a_ohtaxexemptincome.htm

Putnam Ohio
Tax Exempt
Income Fund

Annual report
5 | 31 | 19


Message from the Trustees	1
About the fund	2
Interview with your fund’s portfolio manager	5
Your fund’s performance	10
Your fund’s expenses	13
Consider these risks before investing	15
Terms and definitions	16
Other information for shareholders	18
Important notice regarding Putnam’s privacy policy	19
Financial statements	20
Federal tax information	41
About the Trustees	42
Officers	44

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Delivery of paper fund reports

In accordance with regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, beginning on January 1, 2021, reports like this one will no longer be sent by mail unless you specifically request it. Instead, they will be on Putnam’s website, and you will be notified by mail whenever a new one is available, and provided with a website link to access the report.

If you wish to stop receiving paper reports sooner, or if you wish to continue to receive paper reports free of charge after January 1, 2021, please see the back cover or insert for instructions. If you invest through a bank or broker, your choice will apply to all funds held in your account. If you invest directly with Putnam, your choice will apply to all Putnam funds in your account.

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Message from the Trustees

July 16, 2019

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

If there is any lesson to be learned from constantly changing financial markets, it is the importance of positioning your investment portfolio for your long-term goals. We believe that one strategy is to diversify across different asset classes and investment approaches.

We also believe your mutual fund investment offers a number of advantages, including constant monitoring by experienced investment professionals who maintain a long-term perspective. Putnam’s portfolio managers and analysts take a research-intensive approach that includes risk management strategies designed to serve you through changing conditions.

Another key strategy, in our view, is seeking the counsel of a financial advisor. For over 80 years, Putnam has recognized the importance of professional investment advice. Your financial advisor can help in many ways, including defining and planning for goals such as retirement, evaluating the level of risk appropriate for you, and reviewing your investments on a regular basis and making adjustments as necessary.

As always, your fund’s Board of Trustees remains committed to protecting the interests of Putnam shareholders like you, and we thank you for investing with Putnam.

Source: Putnam, as of 5/31/19. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Yields for U.S. Treasuries, investment-grade corporates, and municipal bonds are represented by the average “yield to worst” — a calculation of the lowest possible yield generated without defaulting — of the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Treasury Index, an unmanaged index of U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, nominal debt issued by the U.S. Treasury; the Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Credit Index, an unmanaged index of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate and government related bonds; and the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged index of long-term fixed-rate investment-grade tax-exempt bonds, respectively. You cannot invest directly in an index. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Income from municipal bonds may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. Taxable equivalent yield and annual after-tax income are based on a 40.80% federal income tax rate. This rate reflects the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and includes the 3.80% Medicare surtax.

Source: Moody’s Investor Services, U.S. Municipal Bond Defaults and Recoveries, 1970–2017 (July 2018). Most recent data available.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 3

Paul, how was the market for municipal bonds during the reporting period?

Municipal bonds performed well on both an absolute basis and relative to U.S. stocks and Treasuries for the fiscal year, with much of the momentum coming in the second half of the period. During the early months, rising interest rates created headwinds for fixed-income securities. [Bond prices generally fall as rates rise.] With solid U.S. economic growth and a combination of low unemployment and rising wages, the Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates three times in June, September, and December 2018 to help temper potential inflationary pressure.

The fourth quarter of 2018 was especially challenging. In addition to higher rates, the partial U.S. government shutdown, slowing global growth, and trade tensions weighed on market sentiment. Investors responded by selling higher-risk equity and fixed-income investments and buying more conservative fixed-income investments. With the prevailing winds presenting some uncertainty about the pace of global growth, the Fed became quite dovish in its outlook for future interest-rate hikes during the first quarter of 2019. The shift

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 5

Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 5/31/19. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Summary information may differ from the information in the portfolio schedule notes included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the timing of matured security transactions, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.

Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 5/31/19. A bond rated BBB or higher (SP-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch. Ratings may vary over time.

Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, and short-term securities in the portfolio. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

6 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

in the Fed’s monetary policy, combined with the end of the federal government shutdown in January 2019 and optimism over a U.S.–China trade agreement, buoyed investor sentiment and increased demand for higher-risk assets.

Falling U.S. Treasury yields during the fourth quarter of 2018 into 2019 and positive supply/demand dynamics helped to support municipal bond prices as well. The Fed’s pivot increased the appeal of longer-duration fixed-income assets. [Duration is a measure of an investment’s sensitivity to interest rates.] Additionally, with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 capping the deductibility of state and local taxes at $10,000 per year, many Americans faced higher taxes for 2018. As a result, municipal bonds saw record inflows year to date through May 31, 2019, as investors sought their tax-free income and perceived lower volatility. On the other hand, the supply of municipal bonds has underwhelmed year to date and was just 2.8% higher than the relatively low pace during the same period in 2018. The combination of record demand and relatively low supply helped to push municipal bond valuations to multi-year highs by the end of the period.

With investors positioning for a period of easing monetary policy, the municipal bond yield curve flattened during the period. The flattening was the result of increased demand for longer-maturity bonds, which pushed their prices higher and yields lower. Consequently, intermediate- and long-term municipals outperformed intermediate- and long-term Treasuries, as well as short-term municipals. From a credit-quality perspective, municipals rated BBB outperformed more highly rated bonds and lower-rated, high-yield municipals for the period.

How did the fund perform during the reporting period?

For the 12 months ended May 31, 2019, the fund underperformed the Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index [the fund’s benchmark] and the average return of its Lipper peer group, Ohio Municipal Debt Funds. After the strong performance of longer-maturity holdings during the fourth quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019, we trimmed our exposure. The market continued to rally through the end of the period, and the fund lagged its benchmark as a result.

How did the changing rate environment affect your strategy?

The flattening of the municipal yield curve and what we viewed as relatively rich valuations made us slightly more cautious in our positioning. That said, in our view, stable credit fundamentals and positive supply/demand technicals remained supportive of the asset class at period-end.

Given the changing landscape, we moved the fund to more of a defensive position in the final weeks of the period by reducing our yield curve exposure. The fund’s yield curve positioning continued to reflect a bulleted portfolio structure focused on longer-intermediate-term maturities but to a lesser degree than at the beginning of the period. That said, the fund still held an overweight position in bonds with longer intermediate maturities and an underweight exposure to long maturity holdings compared with the fund’s benchmark. With the municipal yield curve flat by historical standards, we reduced the fund’s exposure to long maturity bonds and redeployed the proceeds into shorter and intermediate maturity bonds. In our opinion, these bonds have a more favorable risk/return profile.

With municipal credit fundamentals stable, credit spreads remained at or near post-2008-crisis lows during the period. The fund held an overweight exposure to higher-quality bonds

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 7

rated A and BBB relative to the fund’s Lipper peer group. We continued to look for what we viewed as attractively priced opportunities to move higher up the credit-quality spectrum. From a sector positioning perspective, we favored higher education and long-term care bonds relative to the fund’s Lipper peer group.

In February 2019, Puerto Rico reached an important milestone in its planned financial recovery. Federal bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor Swain formally approved a major debt restructuring plan for Puerto Rico’s sales tax bonds known as “COFINA.” The restructured bonds were downsized — to about $12 billion — into one new single lien security. The ruling brings clarity, and the bond restructuring is a positive step in helping resolve Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, we believe. However, we remain cautious due to the Commonwealth’s uncertain economic recovery and a perceived lack of institutional credibility across Puerto Rico’s government. The fund remained underweight in its exposure to Puerto Rico’s municipal bonds during the period compared with its Lipper peer group.

What is your outlook for interest rates and the municipal bond market?

Given the prevailing crosscurrents at period-end, we believe the Fed will cut its benchmark federal funds rate twice during the second half of 2019 and possibly again in early 2020 if market conditions warrant it. The markets are pricing in even more accommodation over this time period. Historically, when the market anticipates interest-rate reductions, the Fed has followed through. In our view, the central bank will interpret continued softening in U.S. growth as further proof that lower inflation is not transitory. Should the Fed choose not to act, we believe increased volatility in higher-risk assets could push them to cut rates.

On the subject of risks, although unfunded pension liabilities remain a concern for some municipalities, defaults for investment-grade municipal bonds have been rare and remain relatively low for non-investment-grade municipal bonds. The asset class also has demonstrated a low correlation to equities in recent years, suggesting that they could

This chart shows how the fund’s top weightings have changed over the past six months. Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets. Current period summary information may differ from the information in the portfolio schedule notes included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the timing of matured security transactions, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.


8 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

help play a defensive role in a diversified investment portfolio during periods of equity market volatility.

With their competitive tax-adjusted returns and stable credit fundamentals, municipals could perform relatively well in 2019, in our view. We’ll continue to monitor the market on a daily basis to capture opportunities that arise from supply and/or demand imbalances. We’ll also continue to adjust the portfolio to reflect the team’s best ideas to enhance income as well as total return prospects in an evolving interest-rate environment.

Thank you, Paul, for your time and insights today.

The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam Management and are subject to change. They are not meant as investment advice.

Please note that the holdings discussed in this report may not have been held by the fund for the entire period. Portfolio composition is subject to review in accordance with the fund’s investment strategy and may vary in the future. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk. Statements in the Q&A concerning the fund’s performance or portfolio composition relative to those of the fund’s Lipper peer group may reference information produced by Lipper Inc. or through a third party.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 9

Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended May 31, 2019, the end of its most recent fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance information as of the most recent calendar quarter-end and expense information taken from the fund’s current prospectus. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance information does not reflect any deduction for taxes a shareholder may owe on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares. For the most recent month-end performance, please visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Class R6 and Y shares are not available to all investors. See the Terms and definitions section in this report for definitions of the share classes offered by your fund.

Fund performance Total return for periods ended 5/31/19


	Annual
	average		Annual		Annual		Annual
	(life of fund)	10 years	average	5 years	average	3 years	average	1 year
Class A (10/23/89)
Before sales charge	4.87%	43.91%	3.71%	14.98%	2.83%	6.49%	2.12%	5.19%
After sales charge	4.72	38.16	3.29	10.38	2.00	2.23	0.74	0.98
Class B (7/15/93)
Before CDSC	4.65	36.92	3.19	11.45	2.19	4.62	1.52	4.53
After CDSC	4.65	36.92	3.19	9.47	1.83	1.68	0.56	–0.47
Class C (10/3/06)
Before CDSC	4.60	33.16	2.91	10.60	2.03	4.03	1.32	4.36
After CDSC	4.60	33.16	2.91	10.60	2.03	4.03	1.32	3.36
Class M (4/3/95)
Before sales charge	4.54	40.02	3.42	13.53	2.57	5.72	1.87	5.01
After sales charge	4.42	35.47	3.08	9.84	1.89	2.28	0.76	1.60
Class R6 (5/22/18)
Net asset value	4.96	47.29	3.95	16.38	3.08	7.31	2.38	5.44
Class Y (1/2/08)
Net asset value	4.96	47.30	3.95	16.39	3.08	7.32	2.38	5.42

Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A and M shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 4.00% and 3.25% sales charge, respectively, levied at the time of purchase. Class B share returns after contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) reflect the applicable CDSC, which is 5% in the first year, declining over time to 1% in the sixth year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C share returns after CDSC reflect a 1% CDSC for the first year that is eliminated thereafter. Class R6 and Y shares have no initial sales charge or CDSC. Performance for class B, C, M, and Y shares before their inception is derived from the historical performance of class A shares, adjusted for the applicable sales charge (or CDSC) and the higher operating expenses for such shares, except for class Y shares, for which 12b-1 fees are not applicable. Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.

For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower.

Class B share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

Class C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after 10 years.


10 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Comparative index returns For periods ended 5/31/19


	Annual
	average		Annual		Annual		Annual
	(life of fund)	10 years	average	5 years	average	3 years	average	1 year
Bloomberg Barclays
Municipal Bond Index	5.73%	56.53%	4.58%	19.25%	3.58%	9.16%	2.96%	6.40%
Lipper Ohio Municipal Debt
Funds category average^*	5.15	45.34	3.79	15.80	2.97	6.55	2.14	5.31

Index and Lipper results should be compared with fund performance before sales charge, before CDSC, or at net asset value.

^*Over the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and life-of-fund periods ended 5/31/19, there were 28, 24, 24, 22, and 5 funds, respectively, in this Lipper category.

Past performance does not indicate future results. At the end of the same time period, a $10,000 investment in the fund’s class B and C shares would have been valued at $13,692 and $13,316, respectively, and no contingent deferred sales charges would apply. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class M shares ($9,675 after sales charge) would have been valued at $13,547. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class R6 and Y shares would have been valued at $14,729 and $14,730, respectively.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 11

Fund price and distribution information For the 12-month period ended 5/31/19


Distributions	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class M		ClassR6	Class Y
Number	12		12	12	12		12	12
Income¹	$0.239914		$0.184240	$0.170364	$0.215254		$0.261563	$0.259769
Capital gains²	—		—	—	—		—	—
Total	$0.239914		$0.184240	$0.170364	$0.215254		$0.261563	$0.259769
	Before	After	Net	Net	Before	After	Net	Net
	sales	sales	asset	asset	sales	sales	asset	asset
Share value	charge	charge	value	value	charge	charge	value	value
5/31/18	$8.85	$9.22	$8.84	$8.85	$8.85	$9.15	$8.86	$8.86
5/31/19	9.06	9.44	9.05	9.06	9.07	9.37	9.07	9.07
	Before	After	Net	Net	Before	After	Net	Net
Current rate	sales	sales	asset	asset	sales	sales	asset	asset
(end of period)	charge	charge	value	value	charge	charge	value	value
Current dividend rate³	2.50%	2.39%	1.88%	1.72%	2.22%	2.14%	2.75%	2.72%
Taxable equivalent⁴	4.61	4.41	3.47	3.17	4.10	3.95	5.07	5.02
Current 30-day
SEC yield⁵	N/A	1.52	1.06	0.82	N/A	1.27	1.83	1.81
Taxable equivalent⁴	N/A	2.80	1.96	1.51	N/A	2.34	3.38	3.34

The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A and M shares, if applicable, do not take into account any sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge share value, current dividend rate, and current 30-day SEC yield, if applicable, are calculated assuming that the maximum sales charge (4.00% for class A shares and 3.25% for class M shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.

¹For some investors, investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

²Capital gains, if any, are taxable for federal and, in most cases, state purposes.

³Most recent distribution, including any return of capital and excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by share price before or after sales charge at period-end.

⁴Assumes maximum 45.80% federal and state combined tax rate for 2019. Results for investors subject to lower tax rates would not be as advantageous.

⁵Based only on investment income and calculated using the maximum offering price for each share class, in accordance with SEC guidelines.


12 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter Total return for periods ended 6/30/19


	Annual
	average		Annual		Annual		Annual
	(life of fund)	10 years	average	5 years	average	3 years	average	1 year
Class A (10/23/89)
Before sales charge	4.87%	46.35%	3.88%	15.64%	2.95%	5.43%	1.78%	5.51%
After sales charge	4.72	40.50	3.46	11.02	2.11	1.21	0.40	1.29
Class B (7/15/93)
Before CDSC	4.65	39.23	3.36	12.10	2.31	3.47	1.14	4.86
After CDSC	4.65	39.23	3.36	10.10	1.94	0.56	0.19	–0.14
Class C (10/3/06)
Before CDSC	4.60	35.42	3.08	11.24	2.15	3.00	0.99	4.69
After CDSC	4.60	35.42	3.08	11.24	2.15	3.00	0.99	3.69
Class M (4/3/95)
Before sales charge	4.54	42.39	3.60	14.18	2.69	4.67	1.53	5.33
After sales charge	4.43	37.76	3.26	10.47	2.01	1.27	0.42	1.91
Class R6 (5/22/18)
Net asset value	4.96	49.78	4.12	17.05	3.20	6.24	2.04	5.87
Class Y (1/2/08)
Net asset value	4.96	49.62	4.11	16.93	3.18	6.13	2.00	5.73

See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 10 for information about the calculation of fund performance.

Your fund’s expenses

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. Using the following information, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial representative.

Expense ratios


	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R6	Class Y
Total annual operating expenses for the
fiscal year ended 5/31/18	0.83%	1.46%	1.61%	1.11%	0.59%^*	0.61%
Annualized expense ratio for the
six-month period ended 5/31/19 ^†	0.85%	1.48%	1.63%	1.13%	0.60%	0.63%

Fiscal-year expense information in this table is taken from the most recent prospectus, is subject to change, and may differ from that shown for the annualized expense ratio and in the financial highlights of this report.

Expenses are shown as a percentage of average net assets.

^*Other expenses are based on expenses of class A shares for the fund’s last fiscal year, restated to reflect the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R6 shares.

^†Expense ratios for each class are for the fund’s most recent fiscal half year. As a result of this, ratios may differ from expense ratios based on one-year data in the financial highlights.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 13

Expenses per $1,000

The following table shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in each class of the fund from 12/1/18 to 5/31/19. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.


	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R6	Class Y
Expenses paid per $1,000 ^*†	$4.35	$7.55	$8.32	$5.78	$3.07	$3.22
Ending value (after expenses)	$1,050.60	$1,047.40	$1,046.50	$1,050.30	$1,051.80	$1,051.70

^*Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 5/31/19. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

^†Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.

Estimate the expenses you paid

To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 5/31/19, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 12/1/18, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.

Compare expenses using the SEC’s method

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the following table shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.


	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class M	Class R6	Class Y
Expenses paid per $1,000 ^*†	$4.28	$7.44	$8.20	$5.69	$3.02	$3.18
Ending value (after expenses)	$1,020.69	$1,017.55	$1,016.80	$1,019.30	$1,021.94	$1,021.79

^†Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the six-month period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the six-month period; and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year.

14 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Consider these risks before investing

The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political or financial market conditions, investor sentiment and market perceptions, government actions, geopolitical events or changes, and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. The fund’s performance will be closely tied to the economic and political conditions in Ohio and can be more volatile than the performance of a more geographically diversified fund. Capital gains, if any, are taxed at the federal and, in most cases, state levels. For some investors, investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Unlike bonds, funds that invest in bonds have fees and expenses. Tax-exempt bonds may be issued under the Internal Revenue Code only by limited types of issuers for limited types of projects. As a result, the fund’s investments may be focused in certain market segments and be more vulnerable to fluctuations in the values of the securities it holds than a more broadly invested fund. Interest the fund receives might be taxable. You can lose money by investing in the fund.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 15

Terms and definitions

Important terms

Total return shows how the value of the fund’s shares changed over time, assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all distributions in the fund.

Before sales charge, or net asset value, is the price, or value, of one share of a mutual fund, without a sales charge. Before-sales-charge figures fluctuate with market conditions, and are calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the number of outstanding shares in the class.

After sales charge is the price of a mutual fund share plus the maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge performance figures shown here assume the 4.00% maximum sales charge for class A shares and 3.25% for class M shares.

Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is generally a charge applied at the time of the redemption of class B or C shares and assumes redemption at the end of the period. Your fund’s class B CDSC declines over time from a 5% maximum during the first year to 1% during the sixth year. After the sixth year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is 1% for one year after purchase.

Share classes

Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no CDSC (except on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).

Class B shares are closed to new investments and are only available by exchange from another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. They are not subject to an initial sales charge and may be subject to a CDSC.

Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC only if the shares are redeemed during the first year.

Class M shares have a lower initial sales charge and a higher 12b-1 fee than class A shares and no CDSC.

Class R6 shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and clients in other approved programs.

Class Y shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to corporate and institutional clients and clients in other approved programs.

Fixed-income terms

Current rate is the annual rate of return earned from dividends or interest of an investment. Current rate is expressed as a percentage of the price of a security, fund share, or principal investment.

Yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds with equal credit quality against their differing maturity dates, ranging from shortest to longest. It is used as a benchmark for other debt, such as mortgage or bank lending rates.

Comparative indexes

Bloomberg Barclays Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of long-term fixed-rate investment-grade tax-exempt bonds.

Bloomberg Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.

ICE BofAML (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America Merrill Lynch) U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that seeks to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury bills available in the marketplace.

S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance.

16 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Indexes assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not account for fees. Securities and performance of a fund and an index will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.

ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofAML”), used with permission. ICE BofAML permits use of the ICE BofAML indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofAML indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

Lipper is a third-party industry-ranking entity that ranks mutual funds. Its rankings do not reflect sales charges. Lipper rankings are based on total return at net asset value relative to other funds that have similar current investment styles or objectives as determined by Lipper. Lipper may change a fund’s category assignment at its discretion. Lipper category averages reflect performance trends for funds within a category.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 17

Other information for shareholders

Proxy voting

Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2018, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com and on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

Fund portfolio holdings

The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the fund filed its complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.

Trustee and employee fund ownership

Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of May 31, 2019, Putnam employees had approximately $488,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $69,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

18 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Important notice regarding Putnam’s privacy policy

In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain certain personal information such as account holders’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Using this information, we are able to maintain accurate records of accounts and transactions.

It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of our shareholder information, whether or not a shareholder currently owns shares of our funds. In particular, it is our policy not to sell information about you or your accounts to outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect personal information from unauthorized use.

Under certain circumstances, we must share account information with outside vendors who provide services to us, such as mailings and proxy solicitations. In these cases, the service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other services related to your account. Finally, it is our policy to share account information with your financial representative, if you’ve listed one on your Putnam account.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 19

Financial statements

These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, preceded by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, constitute the fund’s financial statements.

The fund’s portfolio lists all the fund’s investments and their values as of the last day of the reporting period. Holdings are organized by asset type and industry sector, country, or state to show areas of concentration and diversification.

Statement of assets and liabilities shows how the fund’s net assets and share price are determined. All investment and non-investment assets are added together. Any unpaid expenses and other liabilities are subtracted from this total. The result is divided by the number of shares to determine the net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)

Statement of operations shows the fund’s net investment gain or loss. This is done by first adding up all the fund’s earnings — from dividends and interest income — and subtracting its operating expenses to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings — as well as any unrealized gains or losses over the period — is added to or subtracted from the net investment result to determine the fund’s net gain or loss for the fiscal year.

Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund’s net assets were affected by the fund’s net investment gain or loss, by distributions to shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund’s shares. It lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the one in which they were earned.

Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

20 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Trustees and Shareholders of Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the fund’s portfolio, of Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund (the “Fund”) as of May 31, 2019, the related statement of operations for the year ended May 31, 2019, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended May 31, 2019, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of May 31, 2019, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended May 31, 2019 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of May 31, 2019 by correspondence with the custodian and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
July 16, 2019

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Putnam Investments family of mutual funds since at least 1957. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 21

The fund’s portfolio 5/31/19


Key to holding’s abbreviations

AGC Assured Guaranty Corp.	GNMA Coll. Government National Mortgage
AGM Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation	Association Collateralized
AMBAC AMBAC Indemnity Corporation	NATL National Public Finance Guarantee Corp.
COP Certificates of Participation	U.S. Govt. Coll. U.S. Government Collateralized
FHLMC Coll. Federal Home Loan Mortgage	VRDN Variable Rate Demand Notes, which are floating-
Corporation Collateralized	rate securities with long-term maturities that carry
FNMA Coll. Federal National Mortgage	coupons that reset and are payable upon demand
Association Collateralized	either daily, weekly or monthly. The rate shown is the
FRB Floating Rate Bonds: the rate shown is the current	current interest rate at the close of the reporting
interest rate at the close of the reporting period. Rates	period. Rates are set by remarketing agents and may
may be subject to a cap or floor. For certain securities,	take into consideration market supply and demand,
the rate may represent a fixed rate currently in place	credit quality and the current SIFMA Municipal Swap
at the close of the reporting period.	Index rate, which was 1.42% as of the close of the
G.O. Bonds General Obligation Bonds	reporting period.


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (102.1%)*	Rating**	Principal amount	Value
California (1.9%)
CA Pub. Fin. Auth. VRDN, (Sharp Hlth. Care Oblig.
Group), Ser. C, 1.28%, 8/1/52	VMIG 1	$700,000	$700,000
CA State VRDN, Ser. A-2, 1.35%, 5/1/33	VMIG 1	1,400,000	1,400,000
			2,100,000
Delaware (1.6%)
DE State Hlth. Fac. Auth. VRDN, (Christiana Care),
Ser. A, 2.19%, 10/1/38	VMIG 1	1,750,000	1,750,000
			1,750,000
Guam (1.4%)
Territory of GU, Govt. Ltd. Oblig. Rev.
Bonds, (Section 30), Ser. A, 5.75%, 12/1/34
(Prerefunded 12/1/19)	AAA/P	250,000	255,410
Territory of GU, Govt. Wtr. Wks. Auth. Wtr. &
Waste Wtr. Syst. Rev. Bonds, 5.625%, 7/1/40
(Prerefunded 7/1/20)	A–	350,000	365,526
Territory of GU, Port Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B
5.00%, 7/1/37	A	200,000	225,194
5.00%, 7/1/36	A	400,000	451,616
5.00%, 7/1/33	A	200,000	228,330
			1,526,076
Ohio (93.9%)
Allen Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds
(Catholic Hlth. Care), Ser. A, U.S. Govt. Coll., 5.25%,
6/1/38 (Prerefunded 6/1/20)	A2	1,000,000	1,036,470
5.00%, 8/1/21	A+	400,000	427,312
Ser. A, 4.00%, 8/1/38	A+	1,370,000	1,473,312


22 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (102.1%)* cont.	Rating**	Principal amount	Value
Ohio cont.
American Muni. Pwr., Inc. Rev. Bonds
(Greenup Hydroelectric Pwr. Plant), Ser. A,
5.00%, 2/15/41	A1	$1,000,000	$1,145,490
(Hydroelectric Pwr. Plant), Ser. A, 5.00%, 2/15/41	A2	830,000	942,565
Bluffton, Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Blanchard Valley
Hlth. Syst.), 5.00%, 12/1/31	A2	650,000	771,888
Bowling Green State U. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A,
5.00%, 6/1/42	A1	1,000,000	1,134,710
Buckeye, Tobacco Settlement Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
Ser. A-2, 5.75%, 6/1/34	B–	1,500,000	1,434,405
Carlisle, Local School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
(School Impt.)
5.00%, 12/1/47	AA	500,000	569,330
5.00%, 12/1/42	AA	350,000	401,839
5.00%, 12/1/37	AA	100,000	116,119
Centerville, Hlth. Care Rev. Bonds, (Graceworks
Lutheran Svcs.), 5.25%, 11/1/50	BB+/P	500,000	540,160
Cincinnati, G.O. Bonds, Ser. D, 4.00%, 12/1/32	Aa2	500,000	531,035
Cincinnati, Econ. Dev. Rev. Bonds, (Keystone Parke
Phase III), Ser. B, 5.00%, 11/1/40	AA	500,000	575,730
Cleveland, Arpt. Sys. VRDN Ser. D, 1.44%, 1/1/24	A-1+	1,000,000	1,000,000
Cleveland, Income Tax Rev. Bonds
(Impt. Pk. & Recreational), 5.00%, 10/1/33	AA	615,000	742,576
(Pub. Fac. Impt.), Ser. B-1, 5.00%, 10/1/33	AA	300,000	365,346
(Bridges & Roadways Impt.), Ser. B-2,
5.00%, 10/1/32	AA	1,000,000	1,224,450
(Pub. Fac. Impt.), Ser. B-1, 5.00%, 10/1/32	AA	500,000	612,225
(Impt. Bridges), 4.00%, 10/1/29	AA	300,000	339,978
(Impt. Bridges), 4.00%, 10/1/28	AA	400,000	456,000
Cleveland, Pkg. Fac. Rev. Bonds, AGM
5.25%, 9/15/22	AA	1,630,000	1,800,302
5.25%, 9/15/22 (Escrowed to maturity)	AA	770,000	862,077
Cleveland, Pub. Pwr. Syst. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B-1,
NATL, zero %, 11/15/25	A3	3,000,000	2,589,060
Cleveland, State U. Rev. Bonds, 5.00%, 6/1/37	A1	1,500,000	1,606,020
Cleveland, Wtr. Poll. Control Rev. Bonds,
(Green Bonds)
5.00%, 11/15/41	Aa3	500,000	574,910
5.00%, 11/15/36	Aa3	435,000	504,783
Cleveland-Cuyahoga Cnty., Rev. Bonds, (Euclid Ave.
Dev., Corp.), 5.00%, 8/1/39	A2	1,000,000	1,116,320
Cleveland-Cuyahoga Cnty., Port Auth. Cultural
Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Playhouse Square Foundation),
5.50%, 12/1/53	BB+	700,000	800,681
Columbus, Swr. VRDN, Ser. B, 1.40%, 6/1/32	VMIG 1	1,430,000	1,430,000
Cuyahoga Cmnty., College Dist. Rev. Bonds, Ser. D,
5.00%, 8/1/32	Aa2	750,000	819,870
Cuyahoga Cnty., COP, (Convention Hotel),
5.00%, 12/1/27	AA–	1,250,000	1,425,225

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 23


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (102.1%)* cont.	Rating**	Principal amount	Value
Ohio cont.
Cuyahoga Cnty., Econ. Dev. Rev. Bonds
5.00%, 1/1/41 ^##	A	$1,435,000	$1,720,393
5.00%, 1/1/37 ^##	A	400,000	485,068
5.00%, 1/1/34 ^##	A	300,000	367,602
Cuyahoga, Rev. Bonds, (Sports Fac. Impt.)
5.00%, 12/1/27	AA–	250,000	284,320
5.00%, 12/1/25	AA–	100,000	114,286
Dayton, City School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
5.00%, 11/1/23	Aa2	750,000	856,275
Fairview Park City School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
5.00%, 12/1/42	Aa2	1,000,000	1,108,900
Franklin Cnty., Rev. Bonds, (Trinity Hlth. Corp. Oblig.
Group), Ser. 17OH, 5.00%, 12/1/46	Aa3	2,445,000	2,849,085
Franklin Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds
(OH Presbyterian Retirement Svcs. (OPRS)
Cmntys. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 5.625%, 7/1/26	BBB/F	1,100,000	1,138,434
5.00%, 11/15/44	BBB+/F	1,000,000	1,085,990
Franklin Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Nationwide
Children’s Hosp.), Ser. A
4.00%, 11/1/39	Aa2	500,000	542,540
4.00%, 11/1/38	Aa2	300,000	326,277
Gallia Cnty., Local School Impt. Dist. G.O. Bonds,
5.00%, 11/1/27	Aa2	815,000	947,054
Hamilton Cnty., Hlth. Care Rev. Bonds, (Life
Enriching Cmnty.), 5.00%, 1/1/46	BBB–/F	500,000	546,460
Hamilton Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (TriHealth,
Inc. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/15/42	A+	970,000	1,122,688
Hamilton Cnty., Sales Tax Rev. Bonds, Ser. B, AMBAC
zero %, 12/1/24	A1	3,000,000	2,710,740
zero %, 12/1/22	A1	500,000	471,140
Huber Heights City School Dist. G.O. Bonds, (School
Impt.), 5.00%, 12/1/31	Aa2	1,000,000	1,181,660
Huran Cnty., Human Svcs. G.O. Bonds, NATL,
6.55%, 12/1/20	Aa3	545,000	572,833
JobsOhio Beverage Syst. Rev. Bonds, (Statewide Sr.
Lien Liquor Profits), Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/38	AA	700,000	770,028
Kent State U. Rev. Bonds, (Gen. Receipts),
5.00%, 5/1/30	Aa3	1,000,000	1,200,610
Lake Cnty., Cmnty. College Dist. COP, 4.00%, 10/1/35	A2	1,840,000	2,004,018
Lake Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Lake Hosp. Syst.,
Inc.), Ser. C, 6.00%, 8/15/43	Baa1	180,000	180,589
Lakewood, City School Dist. G.O. Bonds, (School
Fac. Impt.), Ser. B
4.00%, 11/1/35	Aa2	500,000	555,290
4.00%, 11/1/34	Aa2	430,000	479,080
4.00%, 11/1/33	Aa2	375,000	420,821
4.00%, 11/1/32	Aa2	225,000	253,316
Lorain Cnty., Port Auth. Econ. Dev. Facs. Rev. Bonds,
(Kendal at Oberlin), 5.00%, 11/15/30	A	750,000	827,985


24 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (102.1%)* cont.	Rating**	Principal amount	Value
Ohio cont.
Lucas Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds
(Lutheran Homes), Ser. A, 7.00%, 11/1/45
(Prerefunded 11/1/20)	BB+/P	$700,000	$752,619
(Sunset Retirement Cmntys.), 5.50%, 8/15/30	A–/F	650,000	690,508
Miami Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Kettering Hlth.
Network Oblig. Group), 5.00%, 8/1/39	A+	1,000,000	1,174,260
Miami U. Rev. Bonds, 5.00%, 9/1/41	Aa3	500,000	584,925
Middleburg Heights, Hosp. Rev. Bonds, (Southwest
Gen. Hlth. Ctr.), 5.00%, 8/1/47	A2	1,200,000	1,279,464
Milford, Exempt Village School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
5.00%, 12/1/19	Aa2	200,000	203,556
Montgomery Cnty., Rev. Bonds, (Catholic Hlth.
Initiatives), Ser. D, 6.25%, 10/1/33	Baa1	1,000,000	1,007,110
Mount Healthy City School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
5.00%, 12/1/21	Aa2	500,000	541,685
Napoleon, City Fac. Construction & Impt. School
Dist. G.O. Bonds, 5.00%, 12/1/36	Aa3	500,000	541,365
New Albany, Plain Local School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
(School Impt.), 4.00%, 12/1/29	Aa1	1,410,000	1,516,934
North Royalton, City School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
(School Impt.), 5.00%, 12/1/47	Aa2	2,000,000	2,297,720
Northeastern Local School Dist. Clark Cnty., G.O.
Bonds, AGM, 4.00%, 12/1/34	AA	790,000	879,618
OH Hsg. Fin. Agcy. Rev. Bonds, (Single Fam. Mtge.),
Ser. 1, GNMA Coll., FNMA Coll., FHLMC Coll.,
5.00%, 11/1/28	Aaa	50,000	50,618
OH State G.O. Bonds, (Infrastructure Impt.), Ser. A,
4.00%, 2/1/33	Aa1	2,315,000	2,448,529
OH State Rev. Bonds, (Northeast OH Regl. Swr. Dist.),
5.00%, 11/15/44	Aa1	1,250,000	1,427,788
OH State Air Quality Dev. Auth. FRB, (Columbus
Southern Pwr. Co.), Ser. B, 5.80%, 12/1/38	A2	1,000,000	1,017,800
OH State Higher Edl. Fac. Comm. Rev. Bonds
(Summa Hlth. Syst.), 5.75%, 11/15/40	Baa2	370,000	382,980
(Summa Hlth. Syst.), U.S. Govt. Coll., 5.75%,
11/15/40 (Prerefunded 5/15/20)	Baa2	630,000	654,898
5.25%, 12/1/48	BB	250,000	267,343
(Kenyon College), 5.00%, 7/1/44	A	1,305,000	1,347,386
(Case Western Reserve U.), 5.00%, 12/1/40	AA–	1,000,000	1,172,620
(Xavier U.), 5.00%, 5/1/40	A3	750,000	767,603
(U. of Findlay (The)), 5.00%, 3/1/39	BBB–	500,000	549,725
(Oberlin Coll.), 5.00%, 10/1/31	AA	650,000	731,179
(U. of Dayton), Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/24	A+	285,000	335,177
OH State Hosp. Rev. Bonds, (U. Hosp. Hlth. Syst.),
Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/15/41	A2	1,000,000	1,136,150
OH State Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Cleveland Clinic
Hlth. Syst.), Ser. A, 4.00%, 1/1/34	Aa2	1,250,000	1,398,400
OH State Private Activity Rev. Bonds, (Portsmouth
Bypass Gateway Group, LLC), AGM, 5.00%, 12/31/39	AA	750,000	842,445

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 25


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (102.1%)* cont.	Rating**	Principal amount	Value
Ohio cont.
OH State Tpk. Comm. Rev. Bonds
(Infrastructure), Ser. A-1, 5.25%, 2/15/32	Aa3	$350,000	$392,410
5.00%, 2/15/48	Aa3	1,250,000	1,364,575
OH State U. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/39	Aa1	1,000,000	1,149,840
OH State Wtr. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A,
5.00%, 12/1/34	Aaa	750,000	898,245
OH U. Gen. Recipients Athens Rev. Bonds
5.00%, 12/1/43	Aa3	1,035,000	1,128,616
5.00%, 12/1/42	Aa3	500,000	539,105
Penta Career Ctr. COP, 5.00%, 4/1/20	Aa3	1,500,000	1,543,230
Princeton, City School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
5.00%, 12/1/36	AA	500,000	577,935
Revere, Local School Dist. G.O. Bonds, (School Fac.
Impt.), Ser. C
4.00%, 12/1/33	Aa1	270,000	302,754
4.00%, 12/1/31	Aa1	1,000,000	1,131,940
Rickenbacker, Port Auth. Rev. Bonds, (OASBO
Expanded Asset Pooled), Ser. A, 5.375%, 1/1/32	A2	1,195,000	1,471,260
Scioto Cnty., Hosp. Rev. Bonds, (Southern
OH Med. Ctr.)
5.00%, 2/15/34	A3	1,025,000	1,173,061
5.00%, 2/15/32	A3	865,000	997,449
Summit Cnty., G.O. Bonds, 4.00%, 12/1/31	Aa1	750,000	827,978
Toledo, Wtr. Wks. Syst. Rev. Bonds, 5.00%, 11/15/36	Aa3	500,000	590,870
Toledo-Lucas Cnty., Port Auth. Rev. Bonds, (CSX
Transn, Inc.), FRB 6.45%, 12/15/21	A3	1,900,000	2,098,911
U. of Akron Rev. Bonds, Ser. A
5.00%, 1/1/31	A1	500,000	577,780
5.00%, 1/1/28	A1	1,000,000	1,141,560
U. of Cincinnati Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 6/1/31	Aa3	500,000	545,165
Warren Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Otterbein
Homes Oblig. Group)
Ser. A, 5.75%, 7/1/33	A	500,000	569,235
5.00%, 7/1/39	A	1,000,000	1,093,780
Willoughby-Eastlake, City School Dist. G.O. Bonds,
(School Impt.), 5.00%, 12/1/46	A1	1,000,000	1,144,560
Youngstown State U. Rev. Bonds
AGC, U.S. Govt. Coll., 5.25%, 12/15/29
(Prerefunded 6/15/19)	AA	500,000	500,585
5.00%, 12/15/25	A+	500,000	531,560
			102,786,479
Puerto Rico (0.2%)
Cmnwlth. of PR, Sales Tax Fin. Corp. (COFINA) Rev.
Bonds, Ser. 07A
zero %, 8/1/43	BBB/P	224,146	196,688
zero %, 8/1/43	BBB/P	73,809	60,800
			257,488
South Carolina (0.7%)
SC Trans. Infrastructure Bank Mandatory Put Bonds
(10/1/22), Ser. 03B, 2.078%, 10/1/31 ^##	A1	750,000	749,520
			749,520


26 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (102.1%)* cont.	Rating**	Principal amount	Value
Washington (2.4%)
Grant Cnty., Pub. Util. Dist. No. 2 Mandatory Put
Bonds (12/2/20), (Elec. Syst.), 2.00%, 1/1/44	AA	$2,600,000	$2,606,313
			2,606,313

TOTAL INVESTMENTS
Total investments (cost $106,588,303)			$111,775,876

Notes to the fund’s portfolio

Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

^*Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $109,449,350.

^**The Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch ratings indicated are believed to be the most recent ratings available at the close of the reporting period for the securities listed. Ratings are generally ascribed to securities at the time of issuance. While the agencies may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings do not necessarily represent what the agencies would ascribe to these securities at the close of the reporting period. Securities rated by Fitch are indicated by “/F.” Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications. If a security is insured, it will usually be rated by the ratings organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. Ratings are not covered by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. For further details regarding security ratings, please see the Statement of Additional Information.

^##Forward commitment, in part or in entirety (Note 1).

At the close of the reporting period, the fund maintained liquid assets totaling $3,299,409 to cover the settlement of certain securities.

On Mandatory Put Bonds, the rates shown are the current interest rates at the close of the reporting period and the dates shown represent the next mandatory put dates. Rates are set by remarketing agents and may take into consideration market supply and demand, credit quality and the current SIFMA Municipal Swap Index, 1 Month US LIBOR or 3 Month US LIBOR rates, which were 1.42%, 2.43% and 2.50%, respectively, as of the close of the reporting period.

The dates shown parenthetically on prerefunded bonds represent the next prerefunding dates.

The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.

The fund had the following sector concentrations greater than 10% at the close of the reporting period (as a percentage of net assets):


Health care	22.7%
Local debt	19.1
Education	17.9
Utilities	12.5

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 27

ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:


		Valuation inputs
Investments in securities:	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Municipal bonds and notes	$—	$111,775,876	$—
Totals by level	$—	$111,775,876	$—

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


28 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Statement of assets and liabilities 5/31/19


ASSETS
Investment in securities, at value (Note 1):
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $106,588,303)	$111,775,876
Cash	213,447
Interest and other receivables	1,489,207
Receivable for shares of the fund sold	60,040
Receivable for custodian fees (Note 2)	1,009
Prepaid assets	3,058
Total assets	113,542,637

LIABILITIES
Payable for purchases of delayed delivery securities (Note 1)	3,299,409
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased	555,665
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)	39,907
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2)	13,546
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)	63,726
Payable for administrative services (Note 2)	451
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2)	38,189
Distributions payable to shareholders	7,796
Other accrued expenses	74,598
Total liabilities	4,093,287

Net assets	$109,449,350

REPRESENTED BY
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4)	$104,966,563
Total distributable earnings (Note 1)	4,482,787
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding	$109,449,350

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE
Net asset value and redemption price per class A share ($85,814,983 divided by 9,469,175 shares)	$9.06
Offering price per class A share (100/96.00 of $9.06)^*	$9.44
Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($1,053,403 divided by 116,394 shares)^**	$9.05
Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($6,575,617 divided by 725,473 shares)^**	$9.06
Net asset value and redemption price per class M share ($521,147 divided by 57,483 shares)	$9.07
Offering price per class M share (100/96.75 of $9.07)^†	$9.37
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R6 share
($637,315 divided by 70,236 shares)	$9.07
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share
($14,846,885 divided by 1,636,452 shares)	$9.07

^*On single retail sales of less than $100,000. On sales of $100,000 or more the offering price is reduced.

^**Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.

^†On single retail sales of less than $50,000. On sales of $50,000 or more the offering price is reduced.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 29

Statement of operations Year ended 5/31/19


INVESTMENT INCOME
Interest income	$4,004,365
Total investment income	4,004,365

EXPENSES
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)	492,527
Investor servicing fees (Note 2)	86,255
Custodian fees (Note 2)	6,860
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)	5,392
Distribution fees (Note 2)	288,499
Administrative services (Note 2)	3,496
Auditing and tax fees	59,579
Other	52,327
Total expenses	994,935
Expense reduction (Note 2)	(35,243)
Net expenses	959,692

Net investment income	3,044,673

REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)
Net realized gain (loss) on:
Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)	581,630
Total net realized gain	581,630
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:
Securities from unaffiliated issuers	1,901,342
Total change in net unrealized appreciation	1,901,342

Net gain on investments	2,482,972

Net increase in net assets resulting from operations	$5,527,645

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


30 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Statement of changes in net assets


DECREASE IN NET ASSETS	Year ended 5/31/19	Year ended 5/31/18
Operations
Net investment income	$3,044,673	$3,508,062
Net realized gain on investments	581,630	847,478
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)
of investments	1,901,342	(3,333,479)
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations	5,527,645	1,022,061
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):
From ordinary income
Taxable net investment income
Class A	(13,334)	(12,905)
Class B	(183)	(159)
Class C	(1,091)	(1,249)
Class M	(76)	(72)
Class R6	(74)	—
Class Y	(2,165)	(1,612)
From tax-exempt net investment income
Class A	(2,438,258)	(2,867,397)
Class B	(24,179)	(27,830)
Class C	(141,308)	(197,059)
Class M	(12,285)	(13,461)
Class R6	(10,217)	(8)
Class Y	(408,486)	(389,663)
Decrease from capital share transactions (Note 4)	(16,326,105)	(9,503,565)
Total decrease in net assets	(13,850,116)	(11,992,919)

NET ASSETS
Beginning of year	123,299,466	135,292,385
End of year (Note 1)	$109,449,350	$123,299,466

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 31

Financial highlights (For a common share outstanding throughout the period)

INVESTMENT OPERATIONS

LESS DISTRIBUTIONS

RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

Ratio

Net realized

of net investment

Net asset value,

and unrealized

Total from

From

Total return

Net assets,

Ratio of expenses

income (loss)

beginning

Net investment

gain (loss)

investment

net investment

Total

Net asset value,

at net asset value

end of period

to average

Portfolio

Period ended

of period

income (loss)

on investments

operations

income

distributions

end of period

(%) ^a

(in thousands)

net assets (%) ^b

net assets (%)

turnover (%)

Class A

May 31, 2019

$8.85

.24

.21

.45

(.24)

(.24)

$9.06

5.19

$85,815

.84

2.70

May 31, 2018

9.02

.25

(.17)

.08

(.25)

(.25)

8.85

.85

100,922

.83

2.74

May 31, 2017

9.24

.25

(.22)

.03

(.25)

(.25)

9.02

.39

108,906

.83

2.81

May 31, 2016

9.07

.29

.16

.45

(.28)

(.28)

9.24

5.10

120,182

.82^c

3.11^c

May 31, 2015

9.12

.30

(.05)

.25

(.30)

(.30)

9.07

2.74

117,935

.80

3.28

Class B

May 31, 2019

$8.84

.18

.21

.39

(.18)

(.18)

$9.05

4.53

$1,053

1.47

2.08

May 31, 2018

9.01

.19

(.17)

.02

(.19)

(.19)

8.84

.21

1,249

1.46

2.11

May 31, 2017

9.22

.20

(.21)

(.01)

(.20)

(.20)

9.01

(.13)

1,484

1.46

2.18

May 31, 2016

9.06

.23

.16

.39

(.23)

(.23)

9.22

4.33

1,530

1.44^c

2.49^c

May 31, 2015

9.11

.24

(.05)

.19

(.24)

(.24)

9.06

2.11

1,791

1.42

2.66

Class C

May 31, 2019

$8.85

.17

.21

.38

(.17)

(.17)

$9.06

4.36

$6,576

1.62

1.92

May 31, 2018

9.02

.18

(.17)

.01

(.18)

(.18)

8.85

.07

8,588

1.61

1.97

May 31, 2017

9.24

.18

(.22)

(.04)

(.18)

(.18)

9.02

(.39)

11,007

1.61

2.03

May 31, 2016

9.07

.21

.17

.38

(.21)

(.21)

9.24

4.28

11,138

1.59^c

2.34^c

May 31, 2015

9.12

.23

(.05)

.18

(.23)

(.23)

9.07

1.95

10,798

1.57

2.51

Class M

May 31, 2019

$8.85

.22

.44

(.22)

(.22)

$9.07

5.01

$521

1.12

2.42

May 31, 2018

9.02

.22

(.17)

.05

(.22)

(.22)

8.85

.57

515

1.11

2.46

May 31, 2017

9.24

.23

(.22)

.01

(.23)

(.23)

9.02

.11

567

1.11

2.53

May 31, 2016

9.08

.26

.16

.42

(.26)

(.26)

9.24

4.69

520

1.09^c

2.84^c

May 31, 2015

9.12

.27

(.04)

.23

(.27)

(.27)

9.08

2.57

546

1.07

3.01

Class R6

May 31, 2019

$8.86

.26

.21

.47

(.26)

(.26)

$9.07

5.44

$637

.59

2.97

May 31, 2018^†

8.81

.01

.05

.06

(.01)

(.01)

8.86

.65^*

10

.02^*

.08^*

Class Y

May 31, 2019

$8.86

.26

.21

.47

(.26)

(.26)

$9.07

5.42

$14,847

.62

2.92

May 31, 2018

9.03

.27

(.17)

.10

(.27)

(.27)

8.86

1.07

12,015

.61

2.96

May 31, 2017

9.24

.27

(.21)

.06

(.27)

(.27)

9.03

.72

13,328

.61

3.03

May 31, 2016

9.08

.31

.15

.46

(.30)

(.30)

9.24

5.22

12,568

.59^c

3.34^c

May 31, 2015

9.12

.32

(.04)

.28

(.32)

(.32)

9.08

3.08

12,031

.57

3.52

^*Not annualized.

^†For the period May 21, 2018 (commencement of operations) to May 31, 2018.

^aTotal return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

^bIncludes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.

^cReflects a voluntary waiver of certain fund expenses in effect during the period. As a result of such waivers, the expenses of each class reflect a reduction of less than 0.01% as a percentage of average net assets.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


32 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund	Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 33

Notes to financial statements 5/31/19

Within the following Notes to financial statements, references to “State Street” represent State Street Bank and Trust Company, references to “the SEC” represent the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter. Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from June 1, 2018 through May 31, 2019.

Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund (the fund) is a Massachusetts business trust, which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as a diversified open-end management investment company. The goal of the fund is to seek as high a level of current income exempt from federal income tax and Ohio personal income tax as Putnam Management believes is consistent with preservation of capital. The fund invests mainly in bonds that pay interest that is exempt from federal income tax and Ohio personal income tax (but that may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT)), are investment-grade in quality, and have intermediate- to long-term maturities (i.e., three years or longer). Under normal circumstances, Putnam Management invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in tax-exempt investments. Such tax-exempt investments in which the fund invests are issued by or for states, territories or possessions of the United States or by their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities or other government entities, and the income from these investments is exempt from both federal and Ohio personal income tax. This investment policy cannot be changed without the approval of the fund’s shareholders. Putnam Management may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.

The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class M, class R6 and class Y shares. Purchases of class B shares are closed to new and existing investors except by exchange from class B shares of another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. Class A and class M shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.00% and 3.25%, respectively. Class A shares generally are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and class M, class R6 and class Y shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class B shares, which convert to class A shares after approximately eight years, are not subject to a front-end sales charge and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if those shares are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and generally convert to class A shares after approximately ten years. The expenses for class A, class B, class C and class M shares may differ based on the distribution fee of each class, which is identified in Note 2. Class R6 and class Y shares, which are sold at net asset value, are generally subject to the same expenses as class A, class B, class C and class M shares, but do not bear a distribution fee, and in the case of class R6 shares, bear a lower investor servicing fee, which is identified in Note 2. Class R6 and class Y shares are not available to all investors.

In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the Putnam Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Note 1: Significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.


34 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. If the fund were liquidated, shares of each class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund. In addition, the Trustees declare separate dividends on each class of shares.

Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures and have delegated responsibility for valuing the fund’s assets in accordance with these procedures to Putnam Management. Putnam Management has established an internal Valuation Committee that is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Pricing Committee.

Tax-exempt bonds and notes are generally valued on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees. Such services use information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining value. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.

Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.

Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.

Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. All premiums/discounts are amortized/accreted on a yield-to-maturity basis. The premium in excess of the call price, if any, is amortized to the call date; thereafter, any remaining premium is amortized to maturity.

Securities purchased or sold on a forward commitment basis may be settled at a future date beyond customary settlement time; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the securities. Losses may arise due to changes in the fair value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to borrow from other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.

Lines of credit The fund participates, along with other Putnam funds, in a $317.5 million unsecured committed line of credit and a $235.5 million unsecured uncommitted line of credit, both provided by State Street. Borrowings may be made for temporary or emergency purposes, including the funding of shareholder redemption requests and trade settlements. Interest is charged to the fund based on the fund’s borrowing at a rate equal to 1.25% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the overnight LIBOR for the committed line of credit and the Federal Funds rate plus 1.30% for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit and 0.04% of the uncommitted line of credit has been paid by the participating funds. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.21% per annum on any unutilized portion of the committed line of credit is allocated to the participating funds based on their relative net assets and paid quarterly. During the reporting period, the fund had no borrowings against these arrangements.

Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 35

to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.

The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Under the Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act of 2010, the fund will be permitted to carry forward capital losses incurred for an unlimited period and the carry forwards will retain their character as either short-term or long-term capital losses. At May 31, 2019, the fund had the following capital loss carryovers available, to the extent allowed by the Code, to offset future net capital gain, if any:


	Loss carryover
Short-term	Long-term	Total
$629,097	$104,182	$733,279

Distributions to shareholders Income dividends are recorded daily by the fund and are paid monthly. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These differences include temporary and/or permanent differences from the expiration of a capital loss carryover. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations. At the close of the reporting period, the fund reclassified $11,521 to decrease undistributed net investment income, $213,652 to decrease paid-in capital and $225,173 to decrease accumulated net realized loss.

Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax cost as of the close of the reporting period were as follows:


Unrealized appreciation	$5,220,232
Unrealized depreciation	(21,138)
Net unrealized appreciation	5,199,094
Undistributed ordinary income	24,767
Capital loss carryforward	(733,279)
Cost for federal income tax purposes	$106,576,782

For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2018, the fund had undistributed net investment income of $35,476.

Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions

The fund pays Putnam Management a management fee (based on the fund’s average net assets and computed and paid monthly) at annual rates that may vary based on the average of the aggregate net assets of all open-end mutual funds sponsored by Putnam Management (excluding net assets of funds that are invested in, or that are invested in by, other Putnam funds to the extent necessary to avoid “double counting” of those assets). Such annual rates may vary as follows:


0.590%	of the first $5 billion,	0.390%	of the next $50 billion,
0.540%	of the next $5 billion,	0.370%	of the next $50 billion,
0.490%	of the next $10 billion,	0.360%	of the next $100 billion and
0.440%	of the next $10 billion,	0.355%	of any excess thereafter.

For the reporting period, the management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact from any expense waivers in effect) of 0.431% of the fund’s average net assets.


36 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through September 30, 2020, to waive fees and/or reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, investment management contract and distribution plans, on a fiscal year-to-date basis to an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets over such fiscal year-to-date period. During the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced as a result of this limit.

Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of PIL, Putnam Management would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.40% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.

The fund reimburses Putnam Management an allocated amount for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.

Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custody fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes.

Putnam Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam Management, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. received fees for investor servicing for class A, class B, class C, class M and class Y shares that included (1) a per account fee for each direct and underlying non-defined contribution account (retail account) of the fund; (2) a specified rate of the fund’s assets attributable to defined contribution plan accounts; and (3) a specified rate based on the average net assets in retail accounts. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. has agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution accounts for these share classes will not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts.

Class R6 shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class R6 shares at an annual rate of 0.05%.

During the reporting period, the expenses for each class of shares related to investor servicing fees were as follows:


Class A	$68,562	Class R6	175
Class B	885	Class Y	10,643
Class C	5,604	Total	$86,255
Class M	386

The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $35,243 under the expense offset arrangements.

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $78, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees.

The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable on or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.

The fund has adopted distribution plans (the Plans) with respect to the following share classes pursuant to Rule 12b–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to compensate Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC, for services

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 37

provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans provide payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership at an annual rate of up to the following amounts (Maximum %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the following annual rate (Approved %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. During the reporting period, the class-specific expenses related to distribution fees were as follows:


	Maximum %	Approved %	Amount
Class A	0.35%	*	$201,892
Class B	1.00%	0.85%	9,944
Class C	1.00%	1.00%	74,114
Class M	1.00%	0.50%	2,549
Total			$288,499

^*Equals the weighted average of (i) 0.20% of the net assets of the fund attributable to class A shares purchased and paid for prior to April 1, 2005 and (ii) 0.25% of all other net assets of the fund attributable to class A shares.

For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $2,190 and no monies from the sale of class A and class M shares, respectively, and received $2,397 and $34 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C shares, respectively.

A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of class A shares. For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received no monies on class A redemptions.

Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:


	Cost of purchases	Proceeds from sales
Investments in securities (Long-term)	$21,239,978	$32,404,848
U.S. government securities (Long-term)	—	—
Total	$21,239,978	$32,404,848

The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.

Note 4: Capital shares

At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions, including, if applicable, direct exchanges pursuant to share conversions, in capital shares were as follows:


	YEAR ENDED 5/31/19		YEAR ENDED 5/31/18
Class A	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	252,027	$2,237,179	560,932	$5,021,459
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions	251,518	2,224,330	288,224	2,573,008
	503,545	4,461,509	849,156	7,594,467
Shares repurchased	(2,437,546)	(21,488,246)	(1,518,298)	(13,570,815)
Net decrease	(1,934,001)	$(17,026,737)	(669,142)	$(5,976,348)

38 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund


	YEAR ENDED 5/31/19		YEAR ENDED 5/31/18
Class B	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	5,005	$43,955	39	$346
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions	2,710	23,932	3,100	27,636
	7,715	67,887	3,139	27,982
Shares repurchased	(32,679)	(289,230)	(26,534)	(237,934)
Net decrease	(24,964)	$(221,343)	(23,395)	$(209,952)

	YEAR ENDED 5/31/19		YEAR ENDED 5/31/18
Class C	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	45,362	$403,628	76,105	$683,133
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions	14,928	131,980	20,484	182,967
	60,290	535,608	96,589	866,100
Shares repurchased	(305,088)	(2,698,010)	(346,371)	(3,092,227)
Net decrease	(244,798)	$(2,162,402)	(249,782)	$(2,226,127)

	YEAR ENDED 5/31/19		YEAR ENDED 5/31/18
Class M	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	—	$—	5,908	$53,073
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions	1,346	11,913	1,320	11,784
	1,346	11,913	7,228	64,857
Shares repurchased	(2,000)	(17,395)	(11,918)	(106,053)
Net decrease	(654)	$(5,482)	(4,690)	$(41,196)

			FOR THE PERIOD OF 5/22/18
			(COMMENCEMENT OF OPERATIONS)
	YEAR ENDED 5/31/19		TO 5/31/18
Class R6	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	77,287	$675,532	1,135	$10,000
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions	1,168	10,385	1	8
	78,455	685,917	1,136	10,008
Shares repurchased	(9,355)	(81,962)	—	—
Net increase	69,100	$603,955	1,136	$10,008

	YEAR ENDED 5/31/19		YEAR ENDED 5/31/18
Class Y	Shares	Amount	Shares	Amount
Shares sold	893,859	$7,880,339	265,487	$2,379,026
Shares issued in connection with
reinvestment of distributions	41,432	367,083	38,788	346,603
	935,291	8,247,422	304,275	2,725,629
Shares repurchased	(654,961)	(5,761,518)	(424,034)	(3,785,579)
Net increase (decrease)	280,330	$2,485,904	(119,759)	$(1,059,950)

Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund 39

Officers

In addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the other officers of the fund are shown below:


Jonathan S. Horwitz (Born 1955)	Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957)
Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer,	Vice President and Assistant Treasurer
and Compliance Liaison	Since 2007
Since 2004	Head of Accounting, Middle Office, & Control Services,
	Putnam Investments and Putnam Management
Robert T. Burns (Born 1961)
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer	Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962)
Since 2011	Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer
General Counsel, Putnam Investments,	Since 2002
Putnam Management, and Putnam Retail Management	Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam
	Investments and Putnam Retail Management
James F. Clark (Born 1974)
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer	Nancy E. Florek (Born 1957)
Since 2016	Vice President, Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate
Chief Compliance Officer, Putnam Investments	Governance, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer
and Putnam Management	Since 2000

Michael J. Higgins (Born 1976)	Denere P. Poulack (Born 1968)
Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk	Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk,
Since 2010	and Assistant Treasurer
	Since 2004
Janet C. Smith (Born 1965)
Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal
Accounting Officer, and Assistant Treasurer
Since 2007
Head of Fund Administration Services,
Putnam Investments and Putnam Management

The principal occupations of the officers for the past five years have been with the employers as shown above, although in some cases they have held different positions with such employers. The address of each officer is 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.


44 Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund

Fund information

Founded over 80 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage funds across income, value, blend, growth, sustainable, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.


Investment Manager	Trustees	Michael J. Higgins
Putnam Investment	Kenneth R. Leibler, Chair	Vice President, Treasurer,
Management, LLC	Liaquat Ahamed	and Clerk
100 Federal Street	Ravi Akhoury
Boston, MA 02110	Barbara M. Baumann	Janet C. Smith
	Katinka Domotorffy	Vice President,
Investment Sub-Advisor	Catharine Bond Hill	Principal Financial Officer,
Putnam Investments Limited	Paul L. Joskow	Principal Accounting Officer,
16 St James’s Street	Robert E. Patterson	and Assistant Treasurer
London, England SW1A 1ER	George Putnam, III
	Robert L. Reynolds	Susan G. Malloy
Marketing Services	Manoj P. Singh	Vice President and
Putnam Retail Management		Assistant Treasurer
100 Federal Street	Officers
Boston, MA 02110	Robert L. Reynolds	Mark C. Trenchard
	President	Vice President and
Custodian		BSA Compliance Officer
State Street Bank	Jonathan S. Horwitz
and Trust Company	Executive Vice President,	Nancy E. Florek
	Principal Executive Officer,	Vice President, Director of
Legal Counsel	and Compliance Liaison	Proxy Voting and Corporate
Ropes & Gray LLP		Governance, Assistant Clerk,
	Robert T. Burns	and Assistant Treasurer
Independent Registered Public	Vice President and
Accounting Firm	Chief Legal Officer	Denere P. Poulack
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP		Assistant Vice President, Assistant
	James F. Clark	Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer
	Vice President and
	Chief Compliance Officer

This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund. It may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the most recent copy of Putnam’s Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam’s Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit putnam.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to request a prospectus or summary prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-800-225-1581.


	Shares owned	Percentage of ownership	Value
Class R6	1,170	1.7%	$10,612


Fiscal year ended	Audit Fees	Audit-Related Fees	Tax Fees	All Other Fees


May 31, 2019	$47,187	$ —	$12,430	$ —
May 31, 2018	$47,493	$ —	$12,597	$177


Fiscal year ended	Audit-Related Fees	Tax Fees	All Other Fees	Total Non-Audit Fees

May 31, 2019	$ —	$546,984	$ —	$ —
May 31, 2018	$ —	$600,294	$ —	$ —


	CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES


	Exact name of registrant as specified in charter:	Putnam Ohio Tax Exempt Income Fund


	Address of principal executive offices:	100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110


	Name and address of agent for service:	Robert T. Burns, Vice President 100 Federal Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110


	Copy to:	Bryan Chegwidden, Esq. Ropes & Gray LLP 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036


	Registrant's telephone number, including area code:	(617) 292–1000


	The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940:


	(c) In February 2018, the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments was amended. The key changes to the Code of Ethics are as follows: (i) Prohibition of investing in public coin offerings or token offerings, (ii) Removal of monetary fines as available sanctions for violations of the Code of Ethics, and (iii) Expanded definition of “Immediate Family Member”.


	The following table presents fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to the fund by the fund's independent auditor:


	For the fiscal years ended May 31, 2019 and May 31, 2018, the fund's independent auditor billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $559,414 and $612,126 respectively, to the fund, Putnam Management and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam Management that provides ongoing services to the fund.


	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


	Washington, D.C. 20549


	FORM N-CSR


	Item 1. Report to Stockholders:


	Audit Fees represent fees billed for the fund's last two fiscal years relating to the audit and review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.


	Audit-Related Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for services traditionally performed by the fund's auditor, including accounting consultation for proposed transactions or concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and other audit or attest services not required by statute or regulation.


	Tax Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services. Tax planning and tax advice services include assistance with tax audits, employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities.


	All Other Fees represent fees billed for services relating to an analysis of fund profitability


	Pre-Approval Policies of the Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Distributions Committee of the Putnam funds has determined that, as a matter of policy, all work performed for the funds by the funds' independent auditors will be pre-approved by the Committee itself and thus will generally not be subject to pre-approval procedures.


	The registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above.


	Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies:


	Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies


	Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers:


	Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:


	(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable


	Item 12. Disclosures of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies:


	(a)(1) The Code of Ethics of The Putnam Funds, which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments, is filed herewith.


	(a)(2) Separate certifications for the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.


	(b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.


	Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


	/s/ Janet C. Smith Janet C. Smith Principal Accounting Officer


	/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz Jonathan S. Horwitz Principal Executive Officer