HOUSTON – Today, the Harris County Attorney’s Office filed a lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton regarding GA-38, an Executive Order that attempts to stop local governments and officials from mandating masks, vaccines, and other measures to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Harris County is the third largest county in the nation, and joins other local entities across the state to seek legal action in order to implement safety measures as COVID-19 cases increase.
“Gov. Greg Abbott has repeatedly misused his authority under Texas disaster laws," said Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee stated. "The current wave of the Delta variant presents a real and imminent threat to our most vulnerable populations, and local officials need to be able to respond to this crisis. The governor’s executive order acknowledges this crisis, and then bans any meaningful action to address it.
"As hospitals become overwhelmed and schools look toward opening, the 4.7 million people in Harris County deserve leadership that will enact measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.”
Menefee was elected as County Attorney for Harris County in November 2020. The office represents the largest county in Texas in all civil legal matters, including lawsuits.