We asked ‘What About Florida?’ — Now lawmakers are renewing the push to suspend the gas tax

Ervin Shkulaku/DUANEWS

Just days after Georgia suspended its state gas tax to give drivers relief from soaring fuel prices, the question DUANEWS raised earlier this week — “What about Florida?” — is getting new attention in Tallahassee.

Florida State Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from Boca Raton, has renewed her call for the state to temporarily suspend its gas tax as drivers continue to face prices above $4 a gallon.

“Florida can’t control every factor that drives gas prices — global oil markets, refinery capacity, geopolitical shocks. But Florida can control the taxes it charges at the pump,” Polsky wrote in an op-ed cited by the News Service of Florida.

According to AAA figures reported Thursday, the average price for regular gasoline in Florida was about $4.20 per gallon.

Florida currently imposes a 22-cent-per-gallon state motor fuel tax on gasoline and diesel. Drivers can also pay additional fuel taxes that vary by county.

Georgia has already acted

The renewed debate comes only days after neighboring Georgia took action.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency and suspended the state motor fuel excise tax for 30 days, citing global market volatility and petroleum supply disruptions.

The suspension began September 29 and runs through October 29.

Georgia’s state excise tax is 33.3 cents per gallon for gasoline and 37.3 cents per gallon for diesel, according to the Georgia Department of Revenue. Local fuel taxes remain in place.

On September 29, DUANEWS reported on Georgia’s decision and asked a simple question: What about Florida?

Now, that question has become even more relevant.

Florida considered it earlier this year

This is not the first attempt to provide Florida drivers with relief through a gas-tax holiday.

Democrats proposed temporarily suspending the tax in May, when gasoline prices were also above $4 per gallon.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said at the time that he would sign a tax package containing a reduction in the state gas tax, but he also questioned how effectively the savings would reach consumers.

The proposal ultimately did not make it into the final tax package.

Florida has used the strategy before. In October 2022, the state temporarily suspended its motor fuel tax for one month.

Will Florida follow Georgia?

For now, Florida drivers should not expect an immediate 22-cent reduction at the pump.

No new Florida gas-tax suspension has been approved. Polsky’s renewed push is a proposal, not a change in current law.

But the situation is different just across the state line.

Georgia drivers are currently receiving a temporary break from the state fuel tax through October 29, while Florida motorists continue paying the state tax as gasoline averages around $4.20 per gallon.

That leaves the question DUANEWS asked earlier this week still unanswered:

Georgia acted. Will Florida follow?