executive power

A Legislative committee is considering a bill requiring a Governor to call lawmakers into special session, if there is an extended emergency, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill would allow the Legislature to weigh-in on executive orders. Lawmakers would be allowed to meet remotely. Lawmakers would have to be convened after the first 30 days of a declared emergency.

The bill's main sponsor -- Sen. Janne Myrdal (R-Edinburgh) -- told the Senate Judiciary Committee the Legislative branch should be involved in the discussions over responding to an emergency.

A northeastern North Dakota lawmaker has introduced a bill to give the Legislature a seat at the table, when an emergency is declared, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sen. Janne Myrdal (R-Edinburg) intoduced it. The bill requires the Governor to call a special session, if a declared emergency extends beyond an initial 30-day period. The bill would allow that session to be held remotely, using technology.

"We felt there's holes in the Century Code," Myrdal said. "It doesn't allow legislators and local representativs to be a part of the decision-making process."