COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation Thursday temporarily suspending the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel for 90 days, providing a short-term reduction in the taxes included in fuel prices.
The legislation suspends Ohio’s 38.5-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax and 47-cent-per-gallon diesel tax.
The Ohio General Assembly approved the measure Wednesday before sending it to DeWine. The legislation also provides state funding to replace revenue that otherwise would have been collected through the fuel taxes and used for transportation purposes. Approximately $726 million in general revenue funding is expected to cover the lost revenue during the suspension. The Statehouse News Bureau
The temporary suspension comes after both major-party candidates for Ohio governor — Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton — publicly called for a gas tax holiday.
DeWine had opposed previous proposals to suspend the state gas tax. His administration has said earlier proposals did not include a mechanism to replace the transportation revenue that would have been lost, while the newly approved measure does.
Ohio’s fuel taxes help fund transportation infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
With DeWine’s signature Thursday, the state will move forward with the 90-day suspension before the existing gasoline and diesel tax rates return.
