ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed bill HB 1199 into law on March 20, 2026. The bill suspends the state motor fuel tax for 60 days. The goal is simple: give drivers and truckers immediate relief as fuel prices climb toward record levels.
What Drivers Can Expect
Georgia’s excise tax currently sits at 33.3 cents per gallon of gasoline and 37.3 cents per gallon of diesel. Both suspensions kick in immediately. However, drivers won’t see the drop right away. Prices at the pump will start to reflect the change in the coming days and weeks as retailers receive new fuel shipments.
For context, the national average price of diesel currently stands at $5.159 per gallon, according to AAA. The all-time high was $5.816 in June 2022 — and prices are once again trending in that direction.
What Officials Are Saying
“Hardworking Georgians know best how to spend their money, not the government,” Kemp said. “That’s why I’m proud to sign these bills and deliver meaningful tax relief on top of the other measures we’ve taken in recent years.”
Speaker Jon Burns specifically called out the benefit for the trucking industry. “Today’s suspension of the state gas tax will save hardworking Georgians and the truckers who keep our state moving nearly $400 million over the next 60 days,” Burns said. “Here in Georgia, we aren’t just talking about addressing affordability — we’re delivering results.”
Lt. Governor Burt Jones added his support. “The two bills signed today provide significant and immediate tax relief and further our commitment to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Jones said.
HB 1199 was sponsored by Representative John Carson and carried in the Senate by Chuck Hufstetler. Combined with previous tax rebates, rate reductions, and earlier gas tax suspensions, Kemp will have saved or returned over $11.8 billion to Georgia taxpayers.
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