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Checked against the record · Washington 3rd District 2026

Did John Braun sponsor a bill to suspend Washington's gas tax?

Matches stated record claim. He cosponsored 2022 and 2023 bills to stop the state fuel tax through the end of each year, but neither got a hearing or a vote.

John Braun

Suspending the state gas tax

Matches stated record claim

What they say

In the October 7 KOIN 6 debate, asked about pausing the federal gas tax, Braun said he would vote for it and that he has sponsored a bill to get rid of the state gas tax for a time when prices were high.

What the record shows ·

He was one of nine sponsors of Senate Bill 5897 in 2022 and one of seventeen on Senate Bill 5756 in 2023. Each would have stopped the state fuel tax through the end of that year, citing high gas prices. Senators Sefzik and Muzzall were the prime sponsors. Neither went past its first referral to the Senate Transportation Committee.

Limit: He was a cosponsor, not the prime sponsor; the site counts both. Neither bill had a hearing or a vote.

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  1. KOIN 6 WA-03 debate, Braun on his state gas tax bill, 6:03https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gY7ixWLOS8U&t=363s

    KOIN 6 · Published Oct 7, 2026 · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    6:03-6:12, answering whether he would pause the federal gas tax. Paraphrased, not quoted: the only transcript is the video's English captions, with no second transcript to check the wording against.

    candidate statement

    For: Did John Braun sponsor a bill to suspend Washington's gas tax?

  2. SB 5897, 2021-22, temporary suspension of the state fuel tax: bill summary and historyhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5897&Year=2021

    Washington State Legislature · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Nine sponsors, Sefzik first; Braun is one of them. History: first reading and referral to Transportation on January 18, 2022, nothing after.

    official legislative record

    For: Did John Braun sponsor a bill to suspend Washington's gas tax?

  3. SB 5897, 2022 bill texthttps://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2021-22/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5897.htm

    Washington State Legislature · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    No state fuel tax from the effective date through December 31, 2022, citing a 42 percent rise in gas prices since early 2021.

    official legislative record

    For: Did John Braun sponsor a bill to suspend Washington's gas tax?

  4. SB 5756, 2023-24, temporary suspension of the state fuel tax: bill summary and historyhttps://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5756&Year=2023

    Washington State Legislature · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    Seventeen sponsors, Muzzall first; Braun is one of them. History: referral to Transportation on February 23, 2023, and reintroduced in place in 2024.

    official legislative record

    For: Did John Braun sponsor a bill to suspend Washington's gas tax?

  5. SB 5756, 2023 bill texthttps://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2023-24/Htm/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5756.htm

    Washington State Legislature · Reviewed Oct 10, 2026

    No state fuel tax from the effective date through December 31, 2023, citing high gas prices.

    official legislative record

    For: Did John Braun sponsor a bill to suspend Washington's gas tax?