Bill Proposed To Pause Ohio’s Gas Tax Increase

Governor Mike DeWine says he’s not in favor of a proposed bill in the Ohio Senate that would pause the state’s gas tax increase for five years.

DeWine said that the revenue generated from the tax is needed to fund highway safety projects, including recently announced improvements to the Brent Spence Bridge between Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Sponsored by Republican Steve Huffman, Senate Bill 277 would pause the gasoline tax increase and special 100 dollar and 200 dollar registration fees paid by hybrid or electric vehicles owners.

Huffman says the highway money should come from the more than $11 billion Ohio will receive out of the infrastructure bill passed by Congress.

The governor and lawmakers battled over the gas tax in 2019, with DeWine wanting an 18 cent a gallon increase.

Eventually, a compromise was reached on a 10.5 cent increase per gallon in the gas tax, and a 19 cent increase in the price per gallon for diesel.

People in Ohio now pay a state tax rate of 38.5 cents per gallon on gas and 47 cents a gallon on diesel.