Port: Bills to restrict governor's emergency powers good, but also a bit hypocritical I'm glad at least some lawmakers are now embracing the need for legislative involvement in emergency policymaking, but I wish they'd taken that same stand last year. 2:14 pm, Jan. 7, 2021 × North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum stands to the side during a news conference on Oct. 23 in Bismarck. Kyle Martin / The Forum MINOT, N.D. — There are two pieces of legislation before our lawmakers in Bismarck this session that would curtail the governor's emergency powers. Obviously, a hot button issue since we've been in a state of emergency since the spring of last year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.