California’s gas tax is rising again
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — This state’s nation-leading gas prices are set to climb even higher Monday, when the state gas tax increases another 5.6 cents a gallon.
It’s the latest increase from a 2017 law designed to raise about $5 billion a year for road and mass transit programs.
A 12-cent-per-gallon boost came that November, and voters last year rejected a Republican-led effort to repeal the law. But Southern California voters did recall one Democratic lawmaker who helped pass the measure.
California motorists were paying an average $3.75 per gallon as of late June, far above the national average of $2.71 calculated by AAA.
The gas tax will increase to 47.3 cents a gallon July 1, according to the state Board of Equalization, and continue to increase indefinitely starting next year to keep up with the California Consumer Price Index.
The money is split between state and local governments, with much of going to fix potholes and rebuild crumbling roads and bridges. Some also is going to public transportation, biking and walking trails, and other projects.
Republicans pointed out again that the tax is increasing even as Gov. Gavin Newsom and fellow Democrats complained about high gas prices.
Newsom in April blamed possible “inappropriate industry practices” rather than higher taxes and stricter environmental rules, and California Energy Commission investigators subsequently pointed the finger at “possible market manipulation” by retailers.
The impending 5.6cents-per-gallon boost “will make California less affordable and take another $850 million out of our families’ pocketbooks,” Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove of Bakersfield said. Assembly Republicans floated an amendment to delay the increase, but majority Democrats blocked the attempt two weeks before the increase takes effect.
Here are several other laws taking effect at midyear:
• California becomes the first state to require physicians, surgeons, osteopaths, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists and acupuncturists to notify patients if they’re put on probation for serious misconduct. The law requires the notices for sexual misconduct with a patient; drug abuse; a criminal conviction involving harm to patients; and inappropriate prescribing resulting in patient harm and five or more years of probation.
• Law enforcement agencies will have 45 days to make public body camera footage recorded during an incident causing death or serious injury.
• California will tighten its already strict firearms laws by requiring background checks for anyone buying ammunition, and barring ammo sales except through licensed dealers.
• California will complete its statewide ban on all lead ammunition for hunting. The Center for Biological Diversity says the ban will reduce the risk that toxic fragments from lead bullets or shot will poison critically endangered California condors along with other raptors and scavengers.
• It will be illegal for anyone to use a social media bot with a fake identity with the intent to spur a purchase or influence a vote. The law requires the bots to be clearly identified in response to concerns that the automated bots can spread inflammatory or false information and were used to post messages about presidential candidates in 2016.
• Hospitals must have a written homeless patient discharge planning policy and log which homeless patients are discharged and the destinations where they are released. The law requires the plans to include coordinating services and referrals for homeless patients with the county behavioral health agency, health care and social service agencies in the region, health care providers, and nonprofit social service providers. It’s aimed at stopping the practice of “patient dumping” of indigent patients.
• Homeless and lower-income military veterans can have the word “veteran” printed on their driver licenses for free. The law waives what had been a $5 processing fee to allow that designation.