Texas Agriculture Chief Urges Abbott to Suspend State Gas Tax

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller asked Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday to temporarily suspend the state's 20-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and undyed diesel, citing rising fuel costs that ripple through the broader economy, according to KVIA.

Miller urged Abbott to work with state lawmakers on the suspension. His request came as the American Automobile Association reported the national average gas price jumped 13 cents in a single week, reaching $4.36 per gallon as of Wednesday. Texas drivers were paying an average of $3.87 per gallon, while El Paso County residents faced $4.42 per gallon—the highest average in Texas, according to AAA. Diesel prices in Texas averaged $5.91 per gallon.

In a statement, Miller emphasized how diesel price increases affect everyday Texans. "When diesel prices spike, those costs ripple through the entire economy, and Texans eventually pay the bill," he said. Diesel fuel is critical for transporting food from farms to grocery stores.

Miller characterized the state's fuel tax as compounding existing economic pressure. "High diesel prices are a tax on everything," he said. "They raise the cost of growing food, hauling freight, running a business, and putting groceries on the table. Every penny matters, and Texas shouldn't be piling another 20 cents on top of the pain."

The commissioner's request targets relief for both consumers and the agricultural and transportation sectors most directly affected by fuel cost volatility.