Lead Sponsors: Senator Catherine Ingram and Senator Willis Blackshear
Status: Introduced (February 4, 2025)
Description: The bill allows county auditors to implement a motor fuel testing program to test motor fuel quality at retail dealers for octane level, sediment, and water. The bill also establishes compliance standards.
The bill prohibits the county auditor from charging for the inspection or from charging a registration fee to perform the testing. The auditor may, if the retail dealer does not meet the standards set by the bill, prohibit the dealer from selling fuel until it is in compliance. The auditor may not impose a civil penalty unless authorized to do so by rules set by the Director of Agriculture.
If the Department of Agriculture establishes a statewide motor fuel quality testing program, county auditors' authority to have their own program is revoked.
CCAO Position: CCAO's Legislative Platform calls for counties to have the authority to test fuel quality, but only if the county can charge fees to offset the costs of the testing program.