Governor Kelly Vetoes COVID Bill, Issues New Emergency Declaration
Governor Kelly during her press conference this afternoon announced that she will VETO House Bill 2054, which the Legislature passed last Thursday during the one-day Veto Session and Sine Die adjournment. The bill included several COVID-recovery provisions, most notably limiting the Governor's powers during a state emergency.
The Governor's veto allows the current emergency declaration to expire at midnight tonight. Thus, she also
issued a new emergency declaration that repeals her Ad Astra reopening plan. She has now given the authority to each county to issue their own emergency orders, using the plan as guidance only. Her office will be announcing all new state emergency orders later today and tomorrow, but none will restrict businesses from being open or place limits on mass gatherings. All safety precautions will now be a local responsibility.
She has ordered the Legislature to return on June 3 for a Special Session, asking them to extend the Emergency Management Act and her second emergency declaration, which now expires on June 10. It was stated that failing to do so will jeopardize any emergency federal assistance the state is receiving to continue battling the pandemic.
Stay tuned for what happens in Topeka after June 3, as well as emergency orders coming down from your local leaders.
