North Carolina has suspended its 41-cent-per-gallon fuel tax through Nov. 30 after a nearly unanimous vote in a special legislative session, The Center Square reported in a story carried by Just the News.
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed the Relief at the Pump bill Friday, effective immediately, the report said.
The House approved it 111-1 and the Senate 41-0. The lone vote against came from a Guilford County Democrat, whom the report did not name.
The tax is paused, not repealed. Stein described the relief as temporary and “just one step,” and said he wants to keep working on affordability year-round.
House Speaker Destin Hall, a Republican, credited “years of responsible budgeting” for making the pause possible.
Fuel taxes help pay for highway maintenance.
The law directs the state’s Stabilization and Inflation Reserve to replace the revenue the Highway Fund would otherwise receive, which a state senator estimated at $362.3 million.
How soon prices will drop, and whether they will fall by the full 41 cents, is unclear, the report said.
AAA put the state average Friday morning at $4.09 for regular gasoline and $5.98 for diesel, both below the national averages.
Georgia, Indiana and Ohio have taken similar steps this year.
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