GovERNoR

GREG

ABBOTT

FILED IN

E OF THE

SECRETARY OF STATE

September 17, 2020

IjcOCLOCKThe Honorable Ruth R. Hughs
Secretary of State
State Capitol Room 1E.8
Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Secretary Hughs:
Pursuant to his powers as Governor of the State of Texas. Greg Abbott has issued the following:
Executive Order No. GA-30 relating to the continued response to the COVID-19
disaster as Texas reopens.
The original exectitive order is attached to this letter of transmittal.
ectfully submitted,Governor
GSD/gsd
Attachment

Posi OFFICE Box 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VoICE) DIAL 74-1 FOR RELAY SERVICES

3xrruftir tiIrrr
BY THEGOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF TEXAS
Executive Department
Austin, Texas
September 17, 2020
EXECUTIVE ORDER
GA3O
Relating to the contütued response to the COVID-19 disaster as Texas reopens.

WHEREAS, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, issued a disaster proclamation on March13, 2020, certifying under Section 418.0 14 of the Texas Government Code that the novel
coronavirus (COVID- 19) poses an imminent threat of disaster for all counties in theState of Texas; andWHEREAS, in each subsequent month effective through today, I have renewed thedisaster declaration for all Texas counties; andWHEREAS, I have issued executive orders and suspensions of Texas laws in response to
COVID-1 9, aimed at protecting the health and safety of Texans and ensuring aneffective response to this disaster; andWHEREAS, I issued Executive Order GA-Os on March 19, 2020, mandating certainsocial-distancing restrictions for Texans in accordance with guidelines promulgated byPresident Donald J. Trump and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC);
andWHEREAS, I issued Executive Order GA-14 on March 31, 2020, expanding the socialdistancing restrictions for Texans based on guidance from health experts and thePresident; andWHEREAS, I subsequently issued Executive Orders GA-16, GA-iS, GA-21, GA-23, andGA-26 from April through early June 2020, aiming to achieve the least restrictive meansof combatting the threat to public health by continuing certain social-distancing
restrictions, while implementing a safe, strategic plan to reopen Texas; andWHEREAS, as Texas reopens in the midst of COVID-19, increased spread is to beexpected, and the key to controlling the spread and keeping Texas residents safe is for all
Texans to consistently follow good hygiene and social-distancing practices, especiallythose set forth in the minimum standard health protocols from the Texas Department ofState Health Services (DSHS); andWHEREAS, in June 2020, Texas experienced substantial increases in COVD-l9 casesand hospitalizations, necessitating targeted and temporary adjustments to the reopening
plan to achieve the least restrictive means for reducing the growing spread of COVID- 19and the resulting imminent threat to public health, and to avoid a need for more extreme
measures; andWHEREAS, I therefore issued Executive Orders GA-28 and GA-29 in late June and early
FILED IN THE OFFiCE OF THE
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Governor Greg Abbott
September 17, 2020

Executive Order GA-30
Page 2July 2020, respectively, and amended Executive Order GA-28 by proclamation on July2, 2020; andWHEREAS, due to improved medical treatments for COVJD-19 patients, substantial
increases in testing, abundant supplies of personal protective equipment, and Texans’
adherence to safe practices like social distancing, hand sanitizing, and use of facecoverings, the spread of COVID-19 and the number of new COVD-19 cases andhospitalizations have steadily and significantly declined since late July; andWHEREAS, as Texas continues to reopen, everyone must act safely, and to that end, thisexecutive order and prior executive orders provide that all persons should follow thehealth protocols from DSHS, which whenever achieved will mean compliance with theminimum standards for safely reopening, but which should not be used to fault those
who act in good faith but can only substantially comply with the standards in light ofscarce resources and other extenuating COVID-19 circumstances; andWHEREAS, in the Texas Disaster Act of 1975, the legislature charged the governor withthe responsibility “for meetingthe dangers to the state and people presented bydisasters” under Section 418.011 of the Texas Government Code, and expressly granted
the governor broad authority to fulfill that responsibility; and...

WHEREAS, under Section 418.012, the “governor may issue executive ordershav[ingJ the force and effect of law;” andWHEREAS, failure to comply with any executive order issued during the COVID-19
disaster is an offense punishable under Section 418. 173 by a fine not to exceed $1,000,
and may be subject to regulatory enforcement;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, by virtue of the power andauthority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, and inaccordance with guidance from the Commissioner of the Texas Department of State
Health Services, Dr. John Hellerstedt, other medical advisors, the White House, and theCDC, do hereby order the following on a statewide basis effective at 12:01 a.m. on
September 21, 2020:
Every business establishment in Texas shall operate at no more than 50 percent of thetotal listed occupancy of the establishment; provided, however, that:
1. There is no occupancy limit for the following:a. any services listed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in its Guidanceon the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce, Version 4.0 or any
subsequent version;b. religious services, including those conducted in churches, congregations,and houses of worship;c. local government operations, including county and municipal
governmental operations relating to licensing (including marriage
licenses), permitting, recordation, and document-filing services, as
determined by the local government;
d. child-care services;e. youth camps, including but not limited to those defined as such under
Chapter 141 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and including allsummer camps and other daytime and overnight camps for youths;
f. recreational sports programs for youths and adults;
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATEJLIO’CLOCC

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Governor Greg Abbott
September 17, 2020

Executive Order GA-30
Page 3g. any public or private schools, and any public or private institutions ofhigher education, not already covered above; andh. drive-in concerts, movies, or similar events, under guidelines that facilitate
appropriate social distancing, that generally require spectators to remain in
their vehicles, and that minimize in-person contact between people whoare not in the same household or vehicle.
2. The following types of business establishments may operate at up to 75 percentof the total listed occupancy of the establishment, except for thoseestablishments in areas with high hospitalizations as defined below:
a. in-store, non-CISA retail establishments;
b. dine-in restaurants, as defined below in paragraph No. 7;
c. non-CISA office buildings;
d. non-CISA manufacturers;
e. museums and libraries; andf. gyms and exercise facilities and classes.
“Areas with high hospitalizations” means any Trauma Service Area that has hadseven consecutive days in which the number of COVID- 19 hospitalized patientsas a percentage of all hospitalized patients exceeds 15 percent, until such time as
the Trauma Service Area has seven consecutive days in which the number of
COVTD- 19 hospitalized patients as a percentage of all hospitalized patients is 15percent or less. A current list of areas with high hospitalizations will bemaintained at www.dshs.texas.gov/ga303 1.
3. Except as provided below by paragraph No. 6, this 50 percent occupancy limit
does not apply to outdoor areas, events, or establishments, except that theoutdoor areas or outdoor venues identified in paragraph No. 2 of Executive
Order GA-28 shall operate at no more than the percentage of normal operating
limits as was set forth in Executive Order GA-2$.
4. There is no occupancy limit for the following establishments that operate with atleast six feet of social distancing between work stations:a. cosmetology salons, hair salons, barber shops, nail salons/shops, and otherestablishments where licensed cosmetologists or barbers practice theirtrade;b. massage establishments and other facilities where licensed massage
therapists or other persons licensed or otherwise authorized to practiceunder Chapter 455 of the Texas Occupations Code practice their trade; andc. other personal-care and beauty services such as tanning salons, tattoostudios, piercing studios, hair removal services, and hair loss treatment andgrowth services.
5. Amusement parks shall operate at no more than 50 percent of the normal
operating limits as determined by the owner.
6. For any outdoor gathering in excess of 10 people, other than those set forth
above in paragraph Nos. 1, 2, 3, or 5, the gathering is prohibited unless themayor of the city in which the gathering is held, or the county judge in the caseof a gathering in an unincorporated area, approves of the gathering, and suchapproval can be made subject to certain conditions or restrictions notinconsistent with this executive order.
7. Only restaurants that have less than 51 percent of their gross receipts from thesale of alcoholic beverages, and whose customers eat or drink only while seated,may offer dine-in services.
8. People shall not visit bars or similar establishments that hold a permit from theFILED IN THE OFF RE OF THE
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Governor Greg Abbott
September 17, 2020

Executive Order GA-30
Page 4

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and are not restaurants as
defined above in paragraph No. 7; provided, however, that the use by such barsor similar establishments of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options for food anddrinks is allowed to the extent authorized by TABC.
9. People shall not use commercial rafting or tubing services, including rental ofrafts or tubes and transportation of people for the purpose of rafting or tubing.
10. For any business establishment that is subject to a 50 percent “total listedoccupancy” limit or “normal operating limit,” and that is in a county that has
filed with DSHS, and is in compliance with, the requisite attestation form
promulgated by DSHS regarding minimal cases of COVLD-19, the businessestablishment may operate at up to 75 percent of the total listed occupancy ornormal operating limit of the establishment.
11. For purposes of this executive order, facilities with retractable roofs are
considered indoor facilities, whether the roof is opened or closed.
12. Staff members are not included in determining operating levels, except for
manufacturing services and office workers.
13. Except as provided in this executive order or in the minimum standard healthprotocols recommended by DSHS, found at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus,
people shall not be in groups larger than 10 and shall maintain six feet of social
distancing from those not in their group.
14. People over the age of 65 are strongly encouraged to stay at home as much aspossible; to maintain appropriate distance from any member of the household
who has been out of the residence in the previous 14 days; and, if leaving thehome, to implement social distancing and to practice good hygiene,
environmental cleanliness, and sanitation.
15. In providing or obtaining services, every person (including individuals,businesses, and other legal entities) should use good-faith efforts and available
resources to follow the minimum standard health protocols recommended byDSHS.
16. Nothing in this executive order or the DSHS minimum standards precludes
requiring a customer to follow additional hygiene measures when obtaining
services.
17. People may visit nursing homes, state supported living centers, assisted living
facilities, or long-term care facilities as determined through guidance from theTexas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Nursing homes, state
supported living centers, assisted living facilities, and long-term care facilities
should follow infection control policies and practices set forth by HHSC,including minimizing the movement of staff between facilities wheneverpossible; and1$. Public schools may operate as provided by, and under the minimum standard
health protocols found in, guidance issued by the Texas Education Agency(TEA). Private schools and institutions of higher education are encouraged toestablish similar standards.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the governor may by proclamation add
to the list of establishments or venues that people shall not visit.
This executive order shall supersede any conflicting order issued by local officials in
response to the COVJD-19 disaster, but only to the extent that such a local order restricts
FILED IN THE CH- OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATEO’CLOCKU-SEP 1? 2020

Governor Greg Abbott
September 17, 2020

Executive Order GA-30
Page 5services allowed by this executive order, allows gatherings prohibited by this executive
order, or expands the list or scope of services as set forth in this executive order.
Pursuant to Section 418.016(a) of the Texas Government Code, I hereby suspend
Sections 418.1015(b) and 418.10$ of the Texas Government Code, Chapter 81,
Subchapter F of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and any other relevant statutes, to theextent necessary to ensure that local officials do not impose restrictions in response to theCOVID-19 disaster that are inconsistent with this executive order, provided that local
officials may enforce this executive order as well as local restrictions that are consistent
with this executive order.
All existing state executive orders relating to COVID-19 are amended to eliminate
confinement in jail as an available penalty for violating the executive orders. To theextent any order issued by local officials in response to the COVID-19 disaster would
allow confinement in jail as an available penalty for violating a COVID- 19-related order,that order allowing confinement in jail is superseded, and I hereby suspend all relevantlaws to the extent necessary to ensure that local officials do not confine people in jail for
violating any executive order or local order issued in response to the COVD-19 disaster.
This executive order supersedes Executive Order GA-2$, but does not supersede
Executive Orders GA-b, GA-13, GA-17, GA-19, GA-24, GA-25, GA-27, or GA-29.
This executive order shall remain in effect and in full force unless it is modified,amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor. This executive order may also be
amended by proclamation of the governor.
Given under my hand this the 17th
day of September, 2020.

GREG
Governor

ATTESTOTT

BY:

UTH R. HUGHSSecretary of StateFILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE
SECRETARY OF STATE
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