Harris County leaders on Tuesday approved the county attorney’s request to take legal action against the state of Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott’s orders banning mask and vaccine mandates.
The measure passed at Tuesday’s Commissioners Court meeting on a 3-2 party line vote, with both Republican commissioners voting no. The decision came after an hour-long executive session, closed to the public.
I commend everyone – school superintendents, and elected judges alike who are taking whatever steps are needed to protect the lives of the people they serve. Protecting the community during an emergency is a duty, not an option for government leaders.
— Lina Hidalgo (@LinaHidalgoTX) August 11, 2021
The vote gives County Attorney Christian Menefee the authority to challenge Abbott's executive order either in a standalone lawsuit or in a friend of the court brief to a lawsuit filed by another jurisdiction. On Tuesday, judges in San Antonio and Dallas granted temporary restraining orders on Abbott’s mandate bans, allowing local officials to move forward with their own mask mandates.
It was unclear whether or how the county attorney would take action. Menefee told Houston Public Media on Monday that options included suing the state directly or joining a lawsuit filed by another city or county.
“Our number one goal is not to start a dispute with the state, but instead to be able to keep people safe and not be prohibited from doing so by executive orders,” Menefee said.
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