House approves bill seeking to limit NC governor emergency powers (Source: @NC_Governor/Twitter) By CBS 17 Digital Desk, Associated Press | March 31, 2021 at 5:40 PM EDT - Updated March 31 at 5:40 PM RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN/AP) — The North Carolina House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve the Emergency Powers Accountability Act of HB264 which would require the governor to obtain formal support from other elected leaders to enforce long-term statewide emergency orders. “It has now been over a year since Governor Cooper unilaterally placed our citizens under a state-wide emergency due to COVID-19,” said Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort), who is the bill’s lead sponsor. “Regardless of the politics of his executive orders, this is not how a representative republic works and it is not the intent of the law. No one person should have such sweeping and unilateral authority to shut down our state.”