Although no fewer than 24 states have already committed to challenging the private employer vaccine mandate promised by President Biden, Texas is inarguably out front in the effort. As OSHA was busy this week drafting the vaccine mandate ETS (above story), Texas Governor Greg Abbott was issuing an executive order cracking down on COVID-19 vaccine mandates – banning any entity in Texas, including private businesses, from requiring employees or customers to get vaccinated. In addition, Abbot has also called upon the state legislature to pass a law prohibiting vaccine mandates, at which time he will rescind the executive order. Just one week after President Biden announced that OSHA would be developing and implementing a vaccine mandate for private employers with more than 100 workers, on September 16, the Attorneys General of 24 states (all republican AGs) sent the President a letter promising to challenge his vaccine mandate whenever it is issued in federal court. Texas AG Ken Paxton was one of the 24 signing the letter, but it would appear his Governor is taking the challenge to a new level. No doubt, there’s more to come.