Do we Need to Amend Emergency Powers Code?

We are ecstatic to see SIX BOLD legislators bring forward a bill to amend the Emergency Powers Code! Republican State Representatives Sandy Salmon , Jeff Shipley , Anne Osmundson For Iowa House , Jon Jacobsen for Iowa House , Eddie Andrews for Iowa and Mark Cisneros have introduced House File 2270 in an effort to reform emergency powers in Iowa.

Given the Department of Homeland Security has also requested changes via SF2192/HF2295 to this chapter of code giving immunity to agencies and employees of the state if damage occurs during the handling of disasters, we support these legislators in having this very important discussion and hope the Iowa House assigns it a subcommittee hearing soon!

Iowa’s Emergency Code was written well over a decade ago and it became apparent during the two year state of emergency that the code was rife with authoritarian power and oftentimes vague statutes. Thankfully Governor Reynolds did not act on all of those statutes and we know that with her leadership we can fix this section of code that was signed into law under former administrations.

According to the NCSL, last year Iowa was one of only three states who did not introduce a bill or resolution attempting to address legislative oversight over executive powers and authority during a state of emergency. We are happy to see that is no longer the case in 2022!

FINALLY: Legislation provides strong reform to Governor’s Emergency Powers as well as Department of Public Health-The Iowa Standard Article