Ohio House approves House Bill 62 to raise fuel taxes to support transportation

The state House in Ohio earlier this month passed a bill to increase fuel tax to support transportation and public safety.

House Bill 62 would increase the state’s motor fuel tax on gasoline by 10.7 cents and diesel fuel by 20 cents. These increases yield approximately $872 million.

The motor fuel tax on gasoline would phase-in. It starts with an increase of 7 cents in 2019 and 3.7 cents in 2020.

The diesel fuel tax would increase by 10 cents in 2019, 6 cents in 2020, and 4 cents in 2021. The increases will be divided 55/45 between the Ohio Department of Transportation and local governments, increasing local revenue to approximately $390 million per year.

Additionally, the bill proposes yearly registration fees of $200 for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrid vehicles. These fees would benefit Ohio’s transportation improvements.

The House plan also increases investment in public transit to $100 million annually per year.

The transportation budget will create Ohio’s Road to the Future Committee to study Ohio’s infrastructure needs. This committee will report back to the Ohio General Assembly by Oct. 1.

The Ohio Senate is now considering the bill.