Pennsylvania lawmaker announces bill to lower ‘highest diesel tax rate in the nation’

This week, a Pennsylvania state lawmaker announced a bill to lower the state’s gas and diesel fuel taxes.

On July 20 2026, Representative Ryan Warner said that he would introduce legislation to reduce Pennsylvania’s gas and diesel tax in a move to “reduce operating costs for truckers, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses.”

Warner notes that the gas tax in Pennsylvania is 57.6 cents per gallon and that “Pennsylvania’s diesel tax is even higher at 74.1 cents per gallon, the highest diesel tax rate in the nation.”

Warner’s bill would reduce diesel tax to more closely align with the regional rates in neighboring states, which you can view below:

• New York — approximately 33.4 cents per gallon
• New Jersey — approximately 41.8 cents per gallon
• Delaware — approximately 22 cents per gallon
• Maryland — approximately 47 cents per gallon
• Ohio — approximately 47 cents per gallon
• West Virginia — approximately 35.7 cents per gallon

“This excessive fuel tax burden harms working families, commuters, farmers, small businesses, and the trucking industry. It also incentivizes border-area residents and commercial operators to purchase fuel outside Pennsylvania, resulting in lost economic activity for Pennsylvania gas stations, truck stops, and local businesses near state lines,” Warner said.

Warner outlined the benefits of reducing fuel tax for Pennsylvania residents and businesses:

• Provide immediate relief to Pennsylvania families facing high transportation and living costs
• Reduce operating costs for truckers, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses
• Improve Pennsylvania’s competitiveness with neighboring states
• Reduce incentives for cross-border fuel purchases
• Return a portion of excess revenues back to taxpayers
• Promote a fairer and more sustainable transportation funding structure