Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB29 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/09/2023

                    88R15499 MPF-D
 By: Birdwell S.B. No. 29


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 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,
 or an agency of this state or a local government entity.
 Sec. 81B.002.  PROHIBITED FACE-COVERING MANDATE.  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.
 Sec. 81B.003.  PROHIBITED VACCINE MANDATE. A governmental
 entity may not implement, order, or otherwise impose a mandate
 requiring a person to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
 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.