Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday extended her suspension of laws prohibiting the use of dyed diesel fuel on highways, according to a Friday news release from her office.
Farmers and loggers, usually restricted to using their stock of dyed diesel for off-road purposes, will continue to be able to use the fuel on highways through Dec. 31, according to the release.
Sanders, citing high diesel prices, first issued the order on Sept. 29 to last through October.
“The adverse circumstances that existed on that date continue to exist today,” according to the release.
Dyed diesel is exempt from a federal highway tax and subject to a lower state excise tax than clear diesel, but its use is normally restricted to off-road purposes.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to allow the tax-free purchase of red-dyed diesel.
Rafael is a crime and breaking news reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Before joining the Democrat-Gazette, he wrote breaking news and feature stories at Reuters in Mexico City, where he covered a range of topics across Central and South America. He has also covered housing, education, business and other topics at The Baltimore Banner. He is a graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY) and is from San Juan, Puerto Rico.