H.B. 96 & Restructuring of STRS Board (2025)
Ohio H.B. 96 contained an amendment to remove four of the seven elected teachers from the State Teachers Retirement Board and replace them with government appointees. Governor DeWine did not veto the amendment. He signed the bill on June 30, 2025.
This is the amendment that restructures the State Teachers Retirement Board.
The Ohio Education Association (OEA), the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), and the Ohio Conference of the AAUP (OH AAUP) filed a lawsuit against the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio to stop the restructuring of the board.
A Franklin County judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking a state budget provision that would have restructured the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) of Ohio board by replacing four elected educator seats with government appointees.
DECISION AND ENTRY GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION FILED SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
Rep. Brennan Applauds Court's Decision Blocking STRS Board Restructuring (October 27, 2025)
Key Details of the Injunction
The Lawsuit: Filed by the Ohio Education Association (OEA), the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), and the Ohio Conference of the AAUP, challenging the budget changes as an unconstitutional power grab that violated single-subject and three-readings rules.
Preliminary Injunction Granted in STRS Board Lawsuit (October 15, 2025)
The Restructuring: The disputed budget provision aimed to reduce elected educator representation on the 11-member board from seven seats down to three by 2028, adding political/gubernatorial appointees to create a government-appointed majority.
Current Status: Judge Carl Aveni granted the preliminary injunction to keep the current board composition intact while litigation proceeds, and the 10th District Court of Appeals has repeatedly declined requests by the state to lift the block.
