California State Senator Tony Strickland has unveiled an urgent proposal aimed at significantly reducing gas taxes, potentially offering drivers in the state savings of over $1 per gallon. This initiative is gaining bipartisan support, with even some Democratic leaders expressing interest.
Senator Strickland’s proposed legislation seeks to suspend four different taxes and fees for a year. This includes levies tied to California’s environmental initiatives, which he claims could lead to a reduction of at least $1.08 per gallon at the pump.
“Throughout California, families are feeling the squeeze from rising gas and grocery prices, which are stretching their budgets to the limit,” Strickland shared with The California Post.
“My proposal is straightforward: a temporary suspension of the gas tax that could decrease the cost per gallon by $1.08,” he explained.
“It’s a short-term measure designed to provide immediate relief for a long-standing issue in our state, offering Californians a much-needed financial break,” he continued.
This proposal emerges as fuel prices reach an average of $5.54 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. In response, two Democratic gubernatorial candidates—San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa—have suggested either suspending the state’s fuel tax or easing regulatory burdens to address the soaring costs.
Strickland’s legislation, which will be the focus of a hearing Wednesday morning at the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, would suspend state and local taxes, waive the state’s excise tax, and pause fees for the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Cap-and-Trade, the latter of which has been rebranded Cap-and-Invest.
Altogether, those fees accounted for 26% of the cost of gas in December 2025, according to a breakdown detailed by the California Energy Commission.
Using the percentages of taxes and fees cited in the California Energy Commission’s December report, gas prices could drop by as much as $1.44 under Strickland’s proposal.
The legislation, which Strickland’s office noted would maintain funding for road and infrastructure repairs, includes an urgency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately for one year if it were to pass both chambers of the Legislature and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom declined to comment on Strickland’s legislation and other Democrats calling for a suspension in gas taxes.
However, officials in the governor’s office believe there is no evidence that repealing gas taxes will bring down costs.
The governor has blamed the rise in gas prices on President Trump’s war with Iran while taking issue with an executive order that reopened the California coast to offshore drilling.
“Trump knew his war with Iran would raise gas prices,” Newsom said. “Now he wants to illegally resurrect a pipeline shut down by courts and facing criminal charges.”
He added, “And it won’t even cut prices. I refuse to let Trump sacrifice Californians, our environment, or our $51 billion coastal economy.”
But not all Democrats remain as bullish as Newsom on maintaining the state’s record-high gas taxes in a time of crisis.
Mahan has called for an end to the state excise tax, which accounts for roughly 15% of the cost of a gallon of gas in California.
“He rejects the premise that we don’t have enough money to give voters relief during this war,” Eric Jaye, a consultant for Mahan’s campaign, told The Post.
“He believes the governor and the Legislature need to make a decision to address the pain at the pump due to a war that drivers didn’t start.”
Villaraigosa has called for an “immediate moratorium” on costly regulations that have led California refineries to shut down or consider abandoning the state, while also making the price a “crippling burden on working families.”
“These failed policies are not only hurting tens of millions of Californians, they are terrible for the environment because they have forced California to depend on imported foreign oil from the Middle East,” Villaraigosa said.
California climate officials appear ready to push back on any efforts to slash gas taxes and fees.
Lindsay Buckley, a spokesperson for the California Air Resources Board, said the state’s Cap-and-Trade system has generated $34 billion for climate investments through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, while providing $15 billion in bill credits to utility customers and helping the state achieve its 2020 climate target four years ahead of schedule.
“The program benefits have been much greater than any added costs at the pump — raising $34 billion for climate investments, creating 30,000 jobs and cutting millions of tons of carbon emissions,” Buckley wrote in an email.
She added that the Low Carbon Fuel Standard has displaced 320 million metric tons of carbon dioxide since 2011, equivalent to a year’s emissions from nearly 75 million vehicles.
Regardless of those impacts, Strickland said he intends to move forward with his legislation to suspend gas taxes and fees while seeking a long-term solution.
“While it provides a pause for Californians, the Legislature must work with the governor to develop long-term solutions,” Strickland said.
“That is why I will continue to urge the governor to convene a special session to address the state’s oil policies.”
