S.B. No. 29
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to prohibited governmental entity implementation or
  enforcement of a vaccine mandate, mask requirement, or private
  business or school closure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 81B to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 81B.  PROHIBITED CORONAVIRUS PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
         Sec. 81B.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
  disease and any variants of the disease.
               (2)  "Governmental entity" means this state, a local
  government entity as defined by Section 418.004, Government Code,
  an open-enrollment charter school, or an agency of this state or a
  local government entity.
         Sec. 81B.002.  PROHIBITED FACE-COVERING MANDATE.  (a)  
  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a governmental entity may not
  implement, order, or otherwise impose a mandate requiring a person
  to wear a face mask or other face covering to prevent the spread of
  COVID-19.
         (b)  The limitation prescribed by Subsection (a) does not
  apply to an order or mandate that relates to:
               (1)  a state supported living center, as defined by
  Section 531.002, subject to any applicable rule or guidance
  prescribed by the commission that conflicts with that limitation;
               (2)  a facility operated by the Texas Department of
  Criminal Justice or the Texas Juvenile Justice Department or a
  municipal or county jail, subject to any applicable rule or
  guidance prescribed by the Commission on Jail Standards that
  conflicts with that limitation; or
               (3)  a hospital or other health care facility owned by a
  governmental entity, including a hospital or other health care
  clinic operated by or associated with an institution of higher
  education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003, Education
  Code, subject to any applicable order, ordinance, or guidance
  prescribed by that governmental entity that conflicts with that
  limitation.
         Sec. 81B.003.  PROHIBITED VACCINE MANDATE. (a)  Except as
  provided by Subsection (b), a governmental entity may not
  implement, order, or otherwise impose a mandate requiring a person
  to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
         (b)  The prohibition under Subsection (a) applies only to the
  extent the prohibition does not conflict with the final rule
  adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and
  published at 86 Fed. Reg. 61555 (November 5, 2021).
         Sec. 81B.004.  PROHIBITED CLOSURE MANDATE FOR PRIVATE
  BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS. A governmental entity may not implement,
  order, or otherwise impose a mandate requiring the closure of a
  private business, public school, open-enrollment charter school,
  or private school to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes 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 this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 29 passed the Senate on
  April 3, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 20, Nays 11;
  May 25, 2023, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2023, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 28, 2023, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 20,
  Nays 11.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 29 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 87,
  Nays 60, one present not voting; May 26, 2023, House granted
  request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 28, 2023, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 90, Nays 53, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor