FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – Gov. Andy Beshear has issued an executive order that extends provisions of the state of emergency he declared earlier this month to give Kentucky drivers a little relief from the higher fuel prices caused by the Iran conflict.
The actions that Beshear has taken include:
--Issuing an emergency regulation to freeze the gas tax and to prevent a future price hike. The current gas tax is 26.4 cents per gallon and was expected to rise to 27 cents on July 1.
--Signing an executive order declaring a state of emergency related to gas prices, which would reduce the gas tax by 10 cents per gallon. It was signed off on by Attorney General Russell Coleman, since it freezes several state laws that are on the books.
--Activating the state’s price-gouging law and sending letters urging leadership in Congress and leaders in Kentucky’s congressional delegation to suspend the federal gas tax until the end of the year. If that’s approved, prices could drop another 18 cents per gallon through the end of 2026.
--Signing an executive order to freeze the 2026 motor vehicle assessment rate ahead of an expected increase on Jan. 1, 2027.
“I took these actions after successfully asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to remove the reformulated gasoline requirements for Jefferson County, a portion of Oldham County and a portion of Bullitt County, to relieve Kentuckians in those counties from the additional 10 to 35 cents per gallon at the pump,” Beshear said. “The federal government's reformulated gas requirements, in place for more than 30 years, will end on May 27, 2026, and will save drivers in those counties about $137 million a year.”
His actions will remain in effect until the gas price emergency eases.
In neighboring Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun has taken similar actions to aid residents of his state.
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