Maryland Republicans Seek Temporary Gas Tax Suspension For Drivers

NOTE: The Maryland Senate Republican Caucus shared the following press release:

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Senate and House Republicans today announced a continued, coordinated effort to provide immediate relief to drivers by temporarily suspending the State’s gas tax, with House Republicans advancing the proposal through Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) amendments as the primary path forward.

Republicans initially sought to pursue parallel efforts in both chambers, including late introduction of emergency legislation in the Senate.

“Marylanders are feeling the pressure of rising costs every time they pull up to the pump,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey. “We made a good-faith effort to introduce emergency legislation in the Senate to provide immediate relief to motorists. Unfortunately, there are several procedural hurdles to overcome to formally introduce a bill this late in the session. The suspension of the rules required the cooperation of the entire Senate, which we were unable to secure.”

Despite those challenges, Republicans are continuing to push forward through a viable legislative vehicle in the House.

“The House still has a path to get this done through the budget, and we intend to use it,” said House Minority Leader Jason Buckel. “Cutting the gas tax for a month will likely save the average Marylander more than the Democrat’s energy plan, Marylanders should not have to wait for relief.”

The proposal is part of a broader Republican effort to make Maryland more affordable by addressing the everyday costs that are putting pressure on working families. Maryland’s gas tax currently adds nearly 46 cents per gallon to the price of fuel.

“Maryland cannot control events happening outside our borders, but we can control whether State government continues to add nearly 46 cents per gallon in taxes on top of rising prices,” Buckel said. “When costs go up, the State should not pile on.”

Under the proposal, the gas tax suspension would take effect immediately upon the governor’s signature, ensuring that savings are felt at the pump without delay. Based on current rates, suspending the tax could lower prices by approximately 46 cents per gallon — translating to roughly $7 in savings per fill-up and $30 to $40 in savings over a month for the average driver.

Maryland previously enacted a similar measure in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when gas prices spiked nationwide. The General Assembly passed an emergency gas tax holiday that provided immediate relief and was widely reflected in lower prices at the pump.

“This is a proven, straightforward way to deliver relief,” Hershey said. “We have done this before, and we know it works.”

Republican leaders emphasized that the measure is temporary and includes a commitment to ensure the Transportation Trust Fund remains whole so that critical infrastructure and transportation priorities are maintained.

“This is about immediate relief, not long-term disruption,” Buckel said. “We can provide help to Maryland families right now while still honoring our commitment to transportation funding.”

In addition to legislative action, Senate and House Republicans will be sending a joint letter to Governor Wes Moore urging his support for the proposal and encouraging swift action to deliver relief without delay.

“We are ready to act, and we hope the Governor will join us in putting Maryland families first,” Hershey said. “This is a proven solution, and it’s time to move forward.”