The Texas Disaster Act of 1975, codified as Texas Government Code Chapter 418, grants special authority to the governor and certain local officials in times of a declared disaster. It is this temporary authority that enabled officials over the past year to impose a wide variety of rules and restrictions in response to COVID-19. Many of these requirements have been onerous and unreasonable.[1]
[1] For examples of unreasonable rules and restrictions, see: Exposing Overreach: Tarrant County; Exposing Overreach: Harris County; and Austin’s Next Power Grab.