Governor Braun extends gas tax savings again

Indiana Governor Mike Braun is extending the suspension for a second time of both the 7% Gasoline Usage Tax and the Gasoline Excise Tax through July 7.

The current suspension was set to expire June 7.

AAA’s ranking of gas prices by state has Indiana in the lead with the cheapest gas in the country, at $3.585 for a gallon of regular.

For June, the Gasoline Usage Tax would otherwise be $0.265 per gallon. The Gasoline Excise Tax is currently $0.36 per gallon. Suspending both taxes saves Hoosiers more than 62 cents per gallon at the pump.

Today’s action is permitted under Indiana’s energy emergency statute. After COVID-19, the Indiana General Assembly limited the Governor’ s emergency powers during a statewide disaster declaration to 60 days. That change did not modify the Governor’s separate authority during an energy emergency, which retained its original 120-day maximum duration.

Indiana law treats energy emergencies and disaster declarations as separate authorities.

The April energy emergency has not been rescinded by the Governor. Because the energy emergency remains in effect, Indiana law allows the Governor to continue the energy emergency and related relief within the 120-day maximum period without calling a special session of the General Assembly.

Governor Braun first announced a 30-day suspension of the Gasoline Usage Tax on April 8. On May 6, Governor Braun extended that relief and added a suspension of the Gasoline Excise Tax.