Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says he will sign a bill that would ban private companies from requiring people to show proof they were vaccinated against COVID-19.
In a tweet on Monday, Abbott wrote, “I’m signing a law today that prohibits any business operating in Texas from requiring vaccine passports or any vaccine information.”
“Texas is open 100% without any restrictions or limitations or requirements,” he added.
I’m signing a law today that prohibits any business operating in Texas from requiring vaccine passports or any vaccine information.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 7, 2021
Texas is open 100% without any restrictions or limitations or requirements. https://t.co/ukPxNQ2pAt
In April, Abbott signed an executive order that banned state agencies or organizations that received public funds from requiring proof of vaccination.
The law he plans to sign would extend that ban to private companies as well.
A vaccine passport would allow people to prove that they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. The New York Times reports that sports organizations, concert venues, and tourism agencies have expressed interest in some kind of proof of vaccination.
Several other Republican governors have banned the use of vaccine passports by businesses or state agencies.
In March, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shredded the idea of a vaccine passport, “You want the fox to guard the henhouse? I mean, give me a break. I think this is something that has huge privacy implications. It is not necessary to do.”
“It’s important to be able to do it but at the same time, we are not going to have you provide proof of this just to be able to live your life normally and I’m going to be taking some action in an executive function, emergency function here very shortly,” he added.
He also signed an executive order banning the use of vaccine passports.
A May Gallup survey found that 57% of Americans say they support vaccine passports for airline travel, and 55% said they support proof of vaccination for concerts or sports.
However, a majority of Americans said they oppose having to disclose their vaccination status to go to restaurants, work, or hotels.