Ohio's Sports Teams: A Tax Break Battle Brewing in 2025

Imagine this: Ohio lawmakers might give big-league sports teams like the Bengals and Browns a big tax break next year. This could cost taxpayers millions. Two House members, one from Cleveland and one from Xenia, want to stop lame-duck sessions, where quick decisions are made right before lawmakers go home. They say it's not fair to rush bills through. But a bill passed in a lame-duck session this year already gave the Bengals a tax break on stadium upgrades.

Other teams could get the same deal. The problem? This could cut state and local taxes by millions. And it's just the start of a bigger fight over taxpayer money for sports teams. Some say it's not fair when so many Ohioans live in poverty. Even the governor has ties to the sports business. Next year could be a big year for sports teams at the Statehouse.

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