Bills

AB 1268: Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law: adjustment suspension.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Assembly
Latest Version Date: 2025-02-21

Current Status:

Failed

(2026-02-02: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.)

Introduced

In Committee

Awaiting First Chamber Vote

Passed First Chamber

In Committee

Awaiting Second Chamber Vote

Passed Second Chamber

Enacted

What does this bill do?

This bill allows the Governor to suspend the annual California Consumer Price Index increase to the state motor vehicle fuel tax (the per‑gallon gas tax) for adjustments scheduled on or after July 1, 2026 if the Governor finds the increase would unduly burden low‑income and middle‑class families. It also requires the Department of Finance to give the Legislature a plan to keep the same level of transportation funding if an increase is suspended, and updates references from the State Board of Equalization to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.

Version:

(1)The Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law, administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, imposes a tax upon each gallon of motor vehicle fuel removed from a refinery or terminal rack in this state, entered into this state, or sold in this state, at a specified rate per gallon. Existing law requires the department to adjust the tax on July 1 each year by a percentage amount equal to the increase in the California Consumer Price Index, as calculated by the Department of Finance.

Article XIX of the California Constitution restricts the expenditure of revenues from the Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law, Diesel Fuel Tax Law, and other taxes imposed by the state on fuels used in motor vehicles upon public streets and highways to street and highway and certain mass transit purposes.

This bill would authorize the Governor to suspend an adjustment to the motor vehicle fuel tax, as described above, scheduled on or after July 1, 2025, upon making a determination that increasing the rate would impose an undue burden on low-income and middle-class families. The bill would require the Governor to notify the Legislature of an intent to suspend the rate adjustment on or before January 10 of that year, and would require the Department of Finance to submit to the Legislature a proposal by January 10 that would maintain the same level of funding for transportation purposes as would have been generated had the scheduled adjustment not been suspended.

(2)The California Constitution provides for the establishment of the State Board of Equalization, which, before July 1, 2017, had primary responsibility for most of the states duties, powers, and responsibilities regarding the administration of taxes and fees. Existing law, on July 1, 2017, transferred to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration various duties, powers, and responsibilities of the State Board of Equalization, including administration of the Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law and the Diesel Fuel Tax Law, as specified.

This bill would also change references in these provisions of law from the State Board of Equalization to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration or department, as applicable, to reflect the transfer of the boards duties, powers, and responsibilities to the department.

(3)This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.

Version:

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1.Section 7360 of the Revenue and Taxation Code is amended to read:7360.

(a)(1)A tax of eighteen cents ($0.18) is hereby imposed upon each gallon of fuel subject to the tax in Sections 7362, 7363, and 7364.

(2)If the federal fuel tax is reduced below the rate of nine cents ($0.09) per gallon and federal financial allocations to this state for highway and exclusive public mass transit guideway purposes are reduced or eliminated correspondingly, the tax rate imposed by paragraph (1), on and after the date of the reduction, shall be recalculated by an amount so that the combined state rate under paragraph (1) and the federal tax rate per gallon equal twenty-seven cents ($0.27).

(3)If any person or entity is exempt or partially exempt from the federal fuel tax at the time of a reduction, the person or entity shall continue to be so exempt under this section.

(b)(1)On and after July 1, 2010, in addition to the tax imposed by subdivision (a), a tax is hereby imposed upon each gallon of motor vehicle fuel, other than aviation gasoline, subject to the tax in Sections 7362, 7363, and 7364 in an amount equal to seventeen and three-tenths cents ($0.173) per gallon.

(2)For the 201112 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, the board department shall, on or before March 1 of the fiscal year immediately preceding the applicable fiscal year, adjust the rate in paragraph (1) in that manner as to generate an amount of revenue that will equal the amount of revenue loss attributable to the exemption provided by Section 6357.7, based on estimates made by the board, department, and that rate shall be effective during the states next fiscal year.

(3)In order to maintain revenue neutrality for each year, beginning with the rate adjustment on or before March 1, 2012, the adjustment under paragraph (2) shall also take into account the extent to which the actual amount of revenues derived pursuant to this subdivision and, as applicable, Section 7361.1, the revenue loss attributable to the exemption provided by Section 6357.7 resulted in a net revenue gain or loss for the fiscal year ending prior to the rate adjustment date on or before March 1.

(4)The intent of paragraphs (2) and (3) is to ensure that the act adding this subdivision and Section 6357.7 does not produce a net revenue gain in state taxes.

(5)Commencing July 1, 2019, the adjustments in paragraphs (2) and (3) shall cease, and the rate imposed by this subdivision shall be the rate in paragraph (1).

(c)On and after November 1, 2017, in addition to the taxes imposed by subdivisions (a) and (b), a tax is hereby imposed upon each gallon of motor vehicle fuel, other than aviation gasoline, subject to the tax in Sections 7362, 7363, and 7364, in an amount equal to twelve cents ($0.12) per gallon.

(d)(1)On July 1, 2020, and every July 1 thereafter, the board department shall adjust the taxes imposed by subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), with the adjustment to apply to both to the base tax rates specified in those provisions and to any previous adjustment in rates made pursuant to this subdivision, by increasing the taxes by a percentage amount equal to the increase in the California Consumer Price Index, as calculated by the Department of Finance with the resulting taxes rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one cent ($0.01). The first adjustment pursuant to this subdivision shall be a percentage amount equal to the increase in the California Consumer Price Index from November 1, 2017, to November 1, 2019. Subsequent annual adjustments shall cover subsequent 12 month periods. The incremental change shall be added to the associated rate for that year.

(2)For rate adjustments scheduled on or after July 1, 2026, the Governor may suspend the adjustment in paragraph (1) upon making a determination that the adjustment would impose an undue burden on low-income and middle-class families. For any suspension pursuant to this paragraph, the following requirements shall be met:

(A)The Governor shall, by January 10 of that year, notify the Legislature of an intent to suspend the scheduled adjustment.

(B)The Department of Finance shall, by January 10 of that year, submit to the Legislature a proposal that would maintain the same level of funding for transportation purposes as would be generated if the scheduled adjustment is not suspended.

(C)The Governor shall make the determination to suspend the adjustment by proclamation no sooner than 30 days following the notification in subparagraph (A).

(e)Any increases to the taxes imposed under subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) that are enacted by legislation subsequent to July 1, 2017, shall be deemed to be changes to the base tax rates for purposes of the California Consumer Price Index calculation and adjustment performed pursuant to subdivision (d).

SEC. 2.

This act provides for a tax levy within the meaning of Article IV of the California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect.

Date	Status
Feb 2, 2026	From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Jan 31, 2026	Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
Mar 10, 2025	Referred to Com. on TRANS.
Feb 24, 2025	Read first time.
Feb 22, 2025	From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
Feb 21, 2025	Introduced. To print.

Authors shown for version:
Introduced (2/21/2025)