Propane

Ohio lawmakers voted Wednesday in a special emergency session to suspend the state's gas tax for 90 days, passing the bill 26-5 in the Senate and 78-16 in the House. The measure temporarily zeroes out the 38.5-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax and 47-cents-per-gallon diesel tax, which normally fund road maintenance and the state highway patrol. With gas averaging over $4 a gallon in some counties, officials estimate drivers could save $3 to $7 per fill-up through the holidays. The suspension is projected to cost Ohio about $700 million in lost revenue, offset by the general fund, which will also cover $1 million in payments to gas stations that request support.

The bill now heads to Gov. Mike DeWine, who is expected to sign it. Both gubernatorial candidates backed the suspension, but some Democrats criticized the timing and process, alleging it was rushed to benefit Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign—his running mate, Senate President Rob McColley, sponsored the measure. McColley denied any conflict of interest after an ethics inquiry found the concern "without merit." Democrats were blocked from offering floor amendments.

Geauga Transit, the rural demand-response transportation system in Geauga County, Ohio, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a free open house on Sept. 30. The system began in 1976 with a $25,000 state and federal grant and two vehicles; it now operates a growing fleet including propane-powered buses after Lake County-based Laketran took over management in July 2023. Ridership reached 32,542 trips in 2024, up 16% from the prior year, and the agency secured $3.5 million in funding for fleet, facility and workforce transportation improvements, including a Wheels to Work program launched in October 2024 serving commuters near Middlefield and Parkman.

A larger expansion is now underway. In November 2025, Laketran and Geauga Transit announced about $2.3 million in Ohio Workforce Mobility Partnership funding for a three-year initiative to expand demand-response service between Lake and Geauga counties, adding vehicles, drivers and higher wages to build a shared driver pool. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency approved the roughly $3 million project for its regional transportation plan on March 13, though no passenger-service launch date has been set.