Governors Suspend Gas Taxes Amid Soaring Prices, Ukraine Crisis

Governors Suspend Gas Taxes Amid Soaring Prices, Ukraine Crisis

Governors Larry Hogan of Maryland and Brian Kemp of Georgia signed legislation Friday that temporarily suspends gas taxes in their states. The move comes as gas prices in the U.S. are surging amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and rising inflation, and as officials consider different ways to provide some relief at the pump.

Hogan's office announced that Maryland had become the first state to "enact immediate suspension of the gas tax," adding, "this bipartisan action will provide some relief from the pain at the pump and it is possible because of the prudent fiscal steps we have taken, which have resulted in a record budget surplus. This is, of course, not a cure-all, and market instability will continue to lead to fluctuations in prices, but we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to provide relief for Marylanders."

The bill the governor signed into law suspends the state's 36.1 cents per gallon tax for gasoline and 36.85 cents per gallon tax for diesel fuel for 30 days.