SCR8402 extends several of the COVID-19 State of Emergency orders issued by the Governor since February 29, 2020. It ensures that these emergency orders–which prohibit a number of activities and waive or suspend certain laws and regulations–remain in place until the COVID-19 State of Emergency is lifted or until rescinded by gubernatorial or legislative action.
The Senate passed SCR8402 on January 13, 2021, by a vote of 28 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the exercise of executive emergency powers ought to be strictly time-limited, not indefinite, and the abuse thereof checked against by periodic legislative oversight. Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution guarantees each state a republican form of government, which requires a limitation and separation of powers.