TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Apr 28, 2021

Legislation restricting the governor’s ability to issue a state of emergency for more than 60 days is meeting different fates in the Senate and House this year, Tennessee Lookout reports. Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, sent his bill, SB859, to summer study, meaning it is on hold for the year. In the House, HB869 sponsored by Rep. Jason Zachary, R-Knoxville, was slated to be heard today in the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee. State law currently gives the governor wide authority to issue executive orders and suspend laws and regulations at his discretion. The bills would limit that power to 60 days. If at the end of that time, the governor wanted to extend an order, the General Assembly would have to approve it. The bills also would give the legislature the authority to end a state of emergency or executive order based on a public health emergency.