NFIB, Ohio’s leading small business advocacy organization, released the results of its 2026 state member ballot. The results reflect the views of Ohio small business owners on hospital pricing, local government expenditures, BWC dividends, and unemployment taxes.

NFIB also conducted a special ballot on “ban the box” legislation, questioning whether Ohio should prohibit employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal background on initial job applications. The vast majority (92%) of Ohio employers said the legislature should not enact “ban the box” legislation.

“Ohio’s small business owners need practical and reliable solutions to the issues impacting their businesses. This year’s member ballot shines a light on matters most important to Main Street: transparency, hiring practices, and workers’ compensation,” said Jared Weiser, NFIB Ohio State Director. “Our members strongly oppose the proposed ban the box legislation, which would limit owners’ hiring practices when small businesses are already managing a tight labor market. We are hopeful that Ohio lawmakers consider our members’ opinions on important policies impacting the small business community.”

NFIB ballots its members on state and federal policy issues every year. The results determine NFIB’s lobbying positions in Columbus and in Washington, D.C. This year, Ohio small businesses overwhelmingly support two positions: BWC dividends rebates and a local government expenditures database.

The 2026 state ballot included the following four questions:

1. Should Ohio require that the largest hospital systems only change a certain percentage of Medicare reimbursements to maintain their non-profit status?

• Yes – 54.02%
• No – 12.55%
• Undecided – 33.42%

2. Should Ohio require local governments to post all expenditures in a searchable database?
   

• Yes – 83.78%
• No – 7.97%
• Undecided – 8.24%

3. Should the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation be required to issue premium rebates to employers if excess reserves reach a certain threshold?
   

• Yes – 89.50%
• No – 3.77%
• Undecided – 6.73%

4. Should Ohio raise the unemployment compensation taxes on employers who use the system the most?
   

• Yes – 57.87%
• No – 21.94%
• Undecided – 20.19%

NFIB’s special ballot asked the following question:

5. Should Ohio enact legislation prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant’s criminal background on initial job applications?
   

• Yes – 4.68%
• No – 92.04%
• Undecided – 3.28%