A council bill would require gas stations in the county to post the highest credit price of regular gas.
Montgomery County Councilmember Gabe Albornoz introduced the new bill Tuesday. State law requires the minimum price of gasoline per gallon be listed on signage, he explained during a council meeting.
“But that number is somewhat misleading,” Albornoz said, “because it does not include the charges related if you use a credit card.”
In a statement, he cited a 2019 study from AAA Mid Atlantic that found nearly 90% of Marylanders use a credit or debit card to buy gas at the pump.
“So when you reconcile your statements at the end of each month, you’ll notice a discrepancy between what is being advertised as the gas price and what you are in fact paying,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting.
Albornoz said at its heart, the legislation is a consumer protection bill. He said corresponding legislation is being discussed at the state level, and the council does have local authority to move forward.
Co-sponsors of his bill include Council President Evan Glass, Vice President Andrew Friedson, and Councilmembers Marilyn Balcombe, Will Jawando, Sidney Katz, Dawn Luedtke, Kristin Mink, Laurie-Anne Sayles and Kate Stewart.
A public hearing will be held Feb. 28 at 1:30 p.m. and a joint council committee worksession is tentatively set for March 13.
