Ohio senators met Tuesday for initial discussions on a proposed 90-day gas tax holiday, a plan Republican leaders announced last week. The GOP aims to pass the measure with an emergency clause, which would require Democratic votes in the Ohio House for immediate implementation.
State Senators Michele Reynolds, a Republican from Canal Winchester, and Jane Timken, a Republican from Jackson Twp., are sponsoring Ohio Senate Bill 475. If passed, the proposal would draw $725 million from the state’s general revenue fund to cover lost tax revenue, a shift from an earlier funding idea.
According to Senator Reynolds, suspending the current tax rate—38.5 cents for gas and 47 cents for diesel—would provide a savings of nearly $7.70 for a 20-gallon fill-up. For a driver filling a 20-gallon tank weekly, this would translate to a drop in their gas bill from $1,026 to $933.62 over 12 weeks.
This legislative effort comes ahead of November’s election, a period historically challenging for the party in power, and as gas and diesel prices continue to surge, leading state leaders to express urgency.
The concept of a gas tax holiday was first proposed by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton. Her Republican opponent, Vivek Ramaswamy, later adopted the idea, announcing his own plan with the backing of statehouse leaders, including his running mate, Republican Ohio Senate President Rob McColley. President McColley praised Ramaswamy, calling it "unprecedented" for a nominee to contribute before an election.
Bringing lawmakers back to the capitol for emergency legislation weeks before an election is considered unusual. The distinction McColley initially touted between the GOP's plan and Acton's proposals, which he called "empty rhetoric," reportedly diminished between the plan's announcement and the measure’s drafting.
Initially, Ramaswamy’s proposal relied on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) surplus cash balance. However, Governor Mike DeWine rejected the idea of using ODOT’s coffers, stating that all the department's cash is already allocated. Lawmakers subsequently shifted their focus to the state’s general revenue fund to cover the projected $725 million in lost revenue.
Democrats on the committee questioned the impact of the proposed savings. According to AAA, Ohio’s average gas price on Sept. 29 was $4.27. Ohio state Senator Willis Blackshear, a Democrat from Dayton, also raised concerns about the timing of the proposal. Blackshear asked, “Why are we just now starting? Why are we acting on this now?” given that gas prices spiked earlier, in late February and early March.
In response, Senator Reynolds highlighted recent sharp increases in diesel prices, stating, “The time is now. Ohioans are suffering—we’re listening.” She added that while some factors are beyond state control, "what we can do in Ohio, we should do, and that’s why we’re doing it."
Ohio state Senator Bill DeMora, a Democrat, outright rejected the proposal, describing it as a clear attempt to assist Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign. “It’s all a gimmick for your governor candidate who’s underwater,” DeMora said. He stated after the hearing that he would not vote for the bill, emphasizing that Acton's initial call for a tax holiday did not change his position. “My governor candidate was wrong on this issue, and I told her she’s wrong,” DeMora stated.
Senators anticipate voting the measure out of committee on Wednesday, with a floor vote expected in the afternoon. Concurrently, lawmakers in the Ohio House are scheduled to introduce a companion measure Wednesday, with a floor session planned for later the same day.
