Leadership

A proposal to regulate Ohio data centers stalled this week after lawmakers failed to reach agreement on Substitute House Bill 646, legislation that raised significant concerns for manufacturers and other electric customers.

With the Senate not expected to return before summer recess, the bill is likely dead until lame duck, giving lawmakers time to replace a rushed utility-driven framework with real customer protections.

In a key vote alert to lawmakers, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) strongly opposed the bill in its current form and urged removal of the tariff mechanism, warning it could create long-term cost-shifting risks for Ohio customers. Real customer protection means requiring utilities to prove projected demand before customers are asked to pay for it.

While OMA is not asking lawmakers to shield any customer from costs it causes, those costs must be based on actual cost causation, verified demand and nondiscriminatory rules.

“HB 646 did not deserve to cross the finish line,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “It asked Ohio customers to trust utility forecasts, accept discriminatory ratemaking and hope the costs would not come back to them later. That is the opposite of customer protection. That is a blank check.”

The electricity provisions in the bill did nothing to require utilities to prove their forecasts before customers are asked to pay. They did nothing to stop speculative demand from becoming real costs. And they did nothing to protect Ohio families, small businesses or manufacturers from utility planning assumptions that may never materialize.

OMA warned that the bill moved away from Ohio’s traditional cost-causation framework by selectively targeting a single industry based primarily on its end use of electricity. Creating discriminatory utility policies for one industry opens the door for future efforts to penalize other industry sectors or customer types, including manufacturing.

John Seryak, founder of RunnerStone LLC and energy engineer for OMA Energy Group, told the Senate Energy Committee this week that the core principle behind the bill is sound: customers that create costs should bear those costs. But he warned that the bill’s current approach, including separate data center rate classes and minimum demand charges, could be unworkable and may increase costs for other customers by inflating utility load forecasts, triggering unnecessary transmission investments and driving higher PJM capacity costs.

Instead, Seryak urged lawmakers to allow large-load customers to pay for grid upgrades upfront through contribution-in-aid-of-construction mechanisms, which he said is the clearest way to prevent cost shifting and avoid saddling ratepayers with decades of utility-financed infrastructure costs.

OMA has repeatedly warned policymakers when utility-driven energy policy puts customers at risk. Whether the issue is above-market charges, customer-funded bailouts or cost-shifting schemes dressed up as reliability policy, the pattern is familiar: Point to a crisis. Demand new authority. Shift risk onto customers. Call it protection.

That is not reform. That is business as usual.

OMA will continue urging lawmakers to pursue serious, fact-based energy policy grounded in verified demand, cost causation and fair rules that apply across industries. House Bill 646 may be likely dead until lame duck, but the fight to protect Ohio customers from speculative forecasts and utility wish lists is far from over. 6/11/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) this week joined Republican and Democratic lawmakers, consumer advocates, and fiscal watchdogs at the Statehouse to back the Electricity Forecast Integrity Act, legislation designed to stop speculative utility forecasts from becoming customer costs without proof.

The coalition delivered a blunt message. Before monopoly utilities use projected electric demand to justify billions in new spending, someone outside the utility should have to check the math. Ohio families, small businesses and manufacturers should not be forced to pay for utility plans built on inflated assumptions, unverified projections or load that may never show up.

“Planning for reliability does not mean accepting every utility forecast at face value,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “Ohio can prepare for future demand without letting speculation become a business model.”

When monopoly utilities ask customers to finance billions in new costs, the burden should be on the utility to prove the need. And “trust us” should never be the standard for raising electric bills. 6/9/2026

Two former FirstEnergy executives pleaded not guilty this week to expanded charges tied to the House Bill 6 bribery scandal, another reminder of the damage caused when utility-driven energy policy is allowed to overrun customer protection. The case underscores why the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) continues to warn lawmakers against utility-driven proposals that shift risk onto customers.

“House Bill 6 was not just a scandal. It was a warning,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Ohio should have learned that customer-funded utility schemes do not become good policy just because they are sold as reliability or reform. Whether the ask is a bailout, a forecast, a tariff or some new charge hidden inside a complex bill, OMA will keep fighting to make sure customers are protected first.”

OMA has repeatedly warned policymakers when utility-driven energy policy puts customers at risk. As lawmakers continue debating Ohio’s energy future, OMA will keep pushing for policy grounded in verified demand, cost causation and real customer protection, not utility wish lists. 6/11/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) this week urged lawmakers to support House Bill 332, legislation that would help small defense manufacturers access lower-cost capital through Ohio’s linked deposit program.

Testifying before the Senate Financial Institutions, Insurance and Technology Committee, Eric Jenkusky, founder and CEO of T.J. Clark International in Delaware, Ohio, said small defense manufacturers face long production cycles, strict federal compliance requirements, volatile material costs and major upfront investments in equipment, inventory and workforce training.

“Ohio’s small defense manufacturers are doing work that matters far beyond the shop floor,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “House Bill 332 would help these companies access the capital they need to grow, hire and strengthen the defense supply chains America depends on.”

Jenkusky said the bill would help companies expand production, strengthen supply chains, invest in advanced manufacturing and hire skilled workers. These companies may not always make the headline-grabbing defense systems, but they make the parts, components and equipment that keep America’s defense industrial base moving.

The testimony comes as House Bill 292, another OMA-supported defense manufacturing priority, advanced to the governor after Senate passage and House concurrence. That bill would create the Ohio Defense and Space Commission, helping Ohio compete for more defense and aerospace work while strengthening the small and mid-sized manufacturers that support the state’s defense industrial base. 6/11/2026

The Ohio General Assembly this week approved House Bill 105, Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA)-supported legislation to bring more transparency to third-party litigation funding. The bill now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine for his signature.

House Bill 105 would require commercial litigation financiers to register with the attorney general and would prohibit foreign-domiciled litigation financiers from operating in Ohio. OMA has supported the bill as a way to ensure outside financial interests cannot quietly bankroll lawsuits against Ohio businesses.

“Ohio manufacturers need a legal climate that is fair, transparent and predictable,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of advocacy and energy services. “House Bill 105 is a commonsense step to expose hidden lawsuit funding, protect employers from abusive litigation practices and strengthen Ohio’s business climate.” 6/11/2026

U.S. manufacturing added 7,000 jobs in May, offering a welcome sign of resilience after revised April data showed no net job losses or gains.

The broader labor picture also improved. Manufacturing unemployment fell to 458,000 in May, down from 547,000 a year earlier, meaning roughly 89,000 fewer manufacturing workers were unemployed than at the same point last year, a 16% decline.

“Manufacturers are still proving why this sector matters,” said Ryan Augsburger, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Even in a challenging economy, manufacturing continues to create opportunity, support families and anchor communities. The job is to make sure public policy helps that momentum instead of getting in the way.”

The numbers underscore why workforce policy remains central to manufacturing competitiveness. Ohio’s ability to keep building momentum will depend on strong training pipelines, competitive energy costs, modern infrastructure and a business climate that supports investment and job creation. 6/8/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) Government Affairs Committee got a lively, bipartisan look this week at the political forces already shaping Ohio’s 2026 election cycle.

Members heard from two standout speakers, Ohio Republican Party Chairman Alex Triantafilou and David Pepper, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, who each offered sharp, engaging perspectives on the statewide races, voter dynamics and policy fights ahead. A lively Q&A with attendees touched on issues likely to dominate Ohio’s campaign season, including energy, workforce, taxes and the state’s economic competitiveness.

“Candidates can campaign in slogans, but manufacturers operate in reality,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “Energy costs, workforce shortages and tax policy are not talking points. They are the difference between winning the next investment and watching it leave Ohio.”

With major statewide offices on the ballot, the meeting underscored how quickly campaign rhetoric can become real policy in Columbus, and why OMA will continue engaging candidates and policymakers from both parties throughout the 2026 election cycle. 6/4/2026

Ohio’s food and beverage manufacturers were front and center on Wednesday, as the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) hosted its Food & Beverage Manufacturers’ Policy Council followed by an evening Legislative Reception & Expo at the Athletic Club of Columbus.

The afternoon council meeting brought industry leaders together for a timely discussion on the policy issues shaping one of Ohio’s most essential manufacturing sectors, including food labeling, ingredient rules, packaging regulation, workforce needs, supply chain pressures and proposals that could raise the cost of doing business. Members also heard from Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge, JobsOhio’s Tim Derickson, the National Association of Manufacturers’ Jake Kuhns and the Consumer Brands Association’s John Hewitt.

That evening, more than 50 state lawmakers joined food and beverage manufacturers, suppliers and industry partners for OMA’s Legislative Reception & Expo, giving policymakers a firsthand look at the companies, people and priorities behind one of Ohio’s most important industries.

“This was OMA at its best,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “We brought policymakers face to face with the companies that make the products Ohioans rely on every day, showcased the strength of this industry and made sure lawmakers heard directly from the people driving investment, jobs and growth in communities across Ohio.” 6/3/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) has released a new video showcasing the statewide impact of the Good Jobs Challenge and the employer-led workforce partnerships powering its success.

Featuring reflections from Jessica Borza, OMA managing director of workforce services, the video highlights how manufacturers, Industry Sector Partnerships, educators and workforce partners have expanded access to training, strengthened talent pipelines and connected thousands of Ohioans to quality manufacturing careers.

The results are significant. Through the Good Jobs Challenge, more than 900 employers have been engaged and more than 4,200 individuals have been connected to manufacturing careers across Ohio. The video pairs those numbers with individual success stories, showing how coordinated support and employer leadership are creating real pathways into the industry.

“This is what happens when employers lead and Ohio’s workforce system aligns around results,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of energy and advocacy services. “OMA did not just help deliver a grant. We helped build a statewide workforce infrastructure that is connecting people to life-changing careers and giving manufacturers a stronger, more reliable talent pipeline. These results are not theoretical. They are happening in communities across Ohio.”

The video underscores that the Good Jobs Challenge is about more than short-term outcomes. It reflects lasting partnerships, proven regional models and employer-led strategies that will continue strengthening Ohio’s manufacturing workforce for years to come. 6/3/2026

Ohio Manufacturers’ Association President Ryan Augsburger and Nate Mays, OMA director of member services, visited International Motors in Springfield this week, ahead of Roshel’s planned takeover of the facility and a new chapter for one of Ohio’s historic manufacturing communities.

Roshel, a Canadian defense and commercial vehicle manufacturer, has agreed to acquire the Springfield facility and plans to use it as a U.S. hub for commercial, special and armored vehicle production. The site includes more than 2 million square feet of manufacturing space on 500 acres, including a full assembly line and paint booth.

The visit focused on Springfield’s manufacturing strength, workforce needs and future growth potential. OMA officials said Roshel’s plans represent a positive development for the region, with the potential to grow operations, strengthen the local supplier base and build on the industrial know-how already in place.

“Springfield is a reminder of what makes Ohio manufacturing so powerful,” Augsburger said. “This community has the people, production assets and supplier network to compete for the next generation of manufacturing investment. Roshel’s plans are good news for Springfield, good news for suppliers and another sign that Ohio remains a place where manufacturing can grow.” 6/3/2026

A raise should help a worker get ahead. Too often, benefit cliffs make that raise a risk.

Longtime Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) member Jack Schron of Jergens Inc. recently testified before the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee in support of legislation to fix benefit cliffs, warning that workers can be left worse off for accepting higher pay, more hours or a promotion.

That should offend everyone who believes work ought to be rewarded.

“Only government could design a system where a worker can be punished for accepting a raise,” said Ryan Augsburger, OMA president. “Benefit cliffs trap Ohioans, stall careers and make it harder for employers to reward work. Work should always be a ladder, not a cliff, and Congress should fix this broken policy.”

Ohio needs policies that help people move up, not rules that force workers to choose between getting ahead and keeping their families stable. 6/4/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) public policy team traveled to Sugarcreek this week to tour The Belden Brick Company with state auditor and attorney general candidate Keith Faber.

The visit was hosted by Brad Belden, president and chief operating officer of The Belden Brick Company, chair of the OMA Energy Committee and first vice chairman of the OMA Board of Directors. The discussion focused on issues affecting Ohio’s industrial economy, including electric reliability and affordability, PUCO oversight, utility load forecasting, supplemental transmission projects and the need to see House Bill 6-related accountability through to real culture change.

OMA also emphasized that data centers are too often being used as a convenient scapegoat for rising power bills, while the deeper problem is inflated utility forecasts and a regulatory system that lacks sufficient transparency and accountability.

“Visits like this give policymakers a clear view of what is at stake,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “Manufacturers need affordable, reliable energy and a regulatory system that scrutinizes utility claims before customers are asked to pay. Belden Brick is a powerful example of why these policy decisions matter on the plant floor, in communities and across Ohio’s economy.” 5/28/2026

As Ohio lawmakers examine the rapid growth of data centers, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) is urging policymakers to separate fact from fear.

At the first joint meeting of the House and Senate select committee on data centers, state environmental officials told lawmakers that data centers are reviewed under the same permitting frameworks that apply to other industrial, commercial and infrastructure projects. They also said regulators have not identified data centers as sources of “forever chemicals,” and that backup-generator emissions are regulated under state and federal clean air laws.

“Ohio should not build policy around panic,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “Data centers should meet the same rules as everyone else, but they should not be turned into a political scapegoat or used by monopoly utilities to justify inflated forecasts, special tariffs and customer-funded risk. Ohio needs facts, not fear.”

OMA is scheduled to testify before the select committee Thursday, June 11. 5/27/2026

In-person registration has reached capacity for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association’s (OMA) next Government Affairs Committee meeting, but members may still participate virtually via Zoom. The strong response is a clear sign that manufacturers are closely watching the policy and political decisions shaping Ohio’s economy.

The June 4 meeting will feature Senate President and lieutenant governor candidate Rob McColley, who will provide an update on the Ramaswamy-McColley campaign and discuss Senate policy priorities for the remainder of the legislative session. OMA has also invited David Pepper, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, to attend and share his perspective with members.

“Our Government Affairs Committee has become one of the places where serious policy conversations happen,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “When in-person registration reaches capacity, it tells you manufacturers are paying attention, showing up and engaging directly on the decisions that will shape Ohio’s economy.”

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. 5/29/2026

Before members of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) gathered at Cenovus’s Lima Refinery for this week’s Energy Committee meeting, OMA President Ryan Augsburger and Dave O’Neil, OMA director of communications, stopped by The Lima News to talk about what Ohio manufacturers are seeing on electric bills.

The message was plain. Higher costs should not be used to scare Ohio into bad energy policy.

In the interview, Augsburger pushed back on the utility-driven claim that Ohio is facing an unavoidable energy crisis. He said the real concern is whether monopoly utilities are using inflated forecasts and speculative data center demand to justify more spending that customers could be forced to fund, whether the load ever shows up or not.

“The name of the game is to create a false narrative where people believe we’ve got an energy crisis,” Augsburger told The Lima News.

OMA is urging policymakers and regulators to slow down, demand proof and require independent review of utility forecasts before customers are handed the bill. 5/28/2026

Ohio is giving workers, families and employers something many high-cost states cannot, room to grow. A new Wall Street Journal report highlights encouraging momentum in northeast Ohio, where Akron and Cleveland are seeing modest population gains after decades of decline, and where more people are choosing to stay, return or put down roots.

That matters to Ohio’s manufacturing economy. Young professionals are coming home. Families are finding attainable housing. Former industrial spaces are being transformed into hubs for technology, startups and advanced manufacturing. Akron’s former B.F. Goodrich tire factory, once a symbol of industrial loss, now houses the Bounce Innovation Hub and more than 60 small companies. Ohio’s manufacturing legacy is becoming a launchpad for what comes next.

The report also underscores one of Ohio’s biggest advantages, affordability. While many workers are being priced out of coastal and Sunbelt markets, communities across Ohio offer the chance to buy a home, build a career and raise a family without sacrificing opportunity.

“Ohio has the people, communities and cost advantages to win the next generation of manufacturing investment,” said Jessica Borza, managing director of workforce services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “When talent sees a future here, manufacturers do too. This is the kind of momentum that strengthens our workforce, supports investment and reminds the country that Ohio is still where things get built.” 5/26/2026

This Memorial Day, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) honors the Americans who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Their sacrifice secured the freedoms that allow our families, communities and workplaces to thrive. Across Ohio’s manufacturing community, we pause to remember those who did not return home and the families who carry their legacy.

OMA joins manufacturers across the state in gratitude, remembrance and respect for America’s fallen heroes. 5/22/2026

Senate President Rob McColley, a candidate for lieutenant governor, will headline the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) next Government Affairs Committee meeting Thursday, June 4, at the OMA offices and virtually via Zoom.

McColley will provide updates on the Ramaswamy-McColley campaign and discuss key Senate policy priorities for the remainder of the legislative session. OMA leadership and chief counsel will brief members on legislative developments, regulatory activity and policy issues impacting Ohio manufacturers. Members will also hear analysis of Ohio’s primary election results and how they are shaping the November midterms.

“These events are about access, intelligence and influence,” said James Lee, managing director of public policy services for the OMA. “OMA members will hear directly from key policymakers, get timely political analysis and connect with the leaders shaping Ohio’s manufacturing future.”

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., with attendees encouraged to arrive by 9:15 a.m. A networking lunch will follow from noon to 1 p.m. OMA members are also invited to a special Legislative Reception hosted by the Ohio Food & Beverage Manufacturers’ Policy Council the evening before, Wednesday, June 3. 5/22/2026

A proposed constitutional amendment to ban large data centers faces a steep climb to the November ballot after organizers reported roughly 27,000 signatures, just 6% of the 413,000-plus needed by July 1. With only weeks remaining and a typical campaign needing a cushion above the minimum to survive Ohio’s signature-verification process, the effort faces long odds.

But the campaign still reflects a broader reality policymakers should not ignore. Public frustration over data center development is growing, especially around electric costs, water use, land use and pressure on local communities.

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) has been clear that data centers are not the villain. Bad utility planning is. The risk comes when monopoly utilities use speculative or inflated load forecasts to justify costly infrastructure and shift costs onto captive customers.

“Ohio should welcome real economic growth, including data center investment, but customers should not be forced to bankroll utility overbuilding based on projections that may never materialize,” said OMA President Ryan Augsburger. “The answer is not to ban development. The answer is forecast accountability, transparent planning and strong customer protections.” 5/19/2026

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) this week urged lawmakers to support House Bill 105, legislation aimed at bringing greater transparency to third-party litigation funding. OMA Legal Counsel Anne Marie Sferra provided proponent testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, warning that commercial litigation funding can allow outside financial interests to quietly influence lawsuits against businesses.

While defendants have long been required to disclose whether insurance may cover a settlement or judgment, plaintiffs can proceed without disclosing whether someone else has a financial stake in the case. House Bill 105 would help change that by requiring commercial litigation financiers to register with the attorney general, increasing transparency around financing agreements and barring foreign-domiciled commercial litigation financiers from operating in Ohio.

“Ohio manufacturers deserve a civil justice system that is fair, transparent and not quietly influenced by outside financial interests,” said Lindsey Short, OMA managing director of advocacy and energy services. “House Bill 105 is a commonsense step to shine light on third-party litigation funding, protect proprietary business information and guard against lawsuit abuse.”

OMA supports the bill as part of its ongoing work to protect manufacturers from litigation practices that drive up costs, create uncertainty and weaken Ohio’s business climate. 5/20/2026