Pierce County motorists should soon see relief at the pump after the Georgia General Assembly passed a temporary suspension of the state’s gas tax.
The 60-day suspension of the state excise tax would save drivers just over 33 cents a gallon for gasoline and 37 cents a gallon for diesel.
It will take a while for the relief to show up at the pump since the state tax is levied on the distributor and not individual gas stations.
It would cost the state treasury an estimated $200 million a month.
The measure comes after the U.S. attack on Iran triggered a spike in fuel prices.
Relief is coming soon to a gas pump near you. Gas prices have spiked recently due to the U.S. attack on Iran.
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, the House added the gas tax suspension and sent HB 1199 to the Senate again.
In a rare instance of partisan unity, both Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly supported the bill which passed 163-4 in the House and unanimously 51-0 in the Senate.
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.
“This is great news for all Georgians...!,” he said.
Ty Tagami of Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this report.
Circle K on Main St. reads $3.47 a gallon.
