Statewide mask mandate ends next week; masks still encouraged to be worn State sets records for number of vaccines administered in a day Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says it's time to "open Texas 100%" and ended the statewide mask mandate, effective next Wednesday, citing downward trends in hospitalizations and the availability of medicines and vaccines to keep people from requiring hospitalization. Download our NBC DFW mobile app for Apple or Android to get alerts for local breaking news and weather. The governor delivered a statewide address Tuesday from Montelongo's restaurant in Lubbock where he said the state mandates were no longer needed in the battle against COVID-19 and that he was issuing a new executive order (GA-34) that rescinds most of his other pandemic-related orders.