Bill > SJR18

This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution that significantly restricts the Governor's emergency declaration powers. Specifically, the resolution stipulates that the Governor can only declare an emergency when explicitly authorized by statute, must specify the exact counties involved and reasons for the declaration, and cannot create new powers or funding through such declarations. The emergency declaration would be limited to 30 days initially, with county governing bodies able to extend the declaration in 30-day increments. The Legislative Assembly could terminate an emergency declaration through a majority vote in both legislative chambers, and the Governor would be prohibited from declaring a new emergency on a related matter for at least one year after the original declaration expires or is terminated. The proposed constitutional amendment would be submitted to Oregon voters for approval or rejection at the next regular general election, allowing citizens to directly decide on these new limitations to gubernatorial emergency powers.

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SJR18