Bill would require state govt. plan to conduct business during declared emergencies

In the event of an emergency, the Legislature needs to keep operating – even if members can’t conduct business in St. Paul.

Sponsored by Rep. Matt Grossell (R-Clearbrook), HF2809 would require the three branches of state government – legislative, executive and judicial – to develop their own emergency operations and continuity plans to ensure the government can still operate during an emergency declared by the governor.

Rep. Matt Grossell

The House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, Tuesday and sent it to the House State Government Finance Committee. It has no Senate companion. 

Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia) said there’s a “dire need” for this bill, noting if the Legislature needed to provide funding or emergency action and the Capitol Complex was unavailable, members would have nowhere to go.

Grossell believes only the executive branch currently has such a plan in place. He added that the bill would essentially update current law for more modern situations to make sure all three branches of the government can temporarily relocate to continue their work in a declared emergency.

This bill would also allow local governments to declare emergencies and relocate temporarily to conduct business when needed.