IBX News

Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Chocowinity) drafted legislation that would amend the state's Constitution to require public input for a prolonged state of emergency. 

Kidwell Facebook page, the amendment seeks to make sure that the voice of the people is represented when emergency declarations are made. If approved in the state Legislature a public referendum would appear on the November ballot. 

In his post, Kidwell said that the "governor should not solely be allowed to declare a long-standing state of emergency without input from the people." 

Currently, the governor has declared a State of Emergency for the entire state of North Carolina. While COVID-19 is a real and active threat, Representative Kidwell believes the governor should not solely be allowed to declare a long-lasting state of emergency without input from the people. 

Kidwell's proposed amendment would allow the governor to declare a statewide state of emergency only if he receives the approval of the majority of the seven members of the Council of States. The General Assembly would automatically be called into session within 15 days of a statewide declaration. They would vote to sustain or revoke the declaration. If no vote is held, the declaration would automatically expire eight days after the General Assembly is called into session.

In the current situation, the General Assembly was not allowed to take any action because they were adjourned at the time the state of emergency was declared.