Of the approximately 150 bills and resolutions related to COVID-19 that were filed, only 20 were passed by the 87th Texas Legislature and sent to Governor Abbott for signature. This article summarizes three pandemic-related...more
On Monday, June 7, Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that prohibits any business operating in Texas from requiring what has been referred to as a “vaccine passport.” SB 968 by State Senator Lois Kolkhorst prevents...more
On October 8, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued Executive Order GA-32 to reopen certain venues to 75% capacity and allow resumption of elective surgeries in certain counties, with the exception of counties that reside...more
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has advised that two additional Trauma Service Areas (TSAs) now have COVID-19-related hospitalization rates high enough to trigger capacity reductions under Governor Greg...more
Yesterday, Governor Greg Abbott announced plans to continue Texas’ reopening process after the coronavirus pandemic brought public activity in much of the state to a halt earlier this year.
Executive Order GA-30 allows...more
9/18/2020
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Caregivers ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Rule ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Abbott ,
Health and Safety ,
Hospitals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
New Rules ,
Nursing Homes ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Social Distancing ,
State and Local Government
As part of a broader Trump administration announcement made on August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued sweeping oversight changes in the form of an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period...more
9/4/2020
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Clinical Laboratories ,
Comment Period ,
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Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Hospitals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Interim Final Rules (IFR) ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Medicaid ,
Medicare ,
New Guidance ,
New Rules ,
Noncompliance ,
Nursing Homes ,
Physician Medicare Reimbursements ,
Physicians ,
Public Comment ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Sanctions ,
Skilled Nursing Facility ,
Virus Testing
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has extended the county’s face mask order, which requires all businesses within the county to require employees and customers to wear face coverings. The previous order, issued on June 19th,...more
On August 25th, the City of Austin and Travis County announced that the area has been moved down from Stage 4 to Stage 3 of the Austin Public Health (APH) COVID-19 Risk-Based Guidelines.
APH published this color-coded...more
On August 14th, the City of Austin and Travis County extended their “Stay Home, Mask, and Otherwise Be Safe” orders through December 15, 2020. The previous orders were set to expire on August 15, 2020. City health officials...more
On July 3, one day after Gov. Greg Abbott announced a new order to address the coronavirus crisis in Texas, Austin Mayor Steve Adler issued an updated Order for the City of Austin. Under Gov. Abbott’s statewide order, every...more
Following the lead of Bexar County and others around the state, County Judge Lina Hidalgo issued a new order on Friday, June 19, 2020, aimed at helping contain the spread of COVID-19. This order directs any businesses...more
El Paso city officials issued a revised local emergency directive on June 18, 2020, mandating that all businesses in the city of El Paso must develop and implement a health and safety policy that requires wearing a face mask...more
6/22/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Mandates ,
Health and Safety ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Masks ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Public Health ,
Public Policy ,
Workplace Safety
Austin Mayor Steve Adler issued an order on Wednesday, June 17, 2020, that mandates all Austin businesses must develop and implement a safety policy related to COVID-19. This order comes following a clarification from...more
On June 3, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued the latest in a series of executive orders gradually loosening Coronavirus-related restrictions on Texas businesses.
The executive order, GA-26, increases the maximum...more
Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, expanding Executive Order GA-23’s enumerated list of activities and services that may resume under the state’s second wave of reopenings. Governor Abbott’s...more
5/22/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Abbott ,
Health and Safety ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hospitals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Physicians ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Workplace Safety
In accordance with Governor Abbott’s April 17 executive order, DSHS has issued the following guidelines to assist retail employers, employees and customers in the process of re-opening businesses. More guidance is expected...more
On Friday, April 17, 2020, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the creation of a Strike Force to Open Texas tasked with determining how to safely and strategically restart Texas’ economy. To inform the task force’s work, the...more
On Friday, April 17, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued several new executive orders aimed at beginning the process of reopening the state of Texas for business. Within the orders, a plan is laid out to revive certain...more
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued Executive Orders requiring airborne incoming passengers from the New York Tri-State Area, the states of California, Louisiana (all forms of travel), and Washington, and the cities of...more
Yesterday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an Executive Order implementing statewide restrictions on activities, as a result of the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Governor Abbott’s Order cites “Guidelines from the President...more