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Senate Bill 29 |
Senate Author: Birdwell et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-23 |
House Sponsor: Lozano et al. |
Senate Bill 29 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit the state, a local government entity, an open‑enrollment charter school, or an agency of the state or a local government entity from implementing, ordering, or otherwise imposing any of the following mandates to prevent the spread of COVID‑19:
· a mandate requiring a person to wear a mask or other face covering, with certain exceptions;
· a mandate requiring a person to be vaccinated against COVID‑19, to the extent that the prohibition does not conflict with the final rule adopted by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and published at 86 Fed. Reg. 61555 (November 5, 2021); or
· a mandate requiring the closure of a private business, public or private school, or open‑enrollment charter school.
The prohibition against a face‑covering mandate does not apply to an order or mandate relating to an applicable state supported living center, a facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, a municipal or county jail, or a hospital or other health care facility owned by a governmental entity.