HB 151

Abstract

Emergency laws; powers and duties of Governor;executive orders. Limits the Governor's powers as the Directorof Emergency Management by requiring that emergency rules, regulations,and executive orders be objectively necessary and required to control,restrict, allocate, or regulate the use, sale, production, and distributionof food, fuel, clothing and other commodities, materials, goods,services, and resources under any state or federal emergency servicesprograms, rather than necessary in the Governor's judgment. The billalso prohibits an emergency executive order from establishing anymoratoriums on the payment of rent to landlords in the Commonwealthunless pursuant to a confirmed order of quarantine or isolation. Finally, the bill limits the duration of any executive order issuedby the Governor to no more than 45 days from the date of issuanceand provides that if the General Assembly does not take any actionon the rule, regulation, or order within the 45 days during whichthe rule, regulation, or order is effective, the Governor shall thereafterbe prohibited from issuing the same or a similar rule, regulation,or order relating to the same emergency. Under current law, onceissued, such executive orders are effective until June 30 followingthe next regular session of the General Assembly.