Governor Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are putting the pressure on municipalities who try to impose local mask mandates or capacity limits on private businesses.
Travis County and the city of Austin have already been warned and were given a deadline of 6 p.m. last night.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent letters to Travis County judge Andy Brown and Austin Mayor Steve Adler saying, under the Governor's recent executive order, "the decision to require masks or otherwise impose Covid-19 related operating limits is expressly reserved to private businesses on their own premises."
In response, Brown says he "listens to doctors not to politicians." He also says "it's not the time to take our masks off."
While not taking official action, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo publicly thanked business owners who continue to require masks.