Austin Republicans call for reviving COVID Freedom Bill

A priority bill died after a key House deadline this spring. But with a special session expected for October and legislators already predicted to be in Austin, the Travis GOP urges Gov. Greg Abbott to finish the people’s business by putting the COVID Vaccine Freedom Act on the call.

Below is a resolution approved unanimously by the Travis County Republican Party Executive Committee on Sept. 19, 2023:

WHEREAS, House Bill 81 by State Rep. Brian Harrison, otherwise known as the Texas COVID Vaccine Freedom Act, was voted out of the House Public Health Committee during the 88th Texas Legislature;

WHEREAS Senate Bill 177 by State Sen. Mayes Middleton, the Senate companion to HB 81, passed out of the Texas Senate with bipartisan support and was subsequently voted out of the House Public Health Committee with overwhelming support during the 88th Texas Legislature;

WHEREAS, a majority of Republican voters express support for ending both public and private COVID vaccine mandates in Texas;

WHEREAS, the full Texas House was unable to debate or vote on either bill due to the failure of the House Calendars Committee to place SB 177 on the agenda until the final day for passage, at which point the bill was never brought up for a vote;

WHEREAS, informed consent is a vital human right;

WHEREAS, Texans are still at risk of sacrificing their livelihoods if they exercise their right to informed consent by declining the COVID vaccine;

WHEREAS, it is the sincere desire of the Republican Party of Texas that citizens of this State not be compelled or coerced into undergoing any medical procedure against their wishes;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Travis County Republican Party implores Texas Governor Greg Abbott to convene an extraordinary session of the 88th Legislature, to consider and act upon the following: enshrining informed consent into state law and prohibiting the administration of a COVID vaccine to any resident of Texas who is under duress or undue influence to consent to vaccination. Approved 9/20/23