The move comes a week after Texas filed a separate lawsuit over new vaccination rules for federal contractors.
Mitchell Ferman
Mitchell Ferman covered energy and the economy from 2020 to 2022, based in Houston. Before joining the Tribune he was a reporter for The Monitor in McAllen, where he covered cross-border trade, politics and the city of McAllen. He also regularly freelanced from the Rio Grande Valley and beyond for The New York Times, Texas Monthly and Reuters, writing about topics including the family separation crisis and unexpected consequences of the border wall. He graduated from the University of Missouri.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
White House says big businesses must mandate vaccines or require testing by Jan. 4, regardless of what states like Texas say
The new rules preempt state and local laws, including part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on vaccine mandates.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas bill to block COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employers failed in Legislature after business groups rallied against it
A prohibition on vaccine mandates was one of Gov. Greg Abbott’s priorities for the special session, but it did not have enough support in the Legislature.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
As Texas GOP wages war on COVID-19 mandates, lawmakers OK bill that would make companies requiring the shot vulnerable to lawsuits
Senate Bill 51 would make any entity, including hospitals, vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits if they mandate vaccinations for all employees.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
“It puts a big burden on employers”: Businesses face tough choices after Gov. Greg Abbott bans vaccine mandates
American Airlines and Southwest Airlines say they will continue requiring employee vaccinations despite Abbott’s new order, which has left federal government contractors, nursing homes and other companies caught between conflicting rules from the Biden administration and the state.
Posted in
Winter Storm 2021
Texas senators blast regulator for power grid winterization loophole lawmakers wrote into law
The law says the state’s natural gas system won’t be required to prepare for extreme weather until 2022 at the earliest and allows companies to opt out of weatherization requirements.
Posted in
The 2021 Texas Tribune Festival
Texas lawmaker defends new permitless carry law against criticism from gun control advocate
The law that went into effect Sept. 1 allows anyone 21 years or older to carry a handgun in public without need for a permit or training.
Posted in
Energy
Shell’s decision to leave Permian Basin unlikely to impact Texas workforce or climate issues, experts say
More than 175,000 barrels of oil per day in production will shift from one major company to another.
Posted in
Energy
Shell sells off its oil and gas business in Texas’ Permian Basin, seeking to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels
Texas-based ConocoPhillips bought Shell’s Permian Basin assets for $9.5 billion, its second major purchase in the oil-rich area over the last year.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
A Houston day care convinced all its workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Now it requires a shot.
While some national companies are requiring employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, mandates have been the exception for businesses in Texas.
