COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan 22, 2026, 01:20 (EST)
- Ohio Farm Bureau forecasts that tax changes set for late 2025 might deliver over $2 billion in property-tax relief to farmers across three years
- New inflation-based caps now restrict portions of school and local tax bills that can increase with property valuations, without requiring a new vote
- The timing and impact will differ by county, with schools keeping a close eye on potential revenue losses
Ohio Farm Bureau says a set of state property-tax changes passed late last year could provide more than $2 billion in relief for farmers over the next three years, as counties start enforcing new limits designed to curb valuation-driven spikes. “Many of our farmland owners are going to see that inflation limit applied to their tax bills,” said Leah Curtis, the group’s associate general counsel, highlighting credits aimed at owners who have already undergone a reappraisal cycle. 1
The first noticeable changes won’t hit everywhere at once. A Fairfield County auditor’s office explainer said tax bills due mid-2026 should reflect the initial impact, with bigger savings rolling in through 2027-2029 as credits phase in and reappraisals take effect. It estimated statewide savings around $2 billion to “$3+” billion. The release also noted that homeowners living in their own homes will receive a larger owner-occupancy credit over several years, while a 10% non-business credit for rental and investment properties will be phased out—agricultural land excluded. 2
Curtis pointed to the surge in property taxes as the leading political flashpoint in Ohio right now. Lawmakers have pushed more than 40 bills on the issue over the last year. “Property taxes are probably the top issue being discussed across the state,” she told an Ohio Farm Bureau podcast. She broke down four key proposals: House Bill 186, which targets growth limits tied to the “20-mill floor” for school funding; House Bill 129, changing how that floor’s calculated; House Bill 335, adding an inflation cap to inside millage; and House Bill 309, giving county budget commissions more power to cut levies and prevent excess collections. 3
A “mill” means a tax rate of $1 per $1,000 of taxable value. The 20-mill floor sets a state-mandated minimum for school operating revenue. Inside millage is the initial portion of property tax that doesn’t need voter approval, whereas most other levies require a direct vote.
What landowners actually face hinges on their property’s location and the timing of local value resets. Ohio sticks to set cycles for updating valuations, and relief tools like inflation caps and credits hit counties unevenly, depending on where they fall in those cycles.
But the changes run through school funding and local government budgets, creating a tricky downside: slower property-tax growth can squeeze district finances, especially where automatic hikes are key. When Governor Mike DeWine signed the package last December, he said, “No longer will families see dramatic spikes in their real estate taxes.” Lawmakers also revised parts of the bills after schools warned an earlier version of HB 335 might force deep staffing cuts. 4
Local officials are scrambling to figure out the practical impact. In Napoleon, Ohio, school district leaders informed their board that the new property-tax laws might slash some revenue, but they anticipate the drop will be less severe than elsewhere. 5
The conversation is moving past the Statehouse walls. An op-ed in Morning Ag Clips highlighted the administration’s delivery of over $30 billion to farmers across the country, pointing to the farm economy’s strain from rising costs, volatile markets, and weather challenges. The piece also marked the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s term, which began on Jan. 20, 2025. 6
Ohio farmers now face a straightforward challenge: the bill envelope. The Farm Bureau acknowledges the relief is genuine, but the numbers vary by region, and the political battle over the next steps is far from settled.
