Posted By Sanford Nowlin on Tue, May 11, 2021 at 9:55 AM click to enlarge Courtesy Photo / Office of the Governor Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a press event. The Texas House granted preliminary approval to a bill that would rein in Gov. Greg Abbott's emergency powers during future pandemics and require the executive branch to call together the Legislature if another such crisis drags on. However, in addition to additional checks on the governor, the proposal also includes amendments to limit local officials' ability to issue their own orders. During the pandemic, Texas' Democrat-controlled big cities often tussled with Abbott, a Republican, over who had authority to impose restrictions such as mask mandates.