These days, property tax discussions come up whenever I visit a café. Just last week, I overheard some seniors at the next table asking if the vote to eliminate property tax would be on the ballot in November. To cut to the chase, it will not be on this year's November ballot.

So today, I want to clarify a few things. I will explain why the repeal proposal fell through, where the senior property tax freeze proposal currently stands, and what can be done right now.

First, let's look at the property tax repeal amendment. This was a movement to amend the Ohio Constitution through a resident petition to eliminate property tax altogether.

To get it on the ballot, they needed to gather 413,487 valid signatures by July 1. This had to be collected from more than half of the 88 counties.

The campaign aimed for 620,000 signatures to account for invalid ones. However, in early June, Brian Massie, the leader of the movement, announced that they would not submit this year as they had not met their goal.

That said, they haven't completely given up. The new target is now the November 2027 election.

However, there is one variable to consider. The signatures already collected remain valid, but if a signer moves and their registered address changes, that signature becomes invalid.

There is also significant opposition. Governor DeWine warned that if property tax is eliminated, sales tax could rise to 17%, 18%, or even as high as 20%. Legislators from both parties oppose it, citing budgets for schools, libraries, police, and fire services.

I can see their point. While property tax can be burdensome, considering that money goes to local schools and fire departments, eliminating it entirely seems like a big bet. If sales tax increases, it could make things harder for low-income individuals.

So, what about the senior property tax freeze proposal?

A prominent example is Senate Bill 81, introduced by State Senator Tom Patton. It aims to freeze property taxes for homeowners aged 65 and older with an annual income of $70,000 or less at the level they were approved before.

The Legislative Service Commission (LSC) projected in a financial analysis in January 2026 that if this law is enacted starting in the 2026 tax year, taxes would be fixed at the 2025 level. It is estimated that 916,000 of Ohio's 3.3 million homeowners would benefit.

The issue is that the state government will not compensate for the lost revenue. The reduced tax income will fall entirely on local governments like school districts or cities and counties.

After passing to the Senate Ways and Means Committee in February 2025, the first hearing has been held. However, there have been no recorded votes in the full chamber so far.

There is a similar bill in the House. Representatives Thomas Hall and Dani Isaacsohn introduced a new proposal in March 2025, but the conditions are stricter.

It only freezes taxes for homeowners aged 65 and older with an income of $50,000 or less, who have owned their home for at least two years, and whose home value is under $500,000. I view it positively that both parties are working together on this.

There is also House Bill 261. Originally, it proposed to double the homestead exemption threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, but the direction changed in the March 2026 amendment.

If a county creates its own homestead exemption, the state government will compensate half of it. The income threshold is also proposed to be raised to $55,000. There have been no updates since March.

To summarize, there are several senior freeze proposals out there, but as of October 2026, none have passed into law. It would be unrealistic to expect a reduction in next year's tax bill.

What can be utilized right now is the existing homestead exemption.

According to the Cuyahoga County Finance Department, to apply for the 2026 tax year, your income for 2025 must be $41,000 or less, and you will be exempt from taxes on a market value of $29,000. This applies to those aged 65 and older, or those with permanent disabilities, or the surviving spouse of an eligible recipient.

There is one more condition. The property must be a residential home where you actually live as of January 1. The application deadline is December 31 of that year, so there is still time.

It's also good to be aware of the reform passed at the end of last year. Governor DeWine signed five property tax-related bills on December 19, 2025, with House Bill 186 being the key one.

HB 186 prevents school levies from increasing beyond the rate of inflation, even if property values rise due to reassessment, and returns the excess as an Inflation Cap Credit. Be sure to check if this credit is reflected on your bill.

For seniors, House Bill 443 is also worth noting. It proposes that if a homeowner aged 65 or older is making partial payments on overdue property taxes, the county cannot foreclose on their home, but this is still in committee.

If I were you, I would first check my eligibility for the homestead exemption and see if the credit is reflected on my bill. Then, I would call my local state representative's office to express support for the freeze proposal.

This last point is not just a casual suggestion. Bills stuck in committee need the voices of local residents to move forward. I believe that the system should support seniors living on fixed incomes in keeping their homes.

However, tax issues can vary significantly based on income structure and housing situation. Since it depends on individual circumstances, be sure to check with the county finance department or a tax professional before applying.

The debate over repeal versus freeze will continue into next year. Until then, holding onto the existing system seems to be the most realistic game plan.