OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Governor Kevin Stitt says Oklahoma lawmakers moved quickly to change state law after discovering a little-known provision that could prevent drivers from seeing any savings if Congress suspends the federal gas tax.
After President Donald Trump called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax, Senate Appropriations Chairman Chuck Hall and Sen. Grant Green worked with the Oklahoma Tax Commission to examine what that would mean for Oklahoma.
In that review, they found a provision in state law that automatically increases Oklahoma’s state fuel tax by the same amount as any federal fuel tax reduction.
Green presented House Bill 1370 on the Senate floor to repeal that provision.
Supporters of the bill said the change is intended to ensure Oklahomans would receive the full benefit if Congress suspends the federal gas tax, which is 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.
Hall said rising gas prices are among the top concerns he is hearing from constituents in his district.
“Oklahomans are feeling pain at the pump every time they gas up,” Hall said. “This legislation ensures Oklahomans will actually benefit from a federal gas tax suspension. I’m proud the Senate worked quickly and decisively to provide this tax relief for all Oklahomans.”
On Tuesday, Gov. Stitt signed the legislation into law.
“This is going to lower taxes for Oklahomans when the feds lower the gas tax. I also want to give a shoutout to David Ostrowe and Mark Morrison. Mark Morrison at tax discovered this old rule that was going to cause our taxes to go up if the feds lowered it, so they brought it Ostrowe’s attention. He got it across the finish line and within 22 hours were able to get this bill to my desk,” Stitt said.
