The Texas Senate passed the bipartisan Senate Bill 29 banning Covid-19 mandates, authored by State Sen. Brian Birdwell of Granbury. The bill will now go the House.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following passage of the bill: “In March 2020, when the world locked down, I suggested that Texas reopen our economy as quickly and safely as possible. I took an extraordinary amount of criticism but, in hindsight, everybody can now see that I was correct. Texas is thriving and our economy is the strongest in the world.
“Local governments across Texas and America took extreme measures to shut down businesses, schools, and houses of worship. SB 29 is a top priority of mine to prevent that from ever happening in the future.”
SB 29 prohibits any Texas governmental entity from imposing mask or vaccine mandates, or private business or school closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or variants. Should it pass, no governmental entity may implement an order or impose mandates requiring a person to wear a face mask or other face covering, nor can it impose a mandate requiring a COVID vaccination.
This act will take effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If the act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, it would be in effect on Sept. 1.