Texas legislature enacts sweeping law barring state and local government from restricting worship services during public emergency

Unsurprisingly, given the controversy surrounding worship restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, some legislatures across the country are responding with bills that would make it more difficult for government officials to curtail in-person religious gatherings during a public health crisis. In Texas, a broad prohibition on such restrictions, HB 525, took immediate effect after receiving more than 2/3 vote of the House.