Rep. Peter Abbarno urges immediate action on emergency powers reform

20th District representative says ‘the pandemic exposed to many of us the lack of any meaningful limitations on the governor’s vast emergency powers’

With policy committee cutoff approaching on Feb. 17, Rep. Peter Abbarno (Republican, 20th District) is urging the chair of the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee to hold a public hearing on emergency powers reform legislation – House Bill 1535. The bill, sponsored by Abbarno and  Rep. Chris Corry,is identical to a bipartisan measure introduced last year – House Bill 1772.

Abbarno released the following statement:

“The pandemic exposed to many of us the lack of any meaningful limitations on the governor’s vast emergency powers. Since then, thousands of our constituents have asked the Legislature, as the lawmaking branch, to enact real checks and balances.

“Washington is a diverse state, full of people from different backgrounds wit