Ige Extends Emergency Proclamation As Lawmakers Consider Limits On Executive Power
Gov. David Ige extended an emergency proclamation for Covid-19 on Wednesday that will last for another two months.
Hawaii’s latest requires cruise ship passengers to follow Hawaii’s Safe Travels program, which requires visitors to quarantine for 10 days unless they can show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test.
Th extension of the emergency proclamation will run through March 25, which means Hawaii will have spent more than two years under the governor’s emergency orders.
鈥淛ust a few weeks ago, Hawaii saw record high COVID-19 cases in our communities,鈥 Ige said in a press release. 鈥淲hile we believe we may have hit the peak, we must continue to remain vigilant.”
The governor is extending Hawaii’s emergency proclamation as state lawmakers are set to take up bills that seek to limit Ige’s emergency powers.
On Wednesday, the deadline for bills to be introduced, there were nine bills, most of which would curb what a governor could do after issuing an emergency proclamation.
and would, among other things, give the Legislature authority to strike down extensions to emergency orders. Similar measures would also limit emergency periods to 60 days and require that any extension be approved by lawmakers. A bill proposing all those things stalled late in the 2021 legislative session.
Meanwhile, would prohibit a governor or county mayors from suspending the public records law, as Ige did at the outset of the pandemic.
