Biden Ends The National COVID Emergency, But Abbott Lets It Linger In Texas
President Joe Biden has signed legislation officially ending the national emergency issued over three years ago for COVID-19. But the Lone Star State is still operating under Gov. Greg Abbott’s ongoing COVID emergency declaration, reports Brandon Waltens.https://texasscorecard.com/state/while-biden-ends-covid-emergency-texas-holds-out/
Texas is now the only Republican-led state to still be under a state of emergency for COVID.
First issued by Gov. Abbott on March 13, 2020, the emergency declaration became the basis for numerous COVID-related executive orders, including business shutdowns and mask mandates—all without input from the Legislature. As Texas began to reopen, executive orders were issued by Abbott in an attempt to prohibit local entities from implementing more stringent COVID rules.
Abbott has said he will keep the COVID order in place until lawmakers pass a reform of the state’s emergency powers laws.
The Texas Senate has made progress on that, passing legislation that would prevent a governor from issuing an emergency declaration for more than 30 days without calling a special session of the Legislature. They have also approved legislation to ban future shutdowns and medical mandates. Such legislation has yet to be considered in the House.
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