FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday took two steps to combat two issues greatly impacting Kentucky families: high gas prices and a shortage of baby formula.

During Thursday's Team Kentucky briefing, Beshear announced that he'd submitted a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to grant a waiver on reformulated gas being sold in urban areas. If approved, Beshear said, the waiver would allow conventional, more affordable gas to be sold in Jefferson County, as well as parts of Bullitt and Oldham counties.

Beshear also issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency over the baby formula shortage, which will activate the state's price-gouging laws to protect families looking for much-needed formula.

"My administration is doing everything we can to try to help keep more money in the pockets of our hard-working Kentucky families,” Beshear said. “Today’s actions are just two more ways we can help provide our families some relief in these challenging times.”

The state of emergency helps ensure Kentucky families aren't charged more than they should be for baby formula, which is in high demand due to the shortage mainly attributed to a lack of supply that followed the shutdown of an Abbott production plant.

“The infant formula shortage has caused worry and frustration for Kentucky’s families as they have sought to provide nutrition to our most precious citizens,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department for Public Health. “We encourage families to reach out to all available resources in their community, including local health departments, pediatricians, food pantries, community action councils and other supporting agencies to meet the nutritional needs of their infants and to ensure they thrive."

Stack and Beshear also urged families to enroll in WIC or SNAP to help out during the shortage. Price gouging on baby formula can be reported to the Office of the Attorney General through this online form.