President Trump moves to suspend federal gas tax. How could that affect us here in Nevada?

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]The statewide average for a regular gallon of gas on this Tuesday is 524.

[00:00:06]The average price in Las Vegas is at 526. So, a lot of us are looking for some relief at the pump. But even if that federal gas tax is suspended, there need to be an entirely different process that happened here in Nevada. So, in order for a gas tax holiday to be granted, Governor Joe Lombardo would likely have to call a special session of the Nevada legislature to approve the suspension of that tax. Now, right now in the Silver State, the statewide gasoline excise tax is about 23 cents a gallon with fuel indexing. The tax here in Clark County is at 78 cents a gallon.

[00:00:39]If the governor approved that suspension of taxes, the highway fund, which is a special revenue fund for construction, maintenance, and the repair of public highways in Nevada, would be short of money, and budgeted projects, would have to either be delayed or cancelled, or they'd have to find funding somewhere else in the state's budget. We spoke with locals who say they're feeling the pain at the pump and are hoping to see some changes and soon.

[00:01:01]>> I'm retired so I don't use the car as much as other people do.

[00:01:04]>> Yeah.

[00:01:04]>> But uh it's taking a bite out of me. I'm on social security. Would like to see something come down. Prices, gas, whichever one, it doesn't matter, but it doesn't seem to want to be happening.

[00:01:17]>> We reached out to Governor Lombardo's office about a possible suspension of the gas tax. They sent us a statement that reads in part, quote, "Without seeing draft federal legislation, the governor's office is unable to anticipate how such proposal will implicate Nevada law or affect envy consumers. We'll continue to monitor developments and contemplate how the state would implement such policy should it be passed by Congress and signed by the president." Of course, we'll keep you updated with the latest information as we know it, both on air and online at ktnv.com. Here in Spring Valley, I'm Misa Bohan.