WA Senate Approves New Check On Governor's Emergency Powers

OLYMPIA, WA — The Washington state Senate approved legislation Tuesday night that would establish a new check on governors' emergency powers, including state of emergency declarations and "prohibitive emergency orders," when the legislature is out of session.

Sen. Emily Randall (D-Bremerton) sponsored Senate Bill 5909, which cleared the Senate on a 29-20 vote. Randall's bill would grant authority to the majority and minority leaders of both chambers to terminate states of emergency or emergency orders, like vaccine mandates and eviction moratoria, after 90 days, but only if the four leaders reached a unanimous agreement.

As The Seattle Times reports, only two Republicans joined their Democratic colleagues in voting for the bill, with others arguing the legislation did not go far enough in increasing legislative authority over the orders. Two attempted amendments failed.

One Republican-led effort at similar legislation, Senate Bill 5039, failed to advance and sought to apply an automatic 30-day expiration date to all emergency orders unless extended by a majority of the legislature or a four-corner agreement.

Randall's legislation still needs to clear the House, and should the bill make it to Inslee's desk, the governor's office told The Seattle Times it would review the language carefully before making a decision on signing the bill into law.