2020 House Bill 5708

Reduce time limit on governor’s emergency powers

Introduced in the House

April 16, 2020

Introduced by Rep. Jason Sheppard (R-56)

To reduce from 28 days to 14 days the duration of state of disaster or emergency declaration by a governor, at which time the legislature may vote to extend to extend it for a specific number of days. This law (Public Act 390 of 1976) is one of two that give the governor the authority to assume extraordinary powers during an emergency, including the statewide “lockdowns” ordered under the 2020 coronavirus epidemic. Senate Bill 857 and House Bill 5713 would repeal the state’s other emergency powers of the governor law (Public Act 302 of 1945), which does not limit how long a governor may retain emergency powers. These bills are part of a Republican coronavirus response package comprised of House Bills 5704 to 5713 and Senate Bills 857 to 860, that is regarded as a "pushback" against actions taken by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that some regard as overreach.

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations