Bill to Curb Governor’s Emergency Powers Set for Hearing

LINK** (here is the link to sign up and provide remote testimony).

(Olympia, WA) -- A bill that would, if passed, curb the emergency powers of Washington's Governor is set for a public hearing this Friday. Senate Bill 5909 is sponsored by Senate Democratic Majority Whip Emily Randall of Bremerton. The hearing, which will be virtual, is scheduled for 10:30am. (here is the link to sign up and provide remote testimony).

According to a press release, SB 5909 would add legislative oversight to declarations of states of emergency and prohibitive emergency orders during Legislative interim, adding to the oversight already in place regarding the governor’s power to waive or suspend statutes during a declared state of emergency.

Randall's press release added that SB 5909 would empower the four members of the leadership of the Washington state House of Representatives and Senate – the majority and minority leader in the Senate and the Speaker and minority leader in the House – to terminate a state of emergency in writing if the Legislature is not in session and 90 days have passed since the state of emergency was declared by the govern