By admin 
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Friday signed a bill into law that will temporarily suspend the state gas tax of 41 cents per gallon.
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The new law came after a surprise announcement last weekend in which Republican leaders in the General Assembly said they would convene a special session to address high fuel costs.
The special session met on Wednesday and by the end of the day the General Assembly approved a bill and sent it to the governor.
The law suspends the state’s tax of 41 cents per gallon through November. With Stein’s signature, the Relief at the Pump Act goes into effect on Saturday.
The state also dropped penalties for farmers allowing them to use red-dyed diesel on roads until Dec. 31.
“I’m signing this bill into law because the cost of living is too high for too many North Carolinians. This bill will deliver relief for North Carolina families, people who need real solutions now,” Stein said.
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The bill also backfills the estimated $360 million cost of the pause using inflation reserve funds, so projects funded by DOT and DEQ are “held harmless.”
Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) released a statement shortly after the bill signing.
“Hardworking North Carolinians need relief at the gas pump, and help is on the way. Years of responsible budgeting have put North Carolina in a position to provide meaningful relief when families need it most, and pausing fuel taxes is another way House Republicans are working to make our state more affordable for everyone.”
Stein called on Republicans to work with him to continue to make other areas of life more affordable, including healthcare, housing, electricity, childcare and groceries.
“When we have a chance to bring costs down for families, we need to take it. But taking action four weeks before an election is not enough. This law cannot be the end of our work to lower folks’ cost of living,” he said. “Yes, temporarily suspending the gas tax is a small step forward. but what matters more is what legislators do next. Now, next week, next year I will work with anyone – Republican, Democrat, unaffiliated – who wants to make life easier for North Carolinians. So, let’s get to work.
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