The state has temporarily stopped enforcement of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban, but that could be changed by a pending legal case.<\/b>
\nA ruling from the Texas Supreme Court late Thursday has temporarily cleared the way for public schools in the state to require masks in their classrooms, but that decision may soon be reversed as the battle over Gov. Greg Abbott\u2019s (R) mask mandate ban continues to move through the court system. Abbott must now take his challenge to the court of appeals, after which he can go again to the state Supreme Court. After the decision, the Texas Education Agency released a new guidance announcing it will not be enforcing Abbott\u2019s mask order as a result of the ongoing litigation. But this doesn\u2019t mean the ban is being permanently dropped. The education agency said \u201cfurther guidance will be made available after the court issues are resolved,\u201d meaning it could begin enforcing the ban again. Abbott\u2019s ban on mask mandates in schools has sparked a mounting legal battle in Texas involving many different school districts. At least eight counties and 58 school districts have imposed masking and social distancing requirements, according to the Texas Attorney General\u2019s Office, which argues local mandates create \u201cmass confusion.\u201d The state\u2019s courts have been split on their rulings so far, with the Supreme Court earlier this week siding with Abbott and temporarily blocking two counties from imposing their mask orders. Then also on Thursday, the 4th Court of Appeals in Texas ruled that a temporary order allowing mask mandates in San Antonio and Bexar County could stand. Texas is not the only state where a Republican governor\u2019s ban on mask mandates has been taken to court. Lawsuits have been filed aiming to strike down these bans in Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma, while legal action could be on the horizon in a handful of other states. \u201cTennessee Becomes Latest State To Ban School Mask Mandates \u2014 Here’s The Full List\u201d (Forbes) \u201cFlorida Sanctioned Schools For Imposing Mask Mandates \u2014 Schools In These States Could Be Punished Next\u201d (Forbes) \u201cTexas Supreme Court Backs School Mask Mandate Ban\u2014Here\u2019s Where All The Lawsuits Over Them Stand\u201d (Forbes)<\/p>\n