The North Carolina General Assembly will return this Wednesday, October 7, for a special session called to consider tax relief measures on gasoline and diesel, while the fuel prices They remain elevated.
The House of Representatives and the Senate are scheduled to begin their session at 12 p.m., although this time could change. The session was called following a written request from three-fifths of both chambers.
The joint proclamation issued by legislative leaders states that lawmakers will consider legislation necessary to provide North Carolina residents withstate tax relief on gasoline and diesel fuel.”
As of Tuesday, leaders had not publicly released the text of the proposed bill. Therefore, it is still unclear how much the tax would be reduced, for how long, or how the loss of state revenue would be compensated.
The General Assembly was scheduled to reconvene on October 26 under the legislative calendar approved in August. Wednesday's extraordinary session was convened separately and is limited to the matter included in the proclamation.
The state tax is 41 cents per gallon.
The state fuel tax is currently 41 cents per gallon and is projected to increase to 41 cents per gallon by 2026, according to [source missing]. the North Carolina Department of Revenue.
This tax finances part of the roads and other projects of the state transportation system.
A temporary reduction could mean a relief for drivers and businesses. Although it would also reduce the income available for those projects, unless the General Assembly uses other sources of money to compensate for the loss.
Gasoline prices remain high
The session comes as fuel prices remain well above last year's levels.
El average price The average price of regular gasoline in North Carolina was $4.09 per gallon and diesel was $6.00 as of October 6, according to AAA. A year ago, the averages were $2.83 and $3.48, respectively.
The price increase is mainly related to international oil market conditions and associated supply disruptions. the war in the Middle East.
State legislators cannot directly control the price of oil, but they can modify state taxes applied to fuels.
Related: Higher Gas Prices: How It Affects Latino Workers and Businesses in Western North Carolina
Republicans: “real relief”
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, Republican of Rockingham, and House Speaker Destin Hall, Republican of Caldwell, announced Saturday that they would seek to convene a special session to address rising prices.
“North Carolina families and farmers are feeling the impact of rising fuel costs every day. They need real relief, and they need it now,” Berger wrote in a post on X.
Hall said that rising fuel costs are hitting families' wallets and creating hardship for state farmers.
“Rising fuel costs are hitting North Carolina families hard and creating hardship for farmers across the state. North Carolinians can’t afford to wait,” Hall wrote.
Republican leaders control both houses of the General Assembly.
Democrats question the timing of the session
Democratic leaders have questioned both the proposal and the timing of the session, less than a month before the November elections.
Robert Reives, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, accused Republicans of using the session as a political strategy.
“Now, just weeks before voters can hold them accountable at the ballot box, they are attempting what will surely be the first of many efforts to distract from their appalling record,” Reives said in a statement released after the session was announced.
Sydney Batch, the Democratic leader in the Senate, also criticized the decision.
“North Carolina families have been feeling the impact of rising prices for months due to the failure of Republican leadership. And yet, somehow, Phil Berger and Destin Hall have only just realized this? Just a month before Election Day?” Batch said.
You may be interested: The Sun League seeks to open the doors of club soccer to young Latinos in North Carolina
What will happen tomorrow?
Before the legislative sessions begin, Representative Reives has a press conference scheduled for 9:30 am and Senator Berger another at 10:30 am. according to the General Assembly schedule.
The House of Representatives and Senate sessions will begin at 12 pm, according to the schedule, although the final time may vary.
Lawmakers are expected to work on a measure related to state taxes on gasoline and diesel and may vote on it this afternoon. Legislative leaders have described the session as a one-day affair.
The main unknown will be the final content of the project: how much of the 41-cent tax will be suspended or reduced, for how long, when it would take effect, and how the money normally allocated to the transportation system would be covered.
Meanwhile, Governor Josh Stein has already taken a separate step to help farmers cope with high diesel costs. From October 1 through December 31, the Department of Revenue will waive the penalty for using agricultural diesel on highways, provided the state tax of 41 cents per gallon is paid.
Republish our stories for free on your website or newspaper. We follow the Creative Commons license. Click the box and follow the instructions.
