<p>INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana House has voted to give the Legislature more authority to intervene during emergencies declared by the governor. </p>
<p>The Senate is expected to vote later Monday on sending the bill to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, has questioned whether the proposal is allowed under the state constitution and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-health-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-indiana-6aac495b8242565f4434b27273a5f070">said last week he would veto it.</a> The House voted 64-33 on Monday in favor of the bill.</p>
<p>Holcomb has faced criticism from some conservatives over coronavirus restrictions he’s imposed by executive order over the past year. Republican legislative leaders <a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-legislature-coronavirus-pandemic-indiana-state-legislature-d43f8de69e976e4270fff4e2d5c5bd20">praise the governor’s actions</a> during the pandemic but say the bill is meant to allow the input of lawmakers during extended emergency situations.</p>
<p>The bill would establish a new process for the General Assembly to call itself into an emergency session when it isn’t meeting during its annual legislative session. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-legislature-health-coronavirus-pandemic-indiana-41b94e54c75c7310297b5516734f291e">Some legal experts question</a> that process, however, since the state constitution gives the governor — not the Legislature — the authority for calling a special session. </p>
<p>Lawmakers could potentially vote to override Holcomb’s veto by a simple majority of both houses before the current legislative session ends in late April.</p>
<p>Holcomb is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-indiana-coronavirus-pandemic-17fb9f9404d50645a91504f11e0ec0dc">lifting the statewide mask mandate</a> and other COVID-19 restrictions as of Tuesday.</p>
