Mississippi House Bill HB1474

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Emergency executive order; limit state of emergency orders to 30 days.

Impact

If enacted, this measure would restrict the Governor's ability to unilaterally extend emergency declarations, necessitating additional legislative action to prolong such situations. Proponents of the bill argue that this change is essential for ensuring accountability and preventing potential overreach by executive authority during emergencies. The intention is to balance the need for swift emergency responses with the necessity of legislative checks on power, thereby increasing public trust in governance during crises.

Summary

House Bill 1474 seeks to amend Section 33-15-11 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, imposing a limitation on the duration of state of emergency proclamations issued by the Governor to no more than 30 days without specific legislative approval. The bill aims to enhance legislative oversight over the emergency management powers currently vested in the Governor, particularly in relation to prolonged states of emergency that can significantly impact civil liberties and state governance.

Contention

Opponents may argue that this bill could impede timely responses in critical situations by adding bureaucratic hurdles to extending emergency declarations. Emergency situations, such as natural disasters or public health crises, often require immediate and decisive action, and any delay in responding to these situations due to legislative processes might jeopardize public safety. This tension between swift executive action and accountability through legislative oversight represents a significant point of contention surrounding the bill.