Brantley County motorists should soon see relief at the pump after the Georgia General Assembly and Gov. Brian Kemp passed legisla tion Friday to suspend the state gas tax with House Bill 1199.
The 60-day suspension, which began March 20, immediately suspends the state’s 33 cent per gallon excise tax on gasoline. It also suspends the 37 cent a gallon tax on diesel fuel, which affects the cost of food and other goods on store shelves.
“Today is just the latest step we’re taking and it’s one that will help all Georgians as they work to make ends meet,” Kemp said at the Capitol before signing House Bill 1199 into law.
It would cost the state treasury an estimated $200 million a month, $400 million for the approved two months.
The fuel tax suspension, the fourth during Kemp’s tenure, will cost the state treasury an estimated $400 million during the 60 days it is in effect. The timing has the suspension in place up to the Georgia primary election on May 19.
The measure comes after the U.S. attack on Iran triggered a spike in fuel prices.
The bill started out as a measure to conform Georgia law with changes in the federal tax code. It passed the House for the first time in mid-February, a week before the air strikes on Iran ordered by President Donald Trump.
The bill bounced back and forth between the House and Senate as each made changes, and then, on Wednesday, March 18 the House added the gas tax suspension and sent HB 1199 to the Senate again.
Gas prices were hovering around $3.50 Monday around the area after reaching $3.79+ before the gas tax suspension by Gov. Brian Kemp. Photo By ETHAN REDDISH
Kemp
In a rare instance of partisan unity, both Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly supported and passed the bill in both houses of the legislature.
The rise in gas prices has fueled concern that increases could ripple through the economy, driving up the price of fertilizer and food.
Kemp has used his authority to unilaterally order three gas tax suspensions in recent years in response to high prices, inflation and Hurricane Helene.
Kemp said he applauded passage of the bill because it would provide immediate relief for families.
“Today is just the latest step we’re taking and it’s one that will help all Georgians as they work to make ends meet,” he said.
Members of the state legislature weighed in on the measure as well.
“We’re all feeling the pain at the pump as instability in the global oil markets causes the cost of fuel to rise across this country,” said House Speaker Jon Burns.
He added Georgia is among the first states to suspend the gas tax to suppress the recent runup in prices.
