Urge members of the House Public Service Subcommittee to SUPPORT HB 132 to enact legislative oversight during an emergency.

HB 132 introduces legislative oversight into the emergency powers of the governor, ensuring that executive authority during a declared emergency is not unchecked. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessee’s General Assembly has yet to place clear limits on the governor’s emergency powers. This bill is a first step toward restoring balance between the executive and legislative branches in times of crisis.

Under HB 132, no executive order or emergency proclamation issued by the governor can violate the constitutional rights of Tennesseans as outlined in Article I of the Tennessee Constitution or the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, the bill limits the duration of a state of emergency to 30 days unless renewed by the General Assembly. If the legislature is not in session, a newly created legislative council—consisting of the leaders from both chambers—would have the authority to extend an emergency declaration for 30-day increments, preventing indefinite executive rule without legislative input.

This bill is crucial to ensuring that future emergencies do not lead to executive overreach, as seen in many states during the pandemic. Tennesseans deserve a government with checks and balances, especially when emergency orders impact individual rights, businesses, and daily life. HB 132 reaffirms the legislature’s role in governing, preventing prolonged unilateral decision-making and ensuring that the people’s representatives have a say in statewide emergencies.