A resolution passed the Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government that would put an end to the COVID-19 state of emergency in Kentucky on March 7, 2022.
“The original emergency was declared by our governor on March 6, 2020,” said Sen. Donald Douglas (R-Nicholasville), who introduced the resolution. “…there have been many, many changes that have gone on since that time, and I’m not going into all of those, but they have been getting positive and positive direction.”
Douglas cited several reasons, such as misrepresented death numbers that terrified the population of Kentucky. But he also noted that it isn’t politically motivated. However, he filed the measure the day after Gov. Andy Beshear beat the legislature to pass a vehicle sales tax through an executive order and announced his support for a sales tax decrease.
“The economic and fiscal harm it did to our country is immeasurable,” Douglas said. “…Mr. Chairman and committee members, I want you to know this is not a political resolution. This is not political. This is about the people of the Commonwealth.”
The General Assembly extended the state of emergency last month under Senate Bill 25.
“The General Assembly hereby approves, extends, and in some cases modifies as stated, the following executive orders and declares that the same shall be in effect until and expire on April 14, 2022,” Senate Bill 25 reads.
But, Douglas noted that the General Assembly would be adjourned for the session by that date. If the Governor chose to use executive orders under the emergency, the legislature wouldn’t be able to do anything about it, he said. However, the GA session ends April 14, so it wouldn’t extend beyond the current session unless the legislature extended the emergency.
“When we leave our session in 2022, we can only come back if the governor calls us back,” Douglas said. “Lawmakers don’t want to be shut out again as they were before.”
The governor’s office noted that during a state of emergency, the state can receive federal funds, such as those under the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act, which has led to a financial boon for the state.
“While Kentuckians should be excited that pandemic numbers are moving in the right direction, currently we still have more than 300 Kentucky National Guard members assisting overwhelmed hospitals, and last month we had 700 COVID-related deaths reported – yet despite these facts, the Senate today filed a joint resolution undoing their own extension of the state of emergency,” said Crystal Staley, the director of communications for Governor Beshear last week. “The state of emergency helps Kentucky receive federal dollars to fight the pandemic and provide relief. Kentucky is open for business – there are no state restrictions on our employers, and our schools have been and are open. Gov. Beshear is focused on beating the pandemic and not playing politics. He hopes others will follow that example.”
Douglas said he isn’t worried that this would put an end to federal dollars coming into the Commonwealth from the state of emergency.
“We’ve consulted the legal people,” Douglas said. “They don’t feel like this would have any effect whatsoever on Kentucky being able to obtain federal funding.”