This summer in Mississippi the gas prices have been taxed and increased by 3 cents per gallon. The normal tax on gas has always been 18 cents per gallon, which is one of the nation’s lowest gas tax prices. On July 3rd of 2025, lawmakers passed the House Bill 1 that is a part of the Build up Mississippi Act. This law increases gas prices by 3 cents per gallon annually. This money is supposed to go to funding for new roads and bridge improvements. “I honestly didn’t know about this tax and I’m not sure how to feel about it one way or another,” Sophomore St. Andrew’s English teacher Dr. Cullen Brown said. “Gas to me isn’t something I necessarily worry about given I only have to fill up my tank once or twice a month.”

 This gas tax plan is set up for a three year time period. Starting from July 1st, 2025, the tax price is 21 cents per gallon until June 30th of 2026. The next year it will increase to 24, then eventually reach up to 27 cents per gallon in 2027. “I have a loyalty with the local gas station I use so for me I was already spending less on gas than the average person,” St. Andrew’s Senior Arian Adams said. “With a high demand for gas, this is something that’s just going to continue to happen over the years.” 

 Beginning in 2029, Mississippi will adjust the gas tax to only be increased every two years for the National Highway Construction Cost Index, which is a move to continue to raise prices higher but over longer periods of time with all the money going to highway construction. The government didn’t see this tax as a huge burden to civilians because of House Bill 1. It also cut down everyday grocery sales tax prices by around 5% so this is their way of justifying it. Overall, hopefully this tax improves Mississippi roads and highways but it also could leave a harsh impact on lower class families who already were struggling to pay for gas without the tax increase. “All we can truly do is be aware about how much gas we are buying and continue to watch gas prices over the next few years,” Adams said. “It’s important to keep in mind where I am going and how often I will need to be purchasing gas in order for it not to be a problem.”