Though there are enough Republicans in the Ohio House to override vetoes from Gov. Mike DeWine, the legislative body fell short of its goal when it held a special session.

The July 21 session was intended to override three of the vetoes from DeWine, who’s also a Republican.

There was support for only one override, and it was for the least consequential of the three.

An override needs at least 60 votes, and there are 65 House Republicans. Three Republicans didn’t attend the July 21 special session, announced July 8, and state Rep. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, voted against the veto.

Of the three absent, state Rep. Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill and a former House speaker, didn’t plan to vote in favor of overriding the vetoes.

The single override passed 61-28 and would eliminate the ability of school districts and local government entities to seek replacement or emergency levies, substitute emergency levies and renewal levies with increases from voters.

But it won’t take effect until the Republican-controlled Senate decides to vote on the override. After the House failed to even consider the two other overrides because it was likely one vote short, the Senate is not rushing back to Columbus. Neither is the House to consider the other vetoes.

Both won’t return to session until October.

But when legislators come back, it will be too late to do anything to immediately impact property taxes.

One of the other vetoes that was supposed to be considered July 21 gives county budget commissions — made up of the county auditor, treasurer and prosecutor — control over tax rates and levies.

The commission would be permitted to unilaterally cut property tax rates if revenues exceed expenditures, even if voters approved ballot initiatives for that funding.

Also, the House initially planned to vote July 21 to override a provision DeWine vetoed requiring school districts to include emergency and substitute levies in their 20 Mill Floor, which guarantees they receive at least 20 mills of funding even if they are below that amount. This would have put about 200 of the state’s 611 school districts off the floor.

State Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, and a House majority whip, said it was challenging to get the three Republicans who missed the July 21 session to Columbus as they had already planned vacations before the special session.

The session was called because of “a sense of urgency to get the overrides done for the January tax bills,” Santucci said.

If the Legislature overrides the two other vetoes, they would not impact property taxpayers until the second half of 2026. The Legislature has until Dec. 31, 2026, to override DeWine’s vetoes.

“There’s an appetite to reform property taxes in the state,” Santucci said. “I think the votes are there for property tax reform, but we have diverse groups in the state Legislature. Everyone agrees we need to have property tax reform, but we have different ideas.”

There were 59 votes to override the two other vetoes, and there could be one or two in support from those absent.

But Santucci said some of those who backed the overrides July 21 could change their minds when the House meets again in October.

“Who’s to say?” he said. “We don’t know what the vote is right now.”

Santucci added: “My hope is to go back in October and tackle this.”

Hanging over the head of legislators is an effort by the Committee to Abolish Ohio’s Property Taxes, which is circulating petitions to eliminate property taxes in the state with plans to get it on the November 2026 ballot.

“We wanted to get this done so voters aren’t as likely to support that constitutional amendment proposal,” Santucci said. “It’s looming, and if it passes, it’s going to be catastrophic for Ohio.”

State Rep. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, a leader on property tax legislation, said he was disappointed by the July 21 session outcome and “much deeper reform and relief” is needed.

State Rep. Tex Fischer, R-Boardman, is proposing legislation for a May 2026 constitutional amendment to limit property tax bills. It would cap the bills at 1.25% of a house’s total appraised value and at 1% for seniors who have lived in their houses for at least five years.

The current average rate is about 1.6%.

Fischer wants to get his proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot as a compromise before the planned amendment to eliminate property taxes can get in front of voters.

A constitutional amendment backed by the General Assembly does not need to go through the signature process that is ongoing for the proposal to eliminate property taxes. The latter needs 413,487 valid signatures to qualify as well as at least 5% of the total gubernatorial vote from 44 of the state’s 88 counties.

State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, said Republicans aren’t being responsible by passing bills regarding property taxes without vetting them, and the effort will end up gutting school districts and local governments. That will mean the need for taxes to operate, resulting in no savings, she said.

David Skolnick covers politics for the Tribune Chronicle and The Vindicator.