Rep. Kevin Kiley will introduce federal legislation to lower California gas prices

Mathew Miranda, The Sacramento Bee on Feb 10, 2026

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Rep. Kevin Kiley plans to introduce federal legislation that will seek to lower gas prices in California.

The bill would withhold some federal highway funding for states with a gas tax exceeding 50 cents per gallon, according to a news release on Tuesday. Those states would have an 8% reduction in dollars from the National Highway Performance Program and the Surface Transportation Block Grant Program.

California has the highest gas prices in the country, according to recent data from AAA. About 70 cents of the price comes from state taxes, which also leads the nation, though there are other factors including environmental requirements.

“This bill sends a clear message: states that overtax their citizens to compensate for inefficient spending should not expect unlimited federal support,” said Kiley, a Republican, in the new release. “If Sacramento wants Washington’s help, it should stop punishing drivers.”

The bill text was not available as of Tuesday afternoon, said Kiley’s Communications Director Louie Pirsos.

Kiley’s proposed federal bill comes a few weeks after California state lawmakers sparked worry and confusion among the public over a bill requiring a gas mileage study. If passed, the legislation would require a report about the specifics of road user charges and mileage fees. Republican lawmakers, who opposed the measure, slammed it as a potential new tax and that narrative soon grew on social media.

Kiley’s bill continues his yearslong efforts to push back against the policies of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Before he was elected to the House in 2022, Kiley was a leader in an unsuccessful attempt to recall Newsom and authored a book titled, “Recall Newsom: The Case against America’s Most Corrupt Governor. Kiley has more recently opposed Newsom’s Prop 50 and the state’s bid to phase out gasoline-powered vehicles.

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