Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an emergency proclamation due to high diesel prices, relaxing certain rules in hopes of bringing cost relief to truckers and farmers.
On September 28, 2026, Abbott declared a statewide emergency related to the high cost of diesel fuel, which hit $5.90 per gallon in Texas last week.
As part of the emergency declaration, state restrictions and associated penalties on dyed diesel are suspended “so operators can use such fuel on Texas roads.”
The emergency declaration does not waive the underlying fuel tax, Abbott said.
The emergency declaration also suspends state oversize and overweight permitting requirements for vehicles loaded with fuel, agricultural, or timber products and allows those loads at a gross weight of up to 95,000 pounds, according to a news release from Abbott’s office.
“Texas agriculture and freight run on diesel,” said Abbott. “Record prices put both industries at risk and raise costs for every Texas family. Farmers and truckers can now use dyed diesel on Texas roads, and fuel, crop, and timber loads can move at a higher weight. These steps cut costs on the farm, on the road, and at the store.”
Abbott has also asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive requirements relating to the use and production of ultra-low sulfur diesel as well as requirements imposed by the Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) program in order to “provide relief to Texans during this period of uncertainty within the global oil market.”
Last week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey took similar action, directing law enforcement to halt dyed-diesel enforcement for a 120 day period to provide relief from high prices at the pump.
