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Advocates and opponents clash over bill to narrow emergency powers; committee defers decision
Summary
The House Public Safety Committee heard hours of testimony on SB 2151, which would change how the governor declares and the Legislature can terminate emergencies. Earthjustice supported amendments to narrow definitions and lower the legislative threshold to end proclamations; many public commenters opposed the measure as too broad. The committee deferred action to March 25, 2026.
The House Public Safety Committee on March 20 heard extended testimony on Senate Bill 2151, a proposal to revise the state’s emergency-declaration framework and the Legislature’s authority to terminate proclamations. Drew Harrow of Earthjustice said the group supports the measure with amendments to tighten definitions and increase legislative oversight while preserving legitimate emergency response capacity.
“[T]he amendments that we have proposed would add new definitions for the terms emergency and disaster,” Drew Harrow said, adding the changes would “bring this bill in line with House Bill 2,581.” He told the committee the bill is not meant to “divest HyEMA or our county emergency management agencies of any of their abilities,” and urged…
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