COVID-19 Disaster Declaration Terminated

Responding to the will of the voters, I was proud to vote with the majority of my colleagues this week to FULLY TERMINATE the governor’s COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration. The measure was also approved by the Senate Thursday and is effective immediately.

The termination brings to a close the governor’s ability to tell private businesses if they can stay open or how many people they can have walk through their doors. It also ends his ability to command people to stay at home.

The COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration has been in place since March 6, 2020, and has been renewed five times. At the May 18 primary election, a majority of voters supported amending the state Constitution to limit the duration of a governor’s emergency declaration without input of the General Assembly and to authorize the Legislature to terminate (or extend) a governor’s emergency declaration by majority vote and without the governor’s signature.

With the emergency declaration behind us, we are focused on reviewing the hundreds of regulations that have been waived or suspended during the pandemic. We passed legislation to keep those regulatory suspensions in place through no later than Sept. 30 so things like fully reimbursable telehealth appointments and cocktails to go from area restaurants will remain in effect while we determine what changes should be made permanent.

Rep. Bob Brooks