Press Release: 11/6/2026

Massachusetts Senate Now Votes Down Gas Tax Relief

 

November 5, 2026

Lawmakers once again block the temporary suspension of the 24 cent gas tax.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Senior Media Manager Mike Donohue, 202-525-9835 

BOSTON, MA (Nov. 5, 2026) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization with thousands of members across the Commonwealth, is disappointed that both the House and Senate have now rejected opportunities to provide tax relief by suspending the state’s 24 cent gas tax.

 

“Whether a landscaper tending to your lawn, a truck carrying products to stock store shelves, or a delivery driver bringing dinner to your front door, small businesses require fuel to operate,” said Christopher Carlozzi, Massachusetts state director for NFIB. “Despite all the rhetoric about making the Commonwealth more affordable, lawmakers once again put the brakes on attempts to temporarily suspend the state gas tax that would offer commuters, small businesses, and motorists relief at the gas pumps. While some lawmakers may see a ‘gimmick,’ residents of the Commonwealth see savings they can spend elsewhere as they continue to grapple with the rising costs of living and running a small business in Massachusetts.”

 

Carlozzi noted that in her original supplemental budget, Governor Maura Healey called for a two-month suspension of the state’s 24 cent gas tax. The House later stripped this provision from their version of the end of year spending package. Subsequently, an amendment reinstating a similar gas tax moratorium was presented but defeated. Now, the Senate version of this same bill offered similar gas tax suspension amendments that were voted down this evening.

 

As Governor Healey’s spokesperson previously commented to the media, “There is nothing gimmicky about a proposal to give gas tax relief to people.”

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For over 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses, and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.