Senator Huffman Votes to Suspend Ohio's Gas Tax

COLUMBUS—State Senator Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City) voted alongside his colleagues in the Ohio Senate to pass major tax relief suspending Ohio's gas tax for 90 days. 

The Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) currently applies a 38.5 cent tax per gallon of gas and a 47 cent tax per gallon of diesel. By suspending the tax for the next three months, Ohioans will save $725 million in fuel taxes at the pump.

I'm glad to see the legislature take action so that everyone in Ohio will receive savings at the pump, said Senator Huffman. I have long encouraged a reduction in Ohio's gas tax and this is a strong, fiscally sound step for our state in the face of rising prices. I look forward to seeing the positive effect this will have throughout the 5th Senate District.

For accounting purposes, the MFT will be reduced to 1/100th of a cent per gallon which will also protect certain border counties from seeing unintended tax consequences due to neighboring states levying their own tax on fuel sold into Ohio if no other tax is levied.

The state's "Rainy Day Fund," also known as the Budget Stabilization Fund, will not be needed to support highway and local government construction projects that are normally funded by the gas tax as budget surpluses will be used to cover the tax suspension.

Senator Huffman previously took action on reducing the MFT in the 135th General Assembly by introducing legislation to match the tax rates on gas and diesel at 38.5 cents per gallon.

Read more about the approved legislation by clicking here.