On Tuesday, I attended a special Senate session to approve a resolution that would limit Michigan’s state of emergency to 23 days through April 30. State law requires the Legislature to approve an emergency declaration that lasts beyond the initial 28-day period.

The governor last week asked for a 70-day extension of Michigan’s emergency declaration, but I, along with many legislators considered that to be too long given the rapidly changing information surrounding COVID-19. In the days following her proposal, my office received several calls and emails from residents concerned about the impact that a more-than-two-month shutdown will have on their livelihoods.

I instead joined my colleagues in supporting Senate Concurrent Resolution 24, which limits the governor’s emergency and disaster declaration to a 23-day extension through April 30. The resolution does not require the governor’s signature to take effect.

I think this was a good starting point that addresses the issue for the remainder of the month, while allowing us to revisit the decision when new information becomes available. In the meantime, we need to continue limiting the spread of the virus and start looking at ways to safely get people back to their normal daily routines.

Yesterday, Gov. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-42, extending her prior “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order through the end of April. As with the prior order, this limits gatherings and travel and requires all workers who are not necessary to sustain or protect life to stay home. Individuals may still do things like go to the store for groceries, go to the pharmacy and enjoy certain outdoor activities.

Executive Order 2020-42 contains more stringent limitations on stores to reduce the amount of traffic and limit interactions with workers and among shoppers. Large stores must limit the number of people in the store to four customers per every 1,000 square feet of customer floor space, while smaller stores must stay at or below 25% of the fire code occupancy limit. All stores are now also required to institute measures to ensure customers waiting for entry remain at least six feet apart.

The order also prohibits all businesses from requiring workers to leave their homes, unless those workers are necessary to sustain or protect life or to conduct minimum basic operations. Businesses who remain open are required to adopt social distancing practices and other measures to protect both workers and customers.

All public and private gatherings among persons outside a single household remain temporarily prohibited. Though you may leave the house to get groceries or needed supplies, the new order encourages people to limit the number of family members running errands as much as possible.

People may still engage in outdoor activities like walking, hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, canoeing, or any other recreational activity, so long as they continue to follow suggested guidelines like remaining at least six feet from people who do not live in their household and other restrictions imposed by prior executive orders. Despite many courses adopting responsible social distancing practices, playing golf still remains prohibited at this time. Travel for vacations or for any other purpose is now prohibited. Read more here.

Michiganders have made tremendous sacrifices to battle the coronavirus. They have sacrificed many of their freedoms and, in many cases, their livelihoods. They have risen to the challenge and are washing their hands, practicing social distancing, wearing masks in public and other suggested protocols to keep both themselves and others safe.

Many businesses could reopen next week with reasonable precautions. This would be a boost to families who are struggling and our economy, while also allowing folks to begin the process of returning to normal life. Unfortunately, the governor’s latest order does not reflect trust in Michigan residents. Yesterday’s order does not include the commonsense revisions that both residents and our economy need at this time.

I, like many of my colleagues, would prefer to see a strategic application of her executive order, allowing people in regions with little to no growth in infection rates to return to work to support their families so long as proper safety protocols are in place.

I encourage each of you to contact her office to share your thoughts on the most recent executive order. Click here for information on how to contact the governor's office.

Other recent executive orders include:

EO-2020-37 - Temporary restrictions on entry into health care facilities, residential care facilities, congregate care facilities, and juvenile justice facilities — Rescission of Executive Order 2020-7. Read more here.

EO-2020-38 - Temporary extensions of certain FOIA deadlines to facilitate COVID-19 emergency response efforts. Read more here.

EO-2020-39 - Temporary relief from certain restrictions and requirements governing the provision of emergency medical services. Read more here.

EO-2020-40 - Temporary relief from certain credentialing requirements for motor carriers transporting essential supplies, equipment, and persons. Read more here.

EO-2020-41 - Encouraging the use of electronic signatures and remote notarization, witnessing, and visitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.

Additional information on the governor’s executive orders and other state news can be found here.