Ohio Lawmakers Vote on 90-Day Gas Tax Suspension
Ohio lawmakers convene for a special session to vote on a 90-day gas tax suspension to provide consumer relief amid global oil market disruptions.
The Ohio General Assembly convened for a special session on Wednesday to vote on House Bill 1019 and Senate Bill 475. The legislation proposes a 90-day suspension of the state tax on gasoline and diesel, which would reduce costs by approximately 38.5 cents and 47 cents per gallon, respectively. The move follows requests from gubernatorial candidates Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy to provide relief as the war in Iran disrupts global oil markets.
The proposed tax holiday is estimated to cost $726 million. To address concerns from Governor Mike DeWine, who previously called the measure "a very, very bad idea" due to its potential impact on road project funding, the bills specify that the cost will be covered by the state's general revenue fund rather than the Ohio Department of Transportation.
To pass as emergency legislation, the bills require a two-thirds majority in both chambers. House Speaker Matt Huffman noted that Democratic support is necessary for passage in the House. House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn suggested using unclaimed funds originally appropriated for a new Cleveland Browns stadium to help fund the holiday. While the bills mandate that gas stations pass savings to consumers, the Tax Foundation and other economists have warned that such holidays provide limited relief and jeopardize infrastructure funding.
