HB 773: Require E15 fuel at turnpike facilities; biodiesel fuel study

136th General Assembly

Regular Session

H. B. No. 773

2025-2026

Representatives Williams, Klopfenstein

Cosponsors: Representatives Manning, Salvo, Workman, Brennan, Peterson, King, Daniels, Kishman, Newman, Glassburn, Creech

Section 1.

Sec. 5537.01.

"Commission" means the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission created by section 5537.02 of the Revised Code or, if that commission is abolished, the board, body, officer, or commission succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to which the powers given by this chapter to the commission are given by law.

"Turnpike project" means any express or limited access highway, super highway, or motorway constructed, operated, or improved, under the jurisdiction of the commission and pursuant to this chapter and approved by the governor, including all bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges, entrance plazas, approaches, those portions of connecting public roads that serve interchanges and are determined by the commission and the director of transportation to be necessary for the safe merging of traffic between the turnpike project and those public roads, toll booths, service facilities, and administration, storage, and other buildings, property, and facilities that the commission considers necessary for the operation or policing of the turnpike project, together with all property and rights which may be acquired by the commission for the construction, maintenance, or operation of the turnpike project, and includes any sections or extensions of a turnpike project designated by the commission as such for the particular purpose. Each turnpike project shall be separately designated, by name or number, and may be constructed, improved, or extended in such sections as the commission may from time to time determine. Construction includes the improvement and renovation of a previously constructed turnpike project, including additional interchanges, whether or not the turnpike project was initially constructed by the commission.

"Infrastructure project" means any public express or limited access highway, super highway, or motorway, including all bridges, tunnels, overpasses, underpasses, interchanges, entrance plazas, approaches, and those portions of connecting public roads that serve interchanges, that is constructed or improved, in whole or in part, with infrastructure funding approved pursuant to criteria established under section 5537.18 of the Revised Code.

"Cost," as applied to construction of a turnpike project or an infrastructure project, includes the cost of construction, including bridges over or under existing highways and railroads, acquisition of all property acquired either by the commission or by the owner of the infrastructure project for the construction, demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which the buildings or structures may be moved, site clearance, improvement, and preparation, diverting public roads, interchanges with public roads, access roads to private property, including the cost of land or easements therefor, all machinery, furnishings, and equipment, communications facilities, financing expenses, interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction, traffic estimates, indemnity and surety bonds and premiums on insurance, title work and title commitments, insurance, and guarantees, engineering, feasibility studies, and legal expenses, plans, specifications, surveys, estimates of cost and revenues, other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing or operating a turnpike project or an infrastructure project, administrative expenses, and any other expense that may be necessary or incident to the construction of the turnpike project or an infrastructure project, the financing of the construction, and the placing of the turnpike project or an infrastructure project in operation.

"E15 blended fuel" means gasoline that contains more than ten and not more than fifteen volume per cent ethanol.

"Authorized motor fuel retailer" means any person licensed in this state to offer motor fuel for retail sale to the public and under contract with the commission to sell such motor fuel at a service facility connected to the Ohio turnpike system.

Sec. 5537.04.

Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

Adopt an official seal, which shall not be the great seal of the state and which need not be in compliance with section 5.10 of the Revised Code;

Sec. 5537.31.

The installation, retrofitting, or other construction associated with ensuring each service facility is capable of selling E15 blended fuel is a turnpike project. As such, the costs associated with the project may be paid from revenues, state taxes, or the proceeds of bonds as authorized under this chapter. The commission may also seek federal grants that are available for alternative fuel infrastructure or other funds available through similar incentive programs.

(1) Prior to July 1, 2027, the commission shall include the following in its annual comprehensive financial report made under division (E) of section 5537.17 of the Revised Code:

(2) Beginning July 1, 2027, the commission shall certify each year the continued availability of E15 blended fuel at each service facility in the annual comprehensive financial report.

Section 2.

Section 3.