(KNSI) – The Minnesota Senate voted to pass a bill Monday that seeks to limit the governor’s power to extend state of emergency declarations.
If SF 4 becomes law, the governor would need legislative approval in order to extend an emergency declaration beyond 30 days, and if the legislature is not in session, the governor must give three days’ notice to leaders in each chamber if they want to extend the emergency declaration. It would also prohibit the governor from ending an emergency order and issuing a new declaration for the same issue to work around the legislative approval process.
Local state Senator Andrew Mathews is a co-author of the bill.
“It is time to enact this law and change the process of emergency powers in Minnesota,” Mathews said.
The bill passed 38-29 on Monday, the same day Gov. Tim Walz extended the current peacetime emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic until April 14.
The Senate bill’s House companion is still in committee.
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