The gas tax comes back 2 months after you vote
Who has a plan for January 3?
Ohio’s 90-day gas tax holiday ends January 2. The 38.5¢ gas tax and 47¢ diesel tax come back January 3. We’re asking seven people the same three questions: both major-party candidates for governor, Gov. DeWine, and the four legislative leaders. Their answers go here, word for word.
The calendar
The tax returns before the new governor arrives
- Nov 3Election Day
- Nov–DecLame-duck sessionThe current General Assembly decides whether to extend the holiday.
- Jan 2Holiday endsLast day under HB 519.
- Jan 3Gas and diesel taxes return
- Jan 11New governor sworn inTerm begins the second Monday of January (ORC 107.01).
How the timing works
The people in office now make the call
The gas tax holiday passed as emergency legislation on Sept. 30 with votes from both parties. It runs through Election Day and ends Jan. 2. The new governor doesn’t take office until Jan. 11.
That leaves the decision to the legislature and governor in office now, during the lame-duck session after the election. They can extend the holiday, let it end, or replace it.
If the holiday lapses, the new governor starts with the tax already back. Bringing relief back would take a new bill from the legislature, and a two-thirds vote in both chambers for it to take effect right away. If the holiday is extended, the new governor starts with relief in place and a bigger cost to cover.
That’s why we’re asking the candidates and today’s leaders before Nov. 3.
The three questions
Same wording for all seven
- Will you support extending Ohio’s gas tax holiday during the lame-duck session, before it ends January 2?
- If not, what is your plan for Ohio drivers on January 3?
- Whichever you choose, how would you pay for it? The current holiday is offset by a $725 million transfer of state funds.
Their answers
Posted verbatim
For candidates and office holders
How to respond
Send your answer from an official government or campaign address.
Post publicly
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Our rules
- Responses are posted in full, word for word.
- We confirm each response came from an official or campaign account before posting.
- Each answer links to the original when one exists.
- If someone hasn’t replied, we list them as “awaiting,” not as refusing.
- Each price is a dated statewide average from one named source.