Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said on Wednesday that his office was examining “all avenues” to block the application of the Austin city mask.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) withdrew the state’s mask mandate on Wednesday, making it the latest among more than a dozen states to facilitate the coronavirus prevention method.
However, the Austin City Council passed an ordinance city health council on Tuesday demanding masks at Travis County businesses. Individuals can be charged for refusing to leave a company for not wearing a mask.
The ordinance is in force until July.
“The mask’s mandate across the state was lifted today. Again, @MayorAdler [Austin Mayor Steve Adler (D)] and @AndyBrownATX [Travis County Judge Andy Brown] are trying to figure out how they can resist state law and resist @GovAbbott, “said Paxton’s office on Twitter.
“We are examining all available avenues to stop them. More to come, ”his office tweeted.
The mask’s mandate for the entire state was lifted today. Once again, @MayorAdler and @AndyBrownATX are trying to figure out how they can contravene state law and resist @GovAbbott.
We are examining all available avenues to stop them. More to come.
– Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) March 10, 2021
The Hill contacted Brown and Adler for comment.
During the pandemic, state officials in Texas clashed with major cities over the application of masking mandates. Cities in the Lone Star State often wanted to impose stricter guidelines than those that Abbott established.
Paxton had already sued the city of Austin in December, seeking to prevent it from imposing a ban on indoor dining on the New Year holiday.
Austin is not the only urban plan to impose a mask order. According a local ABC affiliate, the city of Round Rock is also applying its masking mandate.
Meanwhile, Texas companies are still requiring masks business, despite the easing of Abbott’s restrictions.