Gov. Greg Abbott’s new executive order related to Texas’ response to contain the spread of the coronavirus eliminates Austin’s and Travis County’s ability to enforce local requirements for people to wear masks.

During a briefing on his new order, which will allow many businesses across Texas reopen their doors on a limited basis, Abbott said his order supersedes any local orders that impose fines for people found violating face mask mandates.

Abbott’s order does recommend people wear face masks in public, but said no local government could issue a civil or criminal penalty to anyone not wearing a mask. Orders issued on April 13 by Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and Mayor Steve Adler had provisions including $1,000 fines for violations of face mask requirements.

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At the time, the two officials said they only would ask law enforcement to start issuing fines if they did not see widespread compliance.

"To be frank, we have the ability to impose the fine but we hadn’t, so that seems to be a solution looking for a problem," Eckhardt said in a phone interview.

Eckhardt said she worried that some businesses that had been strictly enforcing the local face mask rule might be undermined by others seeing it now only as a guideline.

"Without an enforceable order for face masking, the business that chooses not to do it can’t be held accountable by their fellow businesses that choose to do it," Eckhardt said. "Furthermore, that business’ employees are in the untenable position to where they are saying, ’I do not want to work in an environment where you are not requiring customers to wear face masks.’"

This is a developing story. Check back here for updates.