Senate Passes Limits on Gov. Emergency Orders

Senate Passes Suetterlein's Limit on Emergency Powers Bill
Unilateral Executive Emergency Orders would be Limited to 45 Days

RICHMOND - On their Crossover deadline, the Virginia Senate voted 29-11 to approve Senator David Suetterlein's Senate Bill 4 that would limit the duration of executive emergency orders for 45 days unless authorized by majority votes in both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates. 

Virginia has been in the minority of states that does not have legislative oversight over executive emergency orders. Without SB4, an executive emergency order issued when the General Assembly adjourns in March 2022 could stay in effect for fifteen months until June 30, 2023. 

"Limiting the duration of unilateral emergency executive orders with the force of law is critical to restoring checks and balances in the Commonwealth," said Suetterlein.

This is the third time Suetterlein has carried this legislation, but the first time it was sent to the floor. 

Eight of the 21 Senate Democrats joined all of the chamber's Republicans in supporting the bill's final passage. Democratic Senators Chap Petersen and Lynwood Lewis were among Suetterlein's eleven co-patrons. 

Following its bipartisan passage, Suetterlein's SB4 joins his nine other bipartisan bills passed by the Democratic-controlled Virginia Senate that are now under consideration by the Republican-controlled House of Delegates. Also among these proposals are bills to make Parole Board votes public, allow for car tax relief, increase supports for Virginians with developmental disabilities, and to end election night mirages by counting absentee votes by precinct.

Virginia Senator David Suetterlein was elected in November 2019 to a second term representing parts of the Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, and Southwest Virginia in the Virginia Senate. He lives in Roanoke County with his wife where their children attend public schools. He is a Realtor with the Roanoke Valley owned and operated MKB, REALTORS.