Idaho Legislature: Ask Legislators to VOTE YES on H0409 - Declaration of disaster emergency (posted 03/15/25)

• Bill: legislature.idaho.gov/s…

• Contact Legislators: emailidaho.com

(Check the linked page or use My Bill Tracker for the bill’s current status.)

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H0409 amends Idaho emergency code 46-1008, stating that:

• Disaster emergency can be declared only if the governor has simultaneously convened a special legislative session (with some exceptions for natural disasters like fires, floods, and earthquakes);

• Emergency declaration is limited to 60 days.

H0409 is essential to prevent overreach like that which occurred during COVID-19 when Idaho’s governor repeatedly declared a state of emergency, which stifled many constitutionally protected freedoms. [To the governor’s credit, he did not institute statewide mask or vaccine mandates, though some local jurisdictions and many private entities did.]

Though the people and many legislators wanted to end the state of emergency, they were powerless to do so. Idaho’s state of emergency lasted just over two years, from March 25, 2020 through April 15, 2022.

H0409 enables those closest to and directly answerable to the people – the legislators – to override a single person’s decision to declare public emergencies.

Note: Technically, the US is still under COVID PREP-Act Immunity stemming from COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) declared by HHS Director Becerra during the Biden administration. Such declarations often come with draconian and harmful emergency use authorizations (EUAs).

Related:

• Idaho governor: COVID-19 disaster declaration ends in April (03/08/22): tinyurl.com/4rrbzsr8

• Legislature seeks to limit governor's power, end emergency declaration (01/14/21): tinyurl.com/bdz4drkr

• HHS Extends PREP Act Immunity for COVID Vaccines Through 2029: