Several states are either implementing gas tax suspensions and reductions or actively considering such measures to ease the costs at the gas pump.
In Washington, the motor vehicle fuel tax rate for gasoline lands at 55.4 cents per gallon. For diesel, it's 58.4 cents per gallon. The state ranks third in motor vehicle fuel taxes, trailing only Illinois and California.
In addition to the motor vehicle fuel taxes — according to the Washington Policy Center in March — the cost of greenhouse gas permits in the state’s climate law declined by 8% to $65.26 per metric ton of CO2. That equates to 52 cents per gallon of gasoline and 63 cents per gallon of diesel. The costs also land on homeowners who use natural gas for home heating, the Washington Policy Center states. The policy center added that the Evergreen State has the highest tax on CO2 emissions in North America.
According to reporting by The Center Square, in January of this year the national average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the United States was around $2.81 per gallon while Washington’s average price landed just under $3.84. The price difference was a reflection of the two separate additional costs per gallon of fuel in Washington state.
However, January gas prices would be a dream for fuel buyers as the national average for regular unleaded gasoline on Thursday, April 16, came in at $4.093 per gallon. In Washington, the average price per gallon hit $5.388. For diesel, the state average was at $6.938 per gallon while the national average per gallon was $5.614.
According to AAA, in the Vancouver metro area the average price per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline was higher at $5.484 and diesel hit $7.066 per gallon on Thursday, April 16. Head north to the Longview area and a relief of about 5 cents per gallon exists, according to AAA data.
The Reflector emailed Brionna Aho, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s communications director, requesting a statement by the governor regarding how gas prices are affecting Washingtonians. The Reflector also asked if there is any consideration for a moratorium on state gas taxes, but received no response by the provided deadline.
In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation on March 20 to suspend the state motor fuel tax for 60 days to combat rising fuel costs. The 60-day suspension in Georgia is in place through May 19, reducing costs by 33 cents per gallon of gasoline and 37 cents per gallon of diesel.
Indiana also implemented a suspension of its state gas tax lasting 30 days. In Utah, legislation was passed to reduce the state gas tax by 6 cents per gallon beginning July 1 and lasting through the end of the year.
According to reporting by KGW News in Portland, west of the Mississippi, the states of Arizona and California are discussing gas tax suspension proposals while six other eastern states are pondering answers to high costs, as well.
On March 9, U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, and Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, introduced the “Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026” to lower gas prices nationwide by suspending the 18.4 cents-per-gallon federal gas tax through the first of October.
However, as of Thursday, April 16, according to Congress.gov, the effort to suspend the federal gas tax was still at “introduced” status.
