Just hours after Indiana Republican Governor, Eric Holcomb issued a statewide mask order in response to the continued fight against COVID-19, its legality was called into question by the state's top law official.

Indiana Attorney General, Curtis Hill issued a statement late Wednesday afternoon citing that Holcomb does not have the authority to criminalize violations of the mask mandate and that the governor should hold a special legislate session to debate whether or not failing to wear a mask should be subject to a criminal penalty.

Hill said that executive orders have an important and legitimate function during times of emergency.

The governor announced Wednesday afternoon that he would sign an executive order requiring masks to be worn statewide during specific times and in specific places beginning this coming Monday, July 27th and that failure to follow the order would be a Class B misdemeanor offense.

The attorney general said his office received several inquiries from legislators and constituents regarding the proposed order.