- Georgia lawmakers vote to suspend gas tax as Iran war pushes fuel prices higher.
- The proposal mirrors relief efforts up for debate in California and other states.
- Experts say global oil markets, not state policy alone, are driving the spike.
It’s no secret that fuel prices are skyrocketing across the USA right now. Since the start of the Iran war, it’s shot up by roughly 80-90 cents per gallon. In Georgia, regular gas sat at about $3 per gallon before the conflict began. Now, it’s up to around $3.77, with mid-grade at $4.23 and premium at $4.64. Lawmakers have decided to stop waiting for the end of the conflict and they’re working to suspend the gas tax for 60 days to provide some relief to residents.
The Georgia House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Bill 1199 on Wednesday, approving a temporary suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax as prices at the pump surge. The measure now heads to the Senate, and if it passes there, it will still need Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature before taking effect. According to WSBTV, he’s suspended it on his own in the past so it seems likely that he’ll be on board this time too.
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Lawmakers say the spike in pricing due to the war justifies immediate relief, especially heading into the summer driving season. The state currently charges about 33 cents per gallon on gasoline and 37 cents on diesel, and suspending that tax could save drivers a noticeable amount per fill-up. Importantly, the change would not happen overnight because the tax is applied at the distributor level rather than at the pump.
Gas Tax Holidays Nationwide
Georgia is far from the only state considering measures like this one. According to CalMatters, lawmakers in the Golden State are working on their own solutions. California already tends to have the highest fuel prices in the USA. The Iran conflict isn’t helping. Some candidates for governor have proposed suspending the state’s 61-cent gas tax, while others want to pause environmental regulations they say add roughly 50 cents per gallon to fuel costs.
Even so, energy experts say the latest price spike is mostly tied to global oil markets rather than state policy alone. Until the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to all, oil prices will likely remain high and lawmakers will continue to have to work to lower prices on gas and diesel.
