BOSTON — On Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, Governor Maura Healey announced that she will file legislation to suspend the state’s 24-cent-per-gallon tax on gasoline and diesel for two months to help lower gas prices, which her administration says were driven up by President Trump’s war in Iran, which has no end in sight.
“President Trump’s war in Iran has driven up oil and gas prices and created new disruptions across global energy markets,” Governor Healey’s office said in a statement. “As the conflict has disrupted major shipping routes and energy infrastructure in the Middle East, families and businesses across the country are paying more for gas, diesel and the goods they rely on every day.”
Healey’s office said Massachusetts’ average gas price today is $4.41 per gallon and for diesel it’s $6.40, compared with $2.90 for gas and $4.20 for diesel in February 2026.
The governor’s office said the proposal will be included in Governor Healey’s upcoming closeout supplemental budget and begin seven days after the bill is signed.
The Healey administration estimates the two-month suspension will provide about $120 million in economic relief. The proposal will replace the lost revenue with projected, unbudgeted Fiscal Year 2027 Fair Share surtax collections, which Healey’s office says will allow residents to see savings at the pump without reducing funding for roads, bridges, or public transportation.
Healey’s office said that nearly all gas tax revenue goes to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, which supports transportation operations and infrastructure.
The proposal still requires legislative approval.
