Employer Vaccine Mandates

The third special legislative session concluded with a few things left undone. One of those things is prohibiting employer vaccine mandates.

This happened despite the fact that more than 20 bills were filed that would have addressed the issue. It was not until Day 22 of the 30-day special session that Abbott added the issue to the agenda.

He did this in response to Republican activists, lawmakers, and partisan pressure on the issue.

Two different bills got hearings, but none were considered by the overall House of Representatives or Senate, and the session concluded with the issue left unaddressed.

Hours after the session ended, the Texas Freedom Coalition and Republican lawmakers from both the House and Senate held a press conference requesting the issue be added to a would-be fourth called special legislative session.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also called for a fourth special session, but notably, it was to consider other issues and not to prohibit employer vaccine mandates.

Abbott responded to calls for another special session by saying it was not needed.

The Texas GOP penned an open letter to Abbott requesting a fourth special session to consider a prohibition on employer vaccine mandates, among other issues.

Pressure continues to grow as more Texans are being forced to choose between getting vaccinated or giving up their livelihoods.

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