Committee hears emotional testimony on HF 26 to curb governor emergency powers; bill sent to Veterans Division

Saint Paul — The House State Government Finance and Policy Committee heard emotional testimony and hours of debate Feb. 13 on House File 26, Rep. Roach’s proposal to limit the governor—s unilateral emergency powers, before Chair Nash referred the bill to the Veterans and Military Affairs Division by chair—s memo under House Rules 6.05.

The bill drew several speakers who said pandemic-era restrictions caused lasting harm. Mary Manders, a survivor who testified in support of HF 26, said she was hospitalized with COVID in January 2022 and spent 52 days in the hospital, "28 of which I was completely alone." She told the committee she was "tied down, heavily sedated with hard narcotics, denied food and hydration," and that her weight fell from 117 to 88 pounds. "None of this would have happened if my husband was allowed in the hospital," Manders said.

Jana Kangas, who identified herself as with COVID Justice Minnesota, said her father "was also killed by hospital protocol" and described limited communication with clinicians and withheld medications. Golden Valley resident Joe Shuth told the committee the experience was "absolute torture" for families who could not be at the bedside.

The testimony framed the bill for many lawmakers. Representative Roach said the measure is intended to "prevent unilateral control" by a single…