U.S. Senators Propose Gas Tax Holiday Until October

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Two U.S. senators, Mark Kelly and Richard Blumenthal, have introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act, which would suspend the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax until October 1st. The bill is intended to provide direct savings to consumers as gas prices have risen nearly 60 cents per gallon in the last month due to disruptions in global oil production.

Why it matters

The high gas prices have become a major economic and political issue, with the Biden administration under pressure to take action. A federal gas tax holiday could provide some relief to drivers, though it would not fully offset the overall rise in prices at the pump.

The details

The Gas Prices Relief Act would suspend the 18.4 cent per gallon federal gas tax until October 1st. The bill includes provisions to ensure the savings are passed directly to consumers and to fund the programs normally paid for by the gas tax from the Department of Treasury's general fund. However, state-level gas taxes would remain in place, so drivers would still pay taxes as high as 72 cents per gallon in some states like California.

• The bill was announced on Monday, March 11, 2026.
• The proposed gas tax holiday would run until October 1, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Gas Prices Relief Act will need to pass both the Senate and House of Representatives before being signed into law by the President.