Indiana Governor Braun Extends Gas Tax Suspension Into September Under New Energy Emergency Declaration
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun extended the state's suspension of its gasoline sales and excise taxes through September 5, 2026, by declaring a new energy emergency after an earlier emergency expired. Reports agree on the extension and the roughly 58.9-to-62-cent-per-gallon savings, though they differ on the precise cited causes and on political reaction, with some outlets noting Democratic criticism that the move serves as cover for war-related fuel cost increases while Republican legislative leaders voiced support.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced in early August 2026 that he was extending the state's suspension of the gasoline sales (use) tax and gasoline excise tax for another 30 days, through September 5, by declaring a new energy emergency. The extension followed the expiration of a prior emergency declaration, originally tied to the Iran conflict, that had allowed tax suspensions for roughly four months earlier in 2026. Combined, the two suspended taxes saved Indiana drivers approximately 58.9 to 62 cents per gallon, and multiple reports noted Indiana's average gas price of about $3.10 per gallon remained among the lowest in the nation during the holiday. Braun cited new disruptions to global energy markets as justification for the fresh emergency declaration, with several outlets specifying factors such as Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, Black Sea shipping disruptions, and wildfires affecting Alberta's oil sands region. To offset lost gas tax revenue and keep road construction and INDOT projects funded, the state plans to draw on its budget reserves, which multiple reports put at more than $5 billion. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita affirmed the governor's legal authority to issue the new order, and House Speaker Todd Huston voiced support for the extension while indicating the legislature would need to address long-term road funding in the next state budget. The new suspension is set to expire September 5, 2026, and Braun indicated he would reassess in 30 days whether a further extension is necessary, noting that any additional relief beyond his executive authority would require legislative action. Some reports describe this as potentially a final extension under current executive powers, while others frame it as open-ended pending reevaluation, leaving the ultimate duration of relief unresolved. Democratic reaction, described in at least one report as framing the move as political cover related to an ongoing war, was not corroborated across multiple sources and remains unconfirmed as a widely reported detail.
SOURCE COMPARISON
How the coverage differs
Indiana lawmakers talk gas tax suspension renewal
Indiana Governor Mike Braun extended the state's gas tax holiday for another 30 days, a move intended to save drivers approximately 62 cents per gallon through September 5. Braun suspended the tax by declaring an energy emergency, with road construction funding instead coming from the state's rainy day fund surplus.
Read original report ↗Braun announces new energy emergency, continues Indiana's gas tax suspension
Indiana Governor Mike Braun issued a new executive order suspending the state's gasoline taxes, totaling 58.9 cents a gallon, that were set to be reimposed. The new suspension continues through September 5, and Attorney General Todd Rokita endorsed the governor's authority to take the action.
Read original report ↗Indiana governor extends gas tax suspension until September
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun extended the state's sales tax suspension on gas to the 120-day maximum allowed under the energy emergency law, with the relief set to expire Aug. 6 unless the legislature acts. Braun signed off on a new emergency order under the energy law citing disruptions to global oil shipping lanes from the war in Ukraine and Canadian wildfires affecting the Alberta oil sands region. The new order also extends a pause on the state's 36-cents-per-gallon gas tax, meaning Hoosiers will continue receiving roughly 60 cents per gallon in relief until at least September.
Read original report ↗Gov. Braun extends pause on Indiana gasoline tax
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced a continuation of the state's gas tax suspension through Sept. 5, citing new global energy disruptions as the primary driver for rising fuel prices. Under the plan, the state will tap reserves projected to exceed $5 billion to keep INDOT projects and local infrastructure fully funded through fiscal year 2027.
Read original report ↗Governor Braun declares new energy emergency to suspend Indiana's gas taxes
Braun said he has spoken with leaders in the Indiana House and Senate to use Indiana's $5 billion reserve balance to cover lost revenues from a tax holiday lasting most of 2026. He cited Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, Black Sea shipping disruptions, and Alberta wildfires as grounds for the new emergency declaration, separate from the original Iran-conflict-triggered emergency.
Read original report ↗Gov. Braun declares new energy emergency, suspends gas tax for Indiana drivers again
Braun reinstituted his suspension of Indiana's Gasoline Usage Tax and Gasoline Excise Tax until Saturday, September 5, saying new conditions disrupting global energy distribution provide a new basis for the suspension. The emergency took effect Friday, August 7, aligning with expiration of the prior declared emergency, and Braun said he will reevaluate in 30 days whether a third pause is necessary.
Read original report ↗Braun extends gas tax holiday, citing new energy emergency
Governor Mike Braun told reporters Wednesday he would extend Indiana's gas tax holiday again by declaring a new energy emergency, allowing him to keep Hoosiers from paying full price at the pump. The previous energy emergency, created due to the Iran war, had allowed the governor to suspend taxes for four months before this new declaration.
Read original report ↗Braun extends Indiana gas tax holiday into September; Huston backs move, Democrats call it cover for Trump's war
Gov. Mike Braun declared a new energy emergency and extended Indiana's gasoline tax holiday another 30 days, keeping 58.9 cents a gallon off pump prices through early September, reopening debate over how the state will pay for roads. House Speaker Todd Huston endorsed the extension while signaling the Legislature will need to address the road funding hole in the next state budget.
Read original report ↗Governor Braun extends gas tax holiday for Indiana
Governor Mike Braun extended both of Indiana's gas tax holidays for another 30 days through August 7th, keeping the state's gas prices among the lowest in the nation at an average of $3.10 a gallon. Braun noted that further extensions beyond his executive authority would require legislative involvement.
Read original report ↗Braun to extend gas tax suspension through beginning of August
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun once again suspended the state's sales and excise taxes on gas through the beginning of August, continuing an approximate 60-cent-per-gallon discount for Indiana drivers. Indiana's average gas price of $3.10 per gallon remains among the lowest in the country as a result of the extended tax holiday, which Braun has framed as an affordability measure.
Read original report ↗Gov. Braun shares business lessons and inflation concerns for farmers
Indiana Governor Mike Braun discussed his gas tax suspension policy, noting that combining the use tax and excise tax suspensions provided more than 60 cents in savings per gallon for Hoosier drivers. Braun noted the executive orders enacting the tax relief are set to expire in August and could require legislative action to extend, tying the policy to broader affordability concerns amid volatile oil prices linked to Middle East tensions.
Read original report ↗Governor announces final extension of gas tax breaks; further action to require legislation
Gov. Mike Braun announced his final extension of gas tax breaks for Hoosier drivers, which had driven Indiana gas prices to among the lowest in the nation for weeks. Drivers saved about 61 cents per gallon through the combined suspension of the state sales tax and gas excise tax on gasoline.
Read original report ↗