FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear has extended his emergency executive order reducing Kentucky's motor fuels tax by 10 cents per gallon for 33 cities and counties where local officials requested continued relief, according to an announcement from the Governor's Office.

The order has been extended through June 30 for communities including Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, Owensboro, Covington, Ashland, Paintsville and several others that requested the extension. However, Kentuckians in areas where local leaders chose not to request an extension can expect to see gas prices rise by 10 cents per gallon starting Thursday, June 11.

Beshear acknowledged that some local officials' decisions to not request an extension may stem from pressure from state legislators in recent committee hearings. The Governor said every dollar counts and that the state can make up any potential financial hit from the tax reduction.

Beshear also activated the state's price-gouging statute to enforce the reduction and ensure providers didn't keep the 10 cents. Additionally, the Governor sent two letters urging leadership in Congress and Kentucky's congressional delegation to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year.

The Governor signed an executive order to freeze the 2026 motor vehicle assessment rate ahead of an expected increase on Jan. 1, 2027. These actions came just weeks ahead of a May 27, 2026, price decrease in Jefferson County and parts of Bullitt and Oldham counties after the Governor's request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Louisville area to be removed from the federal Reformulated Gasoline Program received approval.

The initial executive order was set to expire on June 10, and Kentucky law required county judge/executives and city mayors to make requests for extensions. The gas tax reduction was implemented in response to rising fuel costs driven by the war in Iran.