Ohio state lawmakers have approved a 90-day gas tax holiday, a move expected to return an estimated $725 million to taxpayers, according to Ohio state Sen. Michele Reynolds, R-Canal Winchester. Both the Ohio House and Senate secured the two-thirds supermajority required for an emergency clause, which ensures the measure takes effect immediately once signed. Governor Mike DeWine has indicated his intention to sign the bill into law.
This legislative action comes just weeks ahead of the November election, at a time when rising costs for gas and diesel fuel are a significant concern. While Republican state leaders ultimately championed the effort, the concept of a gas tax break was initially proposed by Democratic candidate for governor Amy Acton. This led to a quickly organized effort to recall lawmakers to Columbus to expedite the legislation.
Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican House Speaker Matt Huffman, and his running mate, Republican Senate President Rob McColley, publicly announced the plan a week before the votes. Senators debated the legislation on Tuesday, with House lawmakers conducting their first hearing the same day as the Wednesday vote. Most members of the General Assembly were present for the votes, with 31 of 33 senators and 96 of 99 representatives on hand. The attendance was particularly crucial in the Ohio House, where the partisan split required some Democratic votes to pass the bill as an emergency measure, the source material notes. The Republican majority in the Senate was sufficient to meet the two-thirds requirement without Democratic support.
The legislative process involved a procedural shift in the Senate on Wednesday morning. A Senate committee initially set aside a separate gas tax holiday proposal it had discussed the previous day. Instead, members took up Ohio House Bill 519 (H.B. 519), a House proposal focused on criminalizing the use of unauthorized key fobs, a response to a recent increase in car thefts in Ohio. Senators then modified H.B. 519 by removing a requirement for youth offenders to go to juvenile hall, and subsequently incorporated the gas tax holiday into the bill. This strategic amendment meant the House only needed to concur with the Senate’s revisions, as H.B. 519 had already passed the House, and its sponsor, Ohio state Rep. Andrea White, R-Kettering, was also a cosponsor of the House’s distinct gas tax proposal, Ohio House Bill 1019.
Ohio state Sen. Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, explained that the new tax holiday within H.B. 519 would not mandate gas stations to provide itemized receipts detailing state and federal tax rates. He added that the bill includes changes designed to offer retailers more flexibility in submitting their tax filings.
The swift legislative maneuvering drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Prior to the Senate vote, Minority Leader Nickie Antonio sent Senate President McColley a letter requesting he recuse himself due to his involvement in the Ramaswamy gubernatorial ticket; McColley declined. On the Senate floor, Ohio state Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, moved to end debate immediately after Republicans introduced the measure, effectively preventing Democrats from offering amendments. The motion passed, and the Senate quickly approved the bill.
Following the vote, McColley defended the procedural decisions, stating that Republicans were "committed to delivering $725 million of cost relief," while Democrats were more focused on "theatrics." He emphasized the caucus's desire to "get the job done on behalf of Ohioans across the state who desperately need this relief." Senator Antonio expressed disappointment with the GOP's tactics, accusing McColley of using the Senate as "a campaign ad." She noted that a similar bill had been introduced in the House in May and that Senate sessions were canceled three weeks prior, suggesting that the sudden push was influenced by "polling numbers."
Despite their reservations, 15 House Democrats ultimately voted in favor of the proposal. However, Ohio state Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, D-Westlake, minimized the expected savings, describing them as "about $3 a week." She also criticized the majority for structuring the vote as a concurrence, which again limited Democrats' ability to propose amendments. House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn called it "embarrassing" for Republicans to declare an emergency now, questioning why such urgency was not present when gas prices surged in April or when utility bills rose significantly this past summer. He highlighted that the emergency was declared on September 30th, "less than five weeks before Nov. 3rd."
House Speaker Matt Huffman acknowledged Isaacsohn’s point but stated he had been optimistic about economic improvements a few months ago. He concluded that "at some point you have to make a decision," adding it would be "a terrible reason not to do it" if action were avoided solely for political appearances.
Rep. Andrea White stated on the House floor that constituents frequently inquire about ways to reduce the cost of gas and groceries. She asserted that cutting state taxes on gas and diesel would lower prices at the pump and impact other retailers, emphasizing the goal of "immediate relief, fully funding our roads at the local and state level, and making sure transparency is there so it’s consumers that are pocketing the money."
In a press release issued after the vote, Amy Acton’s campaign took credit for prompting the issue, with spokesperson Virginia Schaus stating that Acton was "glad the Statehouse has voted with bipartisan support to establish a gas tax holiday and provide Ohioans much needed relief at the pump." Ramaswamy, in turn, characterized the outcome as a "tidy little victory," framing it as an example of how his future administration would collaborate with legislative leaders to address issues for Ohioans. He suggested that even a small amount of savings could be impactful for families, stating it "may be the difference between being able to afford a Christmas gift for your kids or not."
