Abbott Gets Tougher than Florida
with Vaccine Rule Ban for Business

Capitol Inside
October 11, 2021

Governor Greg Abbott ruled on Monday that private companies could no longer impose vaccine requirements for employees or customers in an executive order that he parlayed into an item for the state Legislature to consider in the final week of a special session.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," Abbott said in an email on Monday night.

The Republican governor said that Executive Order GA 40 would expire when legislation has been approved that will accomplish the same. Abbott has had prohibitions on vaccine mandates in effect for local governments and public schools. But Abbott had taken the position that Texas businesses should have the right decide what's best for their individual needs and challenges

Businesses will see the Abbott edict as an intrusion on the freedoms they've enjoyed in a state that had been renown in the past for low taxes and less regulation. But Abbott showed no concerns on a potential backlash in the business community - directing the House and Senate clerks to add a vaccine mandate ban to the call of the third special session in Texas in 2021.

Abbott called for legislation "establishing that no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID- 19."

Abbott has appeared to be scrambling to keep pace with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The new Abbott decree could be an attempt to one-up the Florida counterpart who he appears to view as a chief potential rival in a bid for president in 2024. DeSantis signed a bill in May that banned companies from requiring patrons to show proof of covid vaccine or antibodies.

Florida health officials revealed today that they're investigating more than 100 businesses that include AT&T, Starbucks and the Miami Marlins baseball team for possible violations of the state vaccine passport ban. But businesses in Florida still have the right to require vaccinations for their employees.

more to come ...