An Act To Restore Balanced Emergency Powers

LD 551 limits emergency powers in Maine to prevent overreach during crises. It requires that any emergency order by the Governor, executive branch officials, or local governments that restricts constitutional rights (like free speech, assembly, or firearm ownership) must be strictly limited to addressing a compelling public health or safety threat, and must not last longer than necessary. The bill mandates legislative approval for emergency extensions beyond 30 days (requiring a 2/3 vote in both chambers), prohibits reissuing similar emergency proclamations without approval, and gives courts authority to quickly review challenges to emergency orders for fairness and necessity. This directly affects how Maine’s Governor and local officials can issue emergency rules during declared emergencies.