ST. PAUL – Rep. Scott Van Binsbergen, R-Montevideo, is among House Republicans who are urging Gov. Tim Walz to provide immediate diesel fuel tax relief for Minnesota truckers, farmers, loggers and other diesel-dependent businesses.
Van Binsbergen signed a letter asking Walz to follow the federal government’s lead by temporarily allowing red-dyed diesel to be used on Minnesota state highways without penalties, effectively providing relief from the state’s 32.6-cent-per-gallon diesel tax.
The letter points to North Dakota’s similar action and asks Walz to follow suit in Minnesota. It reads, in part: “Each gallon of diesel purchased in Minnesota is taxed at 32.6 cents by the state. Allowing ‘red-dyed’ fuel for on-highway use, even for this limited period of time would be helpful to truckers farmers, loggers and others who depend on diesel fuel to do their work.”
Van Binsbergen said this action would provide immediate relief at a time diesel fuel has spiked well over $6 per gallon in Minnesota.
“Minnesotans are paying more to fill their tanks, and that higher cost doesn’t end at the gas pump,” Van Binsbergen said. “When diesel gets more expensive, it costs more to haul food, deliver products and run farm equipment. Those costs eventually get passed on to consumers. Allowing red-dyed diesel to be used on Minnesota highways would give truckers, farmers and businesses some immediate relief, and I think we should do what we can to lower costs when families are already feeling the squeeze.
“I’m asking the governor to take this simple step now. And when we return in 2027, we should do away with the automatic gas tax increases that was put in place in 2023. When people are already struggling with the cost of living, automatic tax increases only make our state more unaffordable.”
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