Dublin drivers are paying less at the pump after Ohio's 90-day gas tax holiday kicked in Sunday, Oct. 4, cutting 38.5 cents off every gallon of regular gasoline.

Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 519 on Thursday, Oct. 1, suspending the state's fuel tax through Jan. 2, 2027. The law also suspends 47 cents per gallon on diesel. Ohio's statewide average dropped to $3.97 per gallon on Sunday, down from about $4.20 on Wednesday, Sept. 30, according to AAA data reported by Cleveland.com.

Price drops have been uneven across the state. A GasBuddy check on Sunday found regular gas as low as $3.31 at a Meijer in Columbus and as high as $4.18 at a Kroger in Mt. Gilead. Dublin-area prices vary by station. Gas stations pay the fuel tax when they purchase fuel, so drivers won't see the full savings until stations cycle through inventory bought at the old rate, 13abc reported.

"This will give some relief to people throughout the state of Ohio. Gas is so high today; we know that it really hurts people," DeWine said at the Oct. 1 signing.

The savings are real but temporary. Ben Ayers, senior economist at Nationwide, told NBC4 the market reaction has been quick but warned that prices will climb back when the pause expires in January. Ayers said drivers can worry less about pump prices for the next couple of months, but the relief won't last.

The Ohio Legislative Service Commission estimated the average driver could save up to $55 over the 90-day window. The federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon on diesel still applies.

To replace roughly $725 million in lost fuel-tax revenue, the state is using General Revenue Fund dollars. Legislative leaders said current budget surpluses will cover the cost without tapping Ohio’s Rainy Day Fund. Failure to do so could be referred to the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

HB 519 passed the Ohio Senate 26-5 and the House 78-16 with bipartisan support. Senate President Rob McColley said the state could extend the suspension beyond 90 days, but any extension would require a separate vote, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

The holiday runs through 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 2, 2027.