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Massachusetts Legislature strips Healey's gas tax suspension from budget

Massachusetts Legislature strips Healey's gas tax suspension from budget

Rule Changes Boston, MA local

Two-month, $120 million proposal rejected 121-30 as election-year fight over pump prices continues

October 21st, 2026: Legislature erases Healey's gas tax holiday proposal

Overview

Updated Oct 22

Massachusetts drivers will keep paying the state's 24-cent-per-gallon gas tax. The House voted 121-30 Wednesday to reject a Republican amendment that would have restored Gov. Maura Healey's two-month suspension, and the $2.35 billion supplemental budget moved ahead without it.

Healey called the outcome 'the wrong decision' and said she will keep pressing lawmakers. House leaders from her own party say a pause would divert $120 million from road and transit projects without guaranteeing drivers see the savings, and Speaker Ron Mariano asked why he would want 'that political fight' of restoring the tax two months later.

Why it matters

Drivers keep paying 24 cents a gallon, and the relief both candidates for governor promised is off the table two weeks before the election.

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Key Indicators

24¢/gal
State gas tax rate
The per-gallon tax Healey proposed suspending for two months.
$120M
Cost of proposed suspension
Healey said the two-month suspension would be covered by millionaires tax surplus.
$2.35B
Supplemental budget size
The spending bill passing the House without the gas tax provision.
121-30
House vote on gas tax amendment
The Republican amendment to suspend the tax for 60 days was rejected on Oct. 21, 2026.
60 days
Proposed suspension duration
The rejected amendment would have paused the 24-cent tax for two months.

Voices

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People Involved

Maura Healey
Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts
Running for reelection; says the House decision to drop her gas tax suspension was 'the wrong decision'
 Mike Minogue
Mike Minogue
Republican nominee for governor
Campaigning; proposed his own gas tax suspension plan
 Ron Mariano
Ron Mariano
Speaker of the Massachusetts House
Opposed the gas tax suspension; said he did not want the political fight of restoring the tax later
 Aaron Michlewitz
Aaron Michlewitz
Chair, House Ways and Means Committee
Opposed the gas tax suspension, calling it a 'gimmick' whose 'numbers just don't add up'

Organizations Involved

Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
State legislative chamber
Rejected a gas tax holiday amendment 121-30 and advanced the supplemental budget without Healey's proposal

The lower chamber of the Massachusetts legislature, controlled by Democrats.
MH
Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee
Legislative committee
Voted to send supplemental budget to full House without gas tax suspension

The committee that reviews and drafts budget bills in the Massachusetts House.
Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance
Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance
Advocacy group
Criticized lawmakers for stripping the gas tax suspension

A fiscal watchdog group that advocates for lower taxes and government transparency.
Massachusetts Republican Party
Massachusetts Republican Party
State political party
Accused Healey of 'stealing' Minogue's gas tax idea

The state Republican Party, which backed Minogue's gas tax proposal.

Timeline

September 2026 October 2026

5 events Latest: October 21st, 2026 · 3 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Legislature erases Healey's gas tax holiday proposal

    Latest Legislative

    The gas tax suspension is dead as the supplemental budget advances without it.

  2. House rejects gas tax holiday amendment 121-30

    Legislative

    The House voted 121-30 against a Republican amendment that would have suspended the 24-cent gas tax for 60 days, then continued work on the $2.35 billion supplemental budget.

  3. House committee strips gas tax suspension from budget

    Legislative

    Ways and Means sends $2.35 billion budget to full House without gas tax provision.

  4. Healey proposes two-month gas tax suspension

    Proposal

    Governor proposes suspending the 24-cent gas tax for two months, funded by millionaires tax surplus.

  5. Minogue floats gas tax suspension in TV ads

    Proposal

    Republican challenger Mike Minogue proposes suspending the gas tax when prices exceed $4 per gallon.

Scenarios

1

Gas tax suspension stays dead as budget passes without it

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Boston Herald, WBUR

The $2.35 billion supplemental budget passes the House and Senate without the gas tax provision. Healey does not revive the proposal in a standalone bill, and the two-month suspension never takes effect.

2

Healey revives gas tax suspension in standalone bill

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Healey's office

Healey said she'll 'continue to push' for the relief. She files a standalone bill or attaches the suspension to another vehicle, and it passes at least one chamber.

3

Minogue wins and implements his gas tax plan

Uncertain Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Minogue campaign, MassGOP

Minogue wins the November 2026 election. He takes office in January 2027 and pushes his gas tax suspension (triggered when prices exceed $4 per gallon) and elimination plan through the Legislature.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

June 2022

Biden's federal gas tax holiday proposal (2022)

President Biden proposed a three-month suspension of the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gas tax to ease pump prices. Congress, including Democrats, did not take it up, citing concerns about infrastructure funding and whether savings would reach consumers.

Then

The proposal died in Congress without a vote.

Now

It became a template for state-level gas tax holiday debates, with the same arguments about pass-through savings and infrastructure funding.

Why this matters now

Shows how gas tax holidays are often proposed by executives but rejected by legislatures, with the same 'savings may not pass through' argument used by Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano.

Summer 2008

McCain-Obama gas tax holiday debate (2008)

John McCain proposed a summer gas tax holiday during the 2008 presidential campaign. Barack Obama called it a gimmick, arguing it would do little for consumers while draining highway funding.

Then

The proposal was not adopted.

Now

It became a recurring election-year debate, with 'gimmick' becoming a standard criticism of gas tax holidays.

Why this matters now

Healey previously called the gas tax suspension a 'gimmick' before proposing it herself, echoing Obama's 2008 framing. Shows the political dynamics of gas tax holidays in election years.

Sources

(9)
+3
Boston.com Boston Herald WBUR New Bedford Guide Axios Boston State House News Service Boston 25 News WBUR State House News Service