Georgia Governor suspends state fuel tax due to rising prices

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has declared a state of emergency and ordered a 30-day suspension of the state’s motor fuel excise tax to combat rising fuel costs. The suspension, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and runs through October 29, aims to provide relief to residents and businesses facing unpredictable global market shifts.

Under the executive order, consumers will see a reduction of 33.3 cents per gallon on regular gasoline and 37.3 cents per gallon on diesel. The order also temporarily lifts weight restrictions on commercial transport vehicles, a move intended to lower delivery costs for grocery stores and other retailers.

State officials noted that diesel prices have seen significant increases, particularly impacting the agricultural sector. While Georgia's fuel prices currently remain below the national average, the state's regular gasoline average is $4.19 per gallon, while diesel averages $6.24 per gallon.