Lisa Boscola State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Bethlehem, is pictured during a recent session in Harrisburg.

With gas prices sitting at $3.79 a gallon Tuesday, according to the AAA, a state senator is proposing a 60-day break from state gas taxes.

Gas prices in Warren County are among the highest in the state at $3.790, second only to Mifflin County’s $3.797, according to AAA. The national average of a gallon of gas is $3.539 as of Tuesday, while the state average is $3.644.

State Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, D-Bethlehem, said Tuesday she is drafting legislation that would temporarily suspend Pennsylvania’s gasoline and diesel taxes for 60 days to provide relief for consumers and businesses facing rising fuel costs.

Boscola said the two bills are intended to help Pennsylvania drivers and businesses cope with fuel price increases tied to instability in global oil markets.

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

Pennsylvania motorists currently pay one of the highest fuel taxes in the nation. The state gasoline tax is 57.6 cents per gallon, while the diesel tax is approximately 74 cents per gallon.

Boscola noted that while fuel taxes are an important source of funding for transportation infrastructure, the temporary suspension would be structured to ensure those commitments remain intact.

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

The proposed 60-day suspension would provide relief for commuters while also helping businesses that rely heavily on diesel fuel, including trucking, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction industries. Boscola previously introduced similar legislation during the summer of 2022 after global energy markets were disrupted following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“When affordability becomes a challenge for Pennsylvania families and business owners, government has a responsibility to step in and look for ways to help,” Boscola said. “Providing temporary relief at the fuel pump is a practical step we can take right now.”