Pennsylvania Lawmaker Proposes Suspending Gas Taxes Amid Rising Fuel Prices

Senator Lisa Boscola plans to introduce legislation to temporarily pause state gas and diesel taxes for 60 days.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 8:37am

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Pennsylvania Senator Lisa Boscola announced plans to introduce legislation that would temporarily suspend the state's gasoline and diesel taxes for 60 days in response to rapidly rising fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. The state gas tax is nearly 60 cents per gallon, while the diesel tax is around 75 cents per gallon. Boscola said the tax suspension would provide immediate relief at the pump for commuters and businesses across Pennsylvania without disrupting funding for critical road and bridge projects.

Why it matters

Rising fuel prices have put a strain on families and businesses in Pennsylvania, and this proposed legislation aims to offer short-term relief to consumers at the gas pump. The suspension of state gas and diesel taxes could help offset the burden of higher prices, though the long-term impact on infrastructure funding would need to be addressed.

The details

Senator Boscola plans to introduce legislation that would temporarily suspend Pennsylvania's gasoline tax of nearly 60 cents per gallon and diesel tax of around 75 cents per gallon for a 60-day period. The goal is to provide immediate relief to consumers and businesses facing higher fuel costs due to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Boscola said the legislation would authorize bonding to replace any short-term loss to the Motor License Fund, ensuring that funding for state police and road/bridge projects is not disrupted.

  • Senator Boscola plans to introduce the legislation when the Pennsylvania Senate reconvenes on Monday, March 18, 2026.
  • The proposed tax suspension would last for 60 days if the legislation is passed.

The players

Lisa Boscola

A Democratic state senator representing Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania who plans to introduce legislation to temporarily suspend the state's gas and diesel taxes.

Pennsylvania Senate

The state legislature's upper chamber, which is currently out of session and set to reconvene on Monday, March 18, 2026, when Boscola plans to introduce her tax suspension legislation.

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What they’re saying

“Pennsylvania drivers are already starting to see prices at the pump climb as global oil markets react to instability in the Middle East. At a time when families and businesses are already facing rising costs, we should use every tool available to provide some short-term relief.”

— Lisa Boscola, Pennsylvania State Senator (cbsnews.com)

“Our legislation would temporarily suspend these taxes while authorizing bonding to replace any short-term loss to the Motor License Fund. This ensures we can provide relief at the pump without disrupting funding for State Police or critical road and bridge projects.”

— Lisa Boscola, Pennsylvania State Senator (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Pennsylvania Senate is set to reconvene on Monday, March 18, 2026, at which point Senator Boscola plans to officially introduce the legislation to temporarily suspend the state's gas and diesel taxes.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation aims to provide short-term relief to Pennsylvania consumers and businesses facing higher fuel costs, though the long-term impact on infrastructure funding would need to be carefully considered. The suspension of state gas and diesel taxes could help offset the burden of rising prices at the pump, but ensuring adequate funding for critical road and bridge projects remains an important priority.