Code regarding age and schooling certificate requirements and work hours for a person under sixteen years of age.
Governor DeWine issued the following veto message:
"Learning to work is an essential part of growing up. Businesses across Ohio each day give young people the opportunity to learn the so-called soft skills that will serve them well when they become adults. In analyzing this bill, it is important to define what it would do and what it would not do.
"The bill would, for the first time, allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work up to 9 pm on SCHOOL NIGHTS. Our child work rules have been in place, across this country, for many years. They have provided that 14- and 15-year-olds can work after school up to 7 p.m. This bill would extend that time to 9 p.m. I believe it unwise to provide for 14- and 15-year-olds to work, on a school night, that late at night. I see no compelling reason to deviate from current law.
"Under current law, 14- and 15-year-old children CAN work up to 9pm during the summer months and during any school break longer than 5 days in duration (i.e., Christmas break and spring break). Further, under current law, those 16 and older can work up to 9 p.m. even on school nights. The only thing at issue here is whether, for 14- and 15-year-olds, DURING THE SCHOOL WEEK, the time when work must cease is 7 p.m. or 9 p.m. I believe the current law has served us well and has effectively balanced the importance of 14- and 15-year-old children learning to work, with the importance of them having time to study.
"For the reasons set forth above, this veto is in the public interest."
Thursday, December 4, 2025
 Lt. Governor Tressel spoke at the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and County Engineers Winter Conference, thanking them for the work they do every day to strengthen Ohio's communities and families.
 Governor DeWine and Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente announced a $5 million statewide investment in multiple pediatric cancer research studies aimed at improving the detection and treatment of cancer in children.
The announcement took place at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, one of five grant recipients.
"Pediatric cancer research is vital to improve survival rates and understand the unique biology of childhood cancers," said Governor DeWine. "Funding research that is driven by Ohio’s best and brightest children’s hospitals and researchers demonstrates once again that Ohio is a leader in caring for, prioritizing, and supporting children and families."
Friday, December 5, 2025
Ahead of the Big Ten Football Championship Game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers, Governor DeWine and Indiana Governor Mike Braun have placed a friendly wager on the outcome of the game.
The Buckeyes and Hoosiers — the top two teams in the country and the only remaining undefeated FBS teams in college football — will face off Saturday night in Indianapolis with the conference title on the line.
In the spirit of friendly competition, Governor DeWine and Governor Braun have wagered locally made popcorn that highlights each state’s rich agricultural roots.
“As the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Ohio State has shown all season what hard work, discipline, and Buckeye determination look like,” said Governor DeWine. “I have every confidence that Coach Ryan Day and this team will finish strong and bring another Big Ten Championship back to Ohio. O-H!”
Governor DeWine joined Ohio Department of Children and Youth Director Kara Wente and Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, to visit children's hospitals in Cincinnati and Cleveland, where they highlighted the hospitals' selection as recipients of the state's new Pediatric Cancer Research Grant.
The visit follows Thursday's statewide announcement at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, where Governor DeWine announced a total of $5 million in grant funding for five grant recipients.
Established as part of the state fiscal year 2026-2027 state biennial budget, this grant will support the work of five Ohio-based healthcare and non-profit research organizations on innovative projects aimed at improving diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes for children and young adults diagnosed with cancer.
 Governor DeWine joined leaders at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center to highlight the funding the hospital received to further pediatric cancer research. The funding will help expand the hospital’s Engraft Learning Network, a collaboration led by Cincinnati Children’s that links transplant and cellular therapy centers across Ohio to improve outcomes for children undergoing bone marrow transplants or cellular therapy. By sharing real-time data, best practices, and family input, the network works to reduce complications such as infection and organ injury. The funding will strengthen statewide coordination, enhance quality-improvement tools, and provide better education and support for families throughout treatment.
 Governor DeWine visited Cleveland Clinic, which will use grant funding to support the development of a highly targeted self-amplifying RNA vaccine for Ewing sarcoma and desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCT) — two aggressive pediatric cancers with very poor survival rates after relapse. The therapeutic vaccine trains the immune system to recognize tumor-specific fusion proteins and will be tested in a trial, both alone and in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, to assess safety, immune activation, and early signs of tumor control. This project aims to offer a more precise and less toxic treatment option for children and young adults, while also strengthening Ohio’s capacity for next-generation pediatric cancer vaccine research.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Dan Tierney: 614-644-0957
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