Texas governor arms employees with COVID-19 vaccine exemptions

Texas Governor Greg Abbott today (Oct. 11, 2021) issued an executive order stating that no entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccination by any individual, including an employee or 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 also sent a message to the chief clerk of the house and secretary of the senate adding this issue as an item to the Third Special Session agenda.

The executive order will be rescinded upon the passage of such legislation.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," Abbott said in his statement.

The following is a copy of the executive order:

WHEREAS, I , Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on March 13, 2020, certifying under Section 418.014 of the Texas Government Code that the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all Texas counties; and

WHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today, I have renewed the COVID-19 disaster declaration for all Texas counties; and WHEREAS, I have issued a series of executive orders aimed at protecting the health and safety of Texans, ensuring uniformity throughout Texas, and achieving the least restrictive means of combatting the evolving threat to public health; and

WHEREAS, COVID-19 vaccines are strongly encouraged for those eligible to receive one, but must always be voluntary for Texans; and

WHEREAS, I issued Executive Orders GA-35, GA-38, and GA-39 to prohibit governmental entities and certain others from imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates or requiring vaccine passports; and

WHEREAS, in yet another instance of federal overreach, the Biden Administration is now bullying many private entities into imposing COVID-19 vaccine mandates, causing workforce disruptions that threaten Texas’ continued recovery from the COVID-19 disaster; and WHEREAS, countless Texans fear losing their livelihoods because they object to receiving a COVID-19 vaccination for reasons of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19; and WHEREAS, through Chapter 161 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, as well as other laws including Chapters 38 and 51 of the Texas Education Code, the legislature has established its primary role over immunizations, and all immunization laws and regulations inTexas stem from the laws established by the legislature; and

WHEREAS, the legislature has taken care to provide exemptions that allow people to opt out of being forced to take a vaccine for reasons of conscience or medical reasons; and

WHEREAS, I am adding this issue to the agenda for the Third Called Session of the legislature that is currently convened so that the legislature has the opportunity to consider this issue through legislation; and

WHEREAS, I will rescind this executive order upon the effective date of such legislation; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, do hereby order the following on a statewide basis effective immediately:

1. 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.

I here by suspend all relevant statutes to the extent necessary to enforce this prohibition.

2. The maximum fine allowed under Section 418.173 of the Texas Government Code and the State’s emergency management plan shall apply to any “failure to comply with” this executive order. Confinement in jail is not an available penalty for violating this executive order.

3. This executive order shall supersede any conflicting order issued by local officials in response to the COVID-19 disaster. Pursuant to Section 418.016(a) of the Texas Government Code, I hereby suspend Sections 418.1015(b) and 418.108 of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 81, Subchapter E of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and any other relevant statutes, to the extent necessary to ensure that local officials do not impose restrictions in response tot he COVID-19 disaster that are inconsistent with this executive order.

This executive order does not supersede Executive Orders GA-13, GA-37, GA-38, or GA-39.

This executive order shall remain in effectand in full force unless it is modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor.

This executive order may also be amended by proclamation of the governor.

Given under my hand this the 11th day of October, 2021.

GREG ABBOTT
Governor