California May Offer Residents Up To $800 In Debit Cards To Pay For Gas

California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing that residents get free public transit rides and gas rebates to help bring relief as the state's gas prices reach record highs.

Gas prices across the nation have slowly started to fall after reaching record levels, but California has not seen the same trend. According to AAA, the average gas price in California is a whopping $5.900 while the national average is $4.243 as of Friday, March 25.

According to The Guardian, Newsom has proposed giving all California drivers $400 debit cards for up to two vehicles, for a total of $800. Anyone with a car registered in California would receive the relief regardless of income, immigration status, or whether their vehicles use gasoline.

For those who rely on public transportation, Newsom would give $750 million to transit and rail agencies to cover their bus or train fare. The funding would cover the costs for free rides for 3 million people a day for three months, according to the governor. The plan also includes $1.1 billion to pause inflationary increases for diesel and fuel taxes planned for this summer, as well as $500 million for projects that promote biking and walking as alternatives to driving.