"I've never seen anything like this.": The coronavirus has redefined what constitutes an emergency and changed how legislatures do business.

• Author: Lays, Julie
• Position: CORONAVIRUS

It took just a few weeks for a virulent and vicious virus to hijack lives and turn our country upside down. By May 7, just a little more than four months from the first identified case in the United States, COVID-19, as the World Health Organization named the new strain of coronavirus, had infected more than 1.2 million people in all 50 states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It had killed 73,500 of them.

* Double duty for legislators with health care day jobs 22 * Legislators combat misinformation with facts 24 * Elections may never be the same 26 * The virus' impact on all policy areas is remarkable 28 When the virus showed early signs of waning following social distancing and shutdown orders across the country, some states began easing restrictions and reopening some businesses. Many health officials feared this could result in a resurgence of the virus. But to the protestors at various state capitols, it was high time to get the country back to work and start triaging the economic bloodletting, virus or no virus.

Legislatures Responded

COVID-19 moved quickly through the states, and legislatures sprung to action just as swiftly. It didn't take long for lawmakers to realize the disease was going to be more devastating than first believed. On Jan. 20, when the first case of the virus in the U.S. was identified in Washington state, most legislatures were in regular sessions, debating opioid addiction, tax cuts, school bus safety, e-scooters and a slew of other pressing issues--not the least being state budgets.

Just a few weeks later, many were passing emergency measures, appealing for assistance from the federal government, rushing through budget bills, cutting sessions short, closing capitols, moving primary election dates, meeting virtually and voting remotely.

Some lawmakers caught the disease, making it dangerous to continue meeting in the close quarters of capitols.

"Legislatures have continued to do their work despite unprecedented challenges," said Natalie Wood, director of NCSL's Center for Legislative Strengthening. "As early as mid-March, legislatures cut things short, suspended or postponed sessions to buy some time, and worked really quickly on emergency legislation and budgets. As usual, it has worked differently for everyone, and it's not been without drama."

About half of state legislatures suspended legislative sessions. Before adjourning, most had put business as usual on hold to focus on mitigating the effects of the virus, deflating the hopes some members had for their sessions.

At least 38 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico had introduced bills supporting state action related to COVID-19, as of May 7. Several resolutions adjourned legislative sessions and adopted temporary rules to allow governing bodies to meet or vote electronically. Many bills appropriated funds focused on health topics such as insurance coverage, medical costs or telehealth services. Others involved paid leave, unemployment benefits, guidance for schools or workforce protections for those in quarantine or isolation. Still others addressed price gouging and eligibility for public services, temporarily prohibited evictions, ensured utility services or extended certain legal deadlines.

Minnesota, like many states, had a substantial budget surplus forecast as recently as February, and Senator...