More than two dozen medical and business advocacy groups quickly criticized SB 51, pushing back against the legislation in the days after it was introduced last week. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said of SB 51. The special session is scheduled to end Tuesday, and the vaccine legislation is one of only a few outstanding Abbott priorities that appears unlikely to get through the finish line. SB 51 has been on the Senate’s calendar since Thursday, but the chamber has not taken action, even as it passed other priority legislation. “I’ve got some real reservations because I think it’s another example of big government,” Seliger said. Bryan Hughes, R-Tyler, calling it “anti-business.”

“At the moment it’s not too well developed,” Seliger said of Senate Bill 51, authored by state Sen. Greg Abbott - does not have the votes to pass in the upper chamber. Seliger said the legislation - added to the session agenda as a late priority by Gov. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, said he opposes the bill, which makes entities requiring the vaccines vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits.

Legislation intended to block any Texas entity, including hospitals and private businesses, from mandating COVID-19 vaccines for employees has stalled out in the Senate with less than two days left in the third special legislative session this year.

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