Things to know as senators pass Ohio's spending blueprint

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — State senators on Thursday passed a sweeping $71.2 billion, two-year budget that provides an income tax cut for Ohioans, funds public schools and seeks to change health care policies.

The spending plan would freeze tuition at public colleges and universities for two years and prohibits the institutions from requiring students to live in on-campus housing if they reside within 25 miles of the school.

House Republicans scrapped major elements of Kasich's tax proposal from the spending bill in April, including increases on certain business and sales taxes, cigarettes, and oil and gas drilling.

For the second consecutive state budget, the GOP-dominated General Assembly is revising policies that could have large consequences for abortion providers.

The clinic had gone out of state to find a hospital to partner with after in-state public hospitals were prohibited from signing the mandatory transfer agreements with abortion clinics.

The proposal also sets aside money for police training, eliminates special elections in February and prohibits independent health care and child-care workers under contract with the state from unionizing.

Lawmakers dropped a provision that would have allowed disabled veterans to ride transit buses and other public transportation for free and a provision to ease concealed carry rules for active duty members of the military.