Iowa has placed strict limits on executive authority during emergencies by enacting HF 2694, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds on June 2. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) announced the reform on June 8, 2026, recognizing Iowa Sen. Ken Rozenboom and House Speaker Pro Tempore John Wills as policy champions for their leadership. The legislation strengthens legislative oversight of emergency powers and reinforces the separation of powers during declared states of disaster emergency.
The law establishes several concrete restrictions on what governors can do during emergencies. HF 2694 prohibits the governor from closing or restricting places of worship through a disaster emergency proclamation and prevents emergency measures from regulating conduct within private residences. The legislation bars emergency actions from altering election laws, policies, or regulations without prior approval from the General Assembly and prohibits the imposition of vaccination mandates. During public health disasters, state officials may recommend—but not require—that private businesses cease lawful operations. Any declared state of disaster emergency will automatically terminate after thirty days unless renewed, while the General Assembly retains the authority to rescind an emergency declaration at any time.
According to ALEC, the reforms "closely align with the principles embodied in ALEC's Emergency Power Limitation Act," which appears as a featured model policy in ALEC's Essential Policy Solutions for 2026. The organization states that by restoring a greater role for the legislative branch in emergency governance, "Iowa has reinforced the principle that extraordinary powers should remain limited and subject to meaningful democratic oversight." ALEC notes that the enactment "reflects a growing recognition among policymakers that emergency powers, while necessary in limited circumstances, must be carefully constrained to prevent executive overreach."
The report explains that declared states of emergency often represent moments when executive authority reaches its highest level—authority that's frequently unlocked through unilateral declarations by executive heads themselves. By establishing clear boundaries around that authority, Iowa has strengthened protections for religious liberty, private property rights, economic freedom, individual health choices, and the constitutional role of the legislature. The thirty-day sunset provision creates a built-in check that forces governors to either justify continued emergency status to the legislature or allow extraordinary powers to expire naturally. This prevents the indefinite extension of emergency declarations without democratic input.
ALEC frames the reform as part of continued momentum among states seeking to restore the proper balance of power between branches of government. The organization commends Gov. Reynolds for signing the legislation and helping ensure that emergency powers remain "tempered and regulated by the people's elected representatives." Iowa's approach offers other states a template for preserving constitutional checks and balances during crises while still allowing swift action when genuine emergencies demand it.