Emergency Executive Order 20-98
Rescinding Emergency Executive Order 20-22
I, Tim Walz, Governor of the State of Minnesota, by the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and applicable statutes, issue the following Executive Order:
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present an unprecedented and rapidly evolving challenge
to our State. Since I first declared a peacetime emergency in response to this pandemic, my
administration has taken proactive measures using the authority granted by the Legislature to the
Governor under the Minnesota Emergency Management Act, Minnesota Statutes 2020,
Chapter 12. These actions have slowed the spread of the virus and have saved lives. Of course, it
is important for us to assess the continued need for existing executive orders.
On March 27, 2020, I issued Executive Order 20-22, which authorized the State Auditor to
temporarily suspend reporting requirements during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency. The
State Auditor is charged with overseeing the finances of local government units. This oversight
occurs through a variety of local government reporting requirements and deadlines mandated in
part by Minnesota statutes. In some instances, failure to meet these statutory requirements and
deadlines can result in withholding of state aid or other fiscal consequences. It was critical that
we supported local governments and gave them flexibility to adjust normal operations in order to
allow government staff to focus on urgent demands and needs in their community. Now,
although the pandemic continues to strain local government resources, through diligence and
dialogue with the State Auditor’s Office, most local governments have been able to meet existing
statutory deadlines. Additionally, with the 2021 legislative session on the horizon, further needs
for statutory adjustments can be addressed by the Legislature. Accordingly, the temporary
discretion provided to the State Auditor under Executive Order 20-22 is no longer needed.
For these reasons, I order as follows:
1. Executive Order 20-22 is rescinded.
Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 4.035, subdivision 2, and section 12.32, this
Executive Order is effective immediately upon approval by the Executive Council.
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