Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 558	House Author:  Raymond
Effective: Vetoed	Senate Sponsor:  Paxton et al.

            House Bill 558 amends the Government Code to prohibit an executive order, proclamation, or regulation issued by the governor under the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 restricting the operation of or the hours of operation for a business that sells alcoholic beverages from including a tax‑exempt organization that benefits veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Governor's Reason for Veto: "Future governors must have the flexibility to respond to unforeseen calamities and meet the rapidly changing needs that each disaster will present. House Bill No. 558, however, would exempt some organizations that sell alcohol from any emergency directive whatsoever, no matter the disaster at hand. The bill does not carefully distinguish between a future pandemic, in which those organizations should stay open, and a hurricane or a wildfire, in which a mandatory evacuation order might be necessary. Hacking away at the Texas Disaster Act like this poses an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of Texans. I will be glad to work with the author on a more nuanced approach to this issue."