Texas Supreme Court temporarily blocks mask mandates in two counties

The Texas Supreme Court on Sunday temporarily halted lower court rulings that allowed local government entities and school districts to implement mask mandates in defiance of an order from Governor Greg Abbott. A hearing on the earlier temporary injunction is scheduled for Monday.

Sunday's ruling affects Dallas and Bexar Counties, which had both reinstated some form of mask mandate in recent days. In Dallas County, a judge ruled last week that masks would be required inside schools and businesses. In Bexar County, where San Antonio is located, a lower court ruled on Friday that local leaders had the authority to mandate masks in schools. Abbott had previously signed an executive order that banned schools and local governments from requiring masks. He and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed to block the Dallas County mask rules, but an appeals court on Friday sided with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who issued the mask mandate. Abbott and Paxton then appealed to the state Supreme Court. Paxton argued that the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 gives Abbott broad authority to dictate the statewide disaster response.