Georgians have seen an uptick in gas prices following the joint U.S.-Israel operation against Iran, which started on Feb. 28, involving preemptive strikes to neutralize Iranian nuclear infrastructure.
“I am very concerned about long-term increases, because gas is something that most Americans cannot live without,” said Emma Jow, a sophomore English major.
Gas prices around the nation are collateral damage from the current war in Iran. The U.S. and Israel have partnered to reduce Iran’s nuclear and missile programs by deploying airstrikes in multiple key areas, such as Tehran and Natanz, and reportedly killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Because of the ongoing conflict, global oil supplies have been disrupted, explaining why U.S. gas prices increased by an average of $1 per gallon between February and March of 2026. GCSU students have since begun to face the reality of this change.
“Gas is something I have to rely on for commuting [to school and practice], so there is not much flexibility to cut back,” said Sierra Piland, a sophomore public health major. “If prices keep going up, it could force me to make changes in spending in other areas just to keep up.”
The projected added monthly expense of recent gasoline prices per person, according to The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, is between $30.20 and $36.83. This pricing surpasses the sharp increase from the Russia-Ukraine War in 2022.
To combat this uptick, Governor Kemp has signed House Bills (HB) 1000 and 1199 into law. These laws were designed by state legislators to mitigate the potentially harmful effects of the gas price increase on Georgian taxpayers.
According to the Office of the Governor’s official website, HB 1000 returns just above $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers, while HB 1199 suspends a tax on gas for 60 days. There is a 33.3-cent tax on each gallon of gas that will thus be suspended in the coming days.
“I’m happy with Kemp’s bill and plan to ease the burden on citizens,” said Sebastian Gala, a junior finance major. “I think it’s a good solution [and] even though temporary, I imagine gas prices will go down eventually, and we can go back to normal.”
According to CBS News, President Trump has ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to insure ships through the Persian Gulf and provide $20 billion worth of political risk insurance, pledging to minimize the costly effects of the war.
As of March 20, the DFC partnered with Chubb, the largest casualty and publicly traded property insurer, to execute President Trump’s commitment. The idea is to create a sense of financial security and encourage private shipping lines to operate in greater numbers. If successful, more oil would be shipped, the global supply chain would be essentially unblocked and gas prices could be lowered in the long-run.
“From what I know and have seen, I do not see a reason for the gas prices to continue to rise, especially once the outside national factors are resolved,” Gala said.
Though, according to The Wall Street Journal, Senate Democrats have expressed concerns on the matter. Most notably, the idea that political insurance aiding ships in the Strait of Hormuz could benefit China, a top oil importer receiving shipments from the Strait.
Hopeful reduction of effects in D.C. and locally is continuing to unfold as the war in Iran persists.
“I personally cannot sustain these prices forever,” Jow said.
GCSU students vulnerable to the gas price influx have a transit resource to reduce the negative implications on their daily lives. The school’s transit system has multiple shuttles running around campus, late-night, and to shopping centers, acting as a budget-friendly way for transportation.
For official updates on tax-relief, students can navigate to the official website of the Office of the Governor under the “Press Releases” section.