(The Center Square) – Virginia Republicans renewed their call for a 90-day suspension of gasoline and diesel taxes, asking Gov. Abigail Spanberger to bring lawmakers back for a special session.

Lawmakers outlined the request Tuesday at Owens Market Deli and Truck Plaza in Forest, saying the temporary break would reduce fuel costs for drivers, farmers and trucking companies.

Del. Scott Wyatt, R-Hanover, estimated the suspension would reduce tax collections by about $410 million. He said stronger-than-expected state revenues could cover the cost.

Virginia’s motor fuels tax is 32.6 cents per gallon for gasoline and 33.6 cents for diesel. Suspending those taxes would save a driver about $4.89 on 15 gallons of gasoline if the full reduction reached customers.

“This is about giving our voters, our constituents, Virginians, a temporary pause in the gas tax so that life becomes more affordable,” said House Republican Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott.

Regular gasoline averaged $4.20 per gallon in Virginia Wednesday, according to AAA. That was little changed from the $4.22 reported Sept. 28, but about $1.25 higher than a year ago.

Diesel averaged $6.24 per gallon, down about 12 cents since Sept. 28 but above the $3.60 average a year ago. Virginia’s diesel average reached a record $6.39 on Sept. 22.

Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, said lawmakers could replace transportation funding when they return for the regular legislative session in January.

“This is not going to impact the VDOT maintenance,” Walker said. “We can backfill this when we go back into session in January.”

U.S. Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., joined the lawmakers and backed the proposed suspension, saying it could help families, farmers and truckers.

Christian Snead, a Bedford County trucking company owner who spoke at the event, said higher diesel costs squeeze business margins and get passed along to customers. He estimated his 28-truck fleet pays about $4,000 a week in Virginia diesel excise taxes, or about $210,000 annually, based on each truck traveling 3,000 miles a week and getting 7 miles per gallon.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office said she is assessing options to address rising costs and working on longer-term affordability measures. The office attributed higher prices to President Donald Trump’s war in Iran but did not say whether she supports the proposed tax suspension or is considering calling a special session.

Republicans proposed a similar suspension in March, when Kilgore estimated the cost at about $125 million per month, or roughly $375 million over three months.

Virginia also charges separate fuel sales taxes and a storage tank fee.

Combined with the motor fuels tax, those state charges total 42.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 43.5 cents for diesel.

The suspension discussed Tuesday focused on the motor fuels tax. It would require legislative action and has not taken effect.