WA governor says he will limit his own emergency powers if lawmakers dont

In a significant move, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has committed to limiting his emergency powers if the Legislature fails to act on bipartisan legislation. Under his new policy, any state of emergency lasting more than 60 days while the Legislature is out of session will be terminated upon written request from three of the four leaders of the Senate and House. Additionally, if an emergency declaration persists beyond 120 days, Ferguson will call a special session to provide lawmakers the opportunity to terminate it. This decision follows criticisms of former Governor Jay Inslee's extensive use of emergency powers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Ferguson’s statement reflects his desire to protect Washingtonians during emergencies while ensuring proper checks on executive power.

Key Democratic officials have expressed concern over the lack of collaboration on proposed legislative changes, which has hindered progress on Senate Bill 5434. Republican Senator Keith Wagoner praised Ferguson's actions but stressed the importance of codifying these reforms into law to prevent future issues. The evolving political landscape in Washington highlights the critical need for a balanced approach to emergency governance.