Texas Governor Greg Abbott bans all COVID-19 vaccine mandates – even for private employers – Houston Public Media

Governor Greg Abbott will chair a round table discussion on public safety priorities at the Texas Department of Public Safety Headquarters in January 2021.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued another executive order on Monday attempting to crack down on COVID-19 vaccine mandates – this time banning any facility in Texas, including private companies, from requiring vaccinations from employees or customers.

Abbott also urged lawmakers to pass legislation with the same effect.

COVID-19 vaccine requirements from government agencies, cities, counties and school districts were already banned by a previous regulation – currently being challenged in court by the San Antonio Independent School District. Legislators have also already enacted a ban on so-called vaccination passports – which would enable companies to request proof of vaccination in order to receive a service. However, by that time Texas had allowed private companies to require vaccines from their own employees.

The latest move appears to be partly motivated by President Joe Biden’s actions in September requiring all employers with more than 100 workers to be vaccinated or tested for the virus on a weekly basis.

“In yet another case of federal assaults, the Biden Administration is now urging many private entities to enact COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruption that threatens the continued recovery of Texas from the COVID-19 disaster” Abbott said in his arrangement.