Rob McColley

Ohio lawmakers suspended the state's gasoline and diesel taxes for 90 days under House Bill 519, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on Oct. 1, replacing the lost revenue with roughly $725 million from the state's anticipated general fund surplus. The measure, pushed rapidly through the legislature after Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and Democratic nominee Amy Acton both called for gas-tax relief ahead of the Nov. 3 election, suspends the 38.5-cent gasoline tax and 47-cent diesel tax through Jan. 2.

According to Ohio's nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission, the average driver could save up to $55 over the full three-month period, though a Yale University study suggests only about 80% of such savings typically reach consumers, with the rest absorbed by oil companies and retailers. Critics, including some lawmakers from both parties, have called the move an expensive election-season gesture that does little to address larger affordability concerns, such as rising electricity costs tied to Ohio's growing data-center industry. The tax holiday expires before Ohio's next governor takes office on Jan. 11.

Ohio's 90-day suspension of its 38.5-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and 47-cent-per-gallon diesel tax began Sunday, October 4, after Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 519 on October 1. The GOP-controlled Ohio General Assembly passed the measure as an emergency bill less than 24 hours before DeWine's signature, allowing it to take effect immediately.

Both leading gubernatorial candidates, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, had called for a gas tax suspension, though the specific bill divided statehouse Democrats, some of whom criticized it as rushed and politically motivated. Supporters, including Ramaswamy and Senate President Rob McColley, acknowledged not all savings will reach consumers but expect the majority—McColley estimated 75-90%—to be passed through at the pump.

The suspension will cost the state hundreds of millions in tax revenue normally used for road maintenance. H.B. 519 sets aside $725 million in excess general revenue funds to offset the shortfall and keep road projects on schedule during the 90-day window.

Ohio's suspension of its 38.5-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and 47-cent-per-gallon diesel tax took effect Sunday, Oct. 4, following Gov. Mike DeWine's signature on House Bill 519 on Thursday, Oct. 1. The GOP-controlled General Assembly passed the measure as an emergency bill less than a day before DeWine signed it, allowing the 90-day suspension to start immediately.

Both leading gubernatorial candidates, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton, had called for a gas tax suspension, though statehouse Democrats criticized the bill as rushed and politically motivated. Supporters, including Senate President Rob McColley and Ramaswamy, acknowledged that not all savings will reach consumers but predicted the large majority—McColley estimated 75-90%—will be passed through at the pump.

The suspension will cost Ohio hundreds of millions in tax revenue typically used for road maintenance. H.B. 519 allocates $725 million in excess general revenue funds to cover the shortfall and keep infrastructure projects on schedule during the suspension period.

Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature convened a special session and passed a bill suspending the state's 38.5-cent-per-gallon gas tax for 90 days, funded through the general fund surplus rather than road-project money, addressing Gov. Mike DeWine's earlier concerns. The Legislative Service Commission estimates average drivers could save up to $55 over the suspension period.

Republicans used procedural moves to keep debate limited to the gas tax bill, blocking Democratic attempts to introduce broader affordability measures, including utility bill relief, a bigger child tax credit, a larger homestead exemption, and a resolution urging President Trump to end the war in Iran, which Democrats blame for rising fuel prices. Democrats also proposed redirecting sports-stadium funds, including money earmarked for the Cleveland Browns' Brook Park stadium, toward consumer relief, and pushed for a data center moratorium sought by advocacy group Conserve Ohio. Senate President Rob McColley said such issues risked derailing the gas tax bill. Democrats call the tax holiday an election-year move benefiting Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who trails Amy Acton in polling.

Ohio lawmakers are advancing legislation to suspend the state's gas tax — 38.5 cents per gallon on gasoline and 47 cents on diesel — for 90 days, as fuel prices run about $1.25 higher per gallon than a year ago. The measure, folded into House Bill 519, would use $725 million in surplus state revenue to offset lost transportation funding. The push is championed by GOP gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy and Senate President Rob McColley, his running mate, and comes just days before early voting begins for the Nov. 3 election.

A requirement for gas stations to itemize tax savings on receipts was dropped as impractical. Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers but need a two-thirds vote for immediate effect, requiring at least one House Democrat's support. Democrats have floated redirecting stadium-related unclaimed funds instead, though they haven't said they'd block the bill over it. Some Democrats call the move a political stunt. Gov. Mike DeWine, who opposed an earlier plan to tap transportation reserves, has signaled openness to signing the bill if funding is handled responsibly.

Ohio Republican legislative leaders introduced Senate Bill 475 on Monday, revising GOP gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's proposal to suspend the state's gas tax for 90 days. The bill would use roughly $725 million from the state's projected general fund surplus to replace lost gas-tax revenue, rather than tapping the Ohio Department of Transportation's cash reserves or the state's rainy-day fund as Ramaswamy originally proposed. Gov. Mike DeWine had criticized those funding sources as risky, and lawmakers appear to have shifted course in response, though leaders declined to credit his objections directly. The bill also sets aside $1 million to reimburse gas stations for updating receipt systems.

Republican leaders, including Senate President and Ramaswamy running mate Rob McColley and House Speaker Matt Huffman, aim to pass the bill Wednesday as an emergency measure, requiring supermajority support including at least one House Democrat. The move comes as Ramaswamy faces Democrat Amy Acton, who floated a similar proposal, in a closely watched governor's race just before Nov. 3 early voting begins. DeWine has signaled openness to a funding approach he can support.

Ohio lawmakers are being called back to the Statehouse for a special session to suspend the state's gas tax for 90 days, with Republican leaders and gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy pushing the plan amid rising fuel prices. Passage requires two-thirds support in both chambers to trigger an emergency clause allowing the suspension to take effect immediately; Senate Republicans appear to have the votes, but House Republicans will likely need Democratic support, and Gov. Mike DeWine has not committed to signing it.

The group Conserve Ohio is using the moment to press a separate cause: a one-year moratorium on new large data center projects, arguing that if lawmakers can move quickly on gas prices, they should act just as fast on rising electricity bills, which have climbed 34% since 2022. Earlier legislative efforts to regulate data center energy use stalled over a proposed sales-tax break cut. Conserve Ohio is urging supporters to attend the session and is separately gathering signatures for a 2027 ballot measure banning data centers over 25 megawatts.