By Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
Californians are facing a harsh reality: The crushing weight of high prices and unaffordability is baked into every facet of our lives. From groceries to gas, taxes and fees pop up daily, making it harder to make ends meet with each passing paycheck.
One of the biggest burdens for families is the cost of gasoline. We commute to work, shuttle kids to activities, visit family and drive to church on Sundays. Gasoline is a necessity, but it’s increasingly challenging to afford alongside the rising costs of food, utilities and housing.
Californians are paying the highest gas taxes in the nation, which adds a significant financial strain on families already struggling to cover their basic needs. The average Californian loses $300 to the gas tax each year and, as of Oct. 11, the average price per gallon in California is more than $1.50 higher than the national average.
So, what can be done? We can suspend the gas tax immediately and bring much-needed relief to California families, especially as we approach the holiday season. Lowering the price of gas has a ripple effect – it doesn’t just reduce the cost of fuel, it brings down the price of all goods transported within the state.
In 2021, I called for a suspension of the gas tax as rising costs began to take a toll on our residents. Since then, prices have spiraled out of control, and I’m once again pushing to put the gas tax on hold so Californians can catch a break.
This time, I’ve drafted a bill to suspend the gas tax for a year and ensure that any revenue lost as a result of the gas tax suspension intended to fund transportation projects are replaced by general fund dollars. Despite a multi-billion dollar budget deficit, the governor signed several legislative priorities – such as AB 1866 (Hart, 2024) – which will result in millions of dollars of annual revenue losses. The Budget Act of 2024 included a $37.3 million General Fund backfill for the Trial Court Trust Fund – which will likely be used to enforce the administrative civil penalties authorized by AB X2 1 (Hart, 2024), the only bill heard during this special session.
If the majority party can find money for their priorities, they can find money for the priorities of everyday Californians.
UPDATE: On Oct. 11, Senate Democrats killed an effort to suspend the state’s gas tax, without discussion. Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) tried introducing a bill this week to immediately halt the state’s excise tax on gasoline, a move that could have provided significant economic relief to California consumers at the pump. Senator Ochoa Bogh’s measure would have suspended this gas tax for one year and ensured cost savings were passed directly to the consumer. If passed, the bill would have taken effect immediately.
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