The Alaska House has passed HB 104, suspending a tax on motor fuels until the middle of 2023.
This is exactly the opposite result the bill started out to accomplish.
Originally, HB 104 was going to double the tax on gas. It was proposed by Rep. Andy Josephson, with co-sponsors Reps. Grier Hopkins, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Cal Schrage, and Harriet Drummond, all part of the Democrat-dominated caucus.
Alaska has an 8 cents tax on every gallon of gas. Josephson and his co-sponsored sought to increase the tax to 16 cents because, as he pointed out in his sponsor statement, it had not been changed for many years.
It was gutted in committee and amended on the House floor. If passed by the Senate, the 8 cent tax will be suspended through June 30, 2023.
The bill is in Senate Transportation Committee, where it will be heard on May 10 at 1:30 pm. Information at this link. Its only other referral is Senate Finance Committee. The Legislature must gavel out on May 18 or go into special session.
