The Governor called the Senate back to the Capitol today for a second special session. In response, Senate Republicans presented a resolution intended to eliminate the Governor’s peacetime emergency powers initially enacted to prepare the state for the COVID-19 pandemic. If the House agrees, it would put an end to the state’s longest peacetime emergency in history. Walz first put the state under emergency powers on March 13, 2020.

“It is time for the Governor’s peacetime emergency powers to come to an end so Minnesotans can once again have fair and inclusive representation as we move forward,” said Senator Mike Goggin (R-Red Wing). “We have suppressed the peak and prepared our healthcare system and now it is time to restore the balance between the legislature and the executive branch.”

The vote to end the peacetime emergency was 36-31, with one Democrat joining Republicans in support of the resolution.