Senate Bill 1217 Summary

• Repeals existing Section 46-601 and establishes new authority allowing the Governor to proclaim a state of extreme emergency for conditions including enemy attack, natural disasters, epidemics, pandemics, cyber attacks, or violent insurrection.

• Grants the Governor authority over all executive agencies during declared extreme emergencies, limited to written rules and orders necessary to support the National Guard, protect life and property, ensure constitutional government continuity, or mitigate serious harm from emergency conditions.

• Requires gubernatorial rules and orders to be narrowly focused without unnecessary restrictions on persons' ability to work, provide for families, or contribute to the state economy.

• Automatically revokes gubernatorial emergency powers on the 90th day if a state of extreme emergency encompasses 12 or more counties, unless the legislature is in regular session or the Governor convenes an extraordinary legislative session within 21 days for a vote on power continuation.

• Prohibits the Governor from suspending constitutional rights including firearm possession, peaceable assembly, and free exercise of religion, and prevents altering Idaho Code provisions except temporarily suspending enforcement of specific provisions that prevent necessary emergency response.