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Senate Oversight advances emergency powers bill package

Michigan Senate Chamber/Courtesy Photo
/
michigan.senate.gov

Legislation to restrict the state government’s emergency authority is a step closer to final passage in the legislature

Republican lawmakers have been working on a 30-bill emergency powers package for months.

Now the Senate Oversight committee is advancing some of those bills to the full chamber.

Republican state Representative Julie Alexander is a sponsor. She says every emergency powers law should have three components:

“What triggers an emergency, what is the scope of authority and thirdly, the duration.”

The package involves limiting the duration of certain orders, repealing some statute provisions, and requiring legislative notification when powers are used within a specified time frame.

Opponents say the measures would prevent public health officials from properly responding to future crises.

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