Texas Senate Passes Ban on COVID Vaccine Mandates by Private Businesses, Including Health Care Facilities

The Texas Senate has passed a bill that bans COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employees of private businesses, including health care facilities. The bill allows medical facilities to implement other measures, such as requiring unvaccinated employees to wear personal protective gear or take reasonable precautions to manage the spread. The legislation, which passed on a party line vote, will now move to the House for consideration. Supporters argue that the bill protects individual rights, while opponents believe it infringes on the ability of health care professionals to protect their patients and business owners to make their own policy decisions.