Senator Koran applauds legislation requiring legislative oversight for future peacetime emergencies

On Tuesday, the Senate’s State Government Finance & Policy Committee heard legislation that would reassert a fair balance of governing power between the legislative branch and the executive branch during future states of emergency. The bill would require the Governor to obtain legislative approval to extend any emergency declaration beyond 30 days.

This differs from current law, which allows the Governor to extend a peacetime emergency indefinitely for 30 days at a time and only grants the legislature the option to cancel emergency powers with a majority vote of both the House and Senate.

“Minnesota prides itself on its nation-leading voter turnout, which in itself is an endorsement of our democratic process,” said Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch). “Yet when it comes to the recent operation of our state government, it is now clear that Governor Walz’s abuse of emergency powers undermines those same values. “One person was not meant to be the sole decision-maker for our state. While we afford flexibility to the Governor for emergencies on a temporary basis, that power should only remain until the legislature and executive can work together, which this legislation clarifies.”

Senate Republicans introduced the same legislation last session where it passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 36-31.


Other provisions included in the legislation:

  • The bill requires the Governor to give three days’ notice to the majority and minority leaders of each body if they intend to extend a peacetime emergency when the legislature is not in session.
  • The bill prohibits the Governor from canceling an emergency order and issuing a new declaration for the same emergency in order to avoid approval by the legislature.
  • The bill clarifies that if the Governor declares two peacetime emergencies concurrently, the same legislative approval of any extension past 30 days is required for the second emergency.

Governor Walz has offered to end his emergency powers, but only if legislators agree first to pass a list of his demands.


“The emergency powers were never meant to be abused as a bargaining tool like Walz is trying to do now,” continued Sen. Koran. “The constitution protects the legislature and Minnesotan’s elected voice in government. We will not allow that to be undermined.”