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On July 2, 2020, Governor Abbott issued statewide order GA-29, setting forth new measures for reducing the spread of COVID-19 (the “Order”). The Order requires all individuals to wear a face covering over their nose and mouth in the following locations, when it is not feasible to maintain 6’ of distance from others who areRead more

By Leah K. Burton and Paul Gaines The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy, and the worry many are feeling about having lost their job or potentially losing their job is causing emotional strain across our communities. Many are seeking an outlet for that emotional strain and are turning to a variety ofRead more

Dealing with the new norm related to COVID-19, the world is truly a bizarre place.  Masks are no longer worn solely on Halloween.  Hand sanitizer and Lysol wipes may soon replace cash as the national currency, while social distancing no longer means a self-imposed hiatus from Facebook.  Yes friends, these are truly trying times thatRead more

This coming August marks 3 years since Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas. Damage from Hurricane Harvey is estimated at $128.8 billion dollars, and over 30,000 people were displaced, and 200,000 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed1. For the Houston area in particular, in the past five years we have seen numerous devastating storms in additionRead more

On Friday, June 26, 2020, Governor Abbott issued Executive Order GA 28 (“GA 28”) relating to the targeted response to the COVID-19 disaster as part of the reopening of Texas, which supersedes GA 26. In relation to occupancy limits GA 28 generally states that every business establishment in Texas shall operate at no more thanRead more

Are POAs “commercial entities providing goods and services to the public”? In a number of counties, the answer is yes. Beginning on June 17, 2020, several counties and cities adopted new emergency orders requiring “commercial entities providing goods or services to the public” to adopt a Health and Safety Plan. While the exact language variesRead more

COVID-19 has forced local and national governments across the world to adopt emergency actions to combat the growing pandemic. Government action in the United States is no different. Congress has passed emergency action on family leave and payroll protection loans. Local governments have instituted shelter-in-place or stay home orders, and the term “essential employee” hasRead more

By Marc Markel and Eric Tonsul We’ve all become used to the requirements of masks, social distancing and maintaining groups smaller than 10 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, these requirements do not work well for the business side of many of our associations. During COVID-19, we have been recommending associations postpone their board meetings andRead more

Monday, May 18th, Governor Abbott announced Phase 2 of his plan to open Texas. This announcement included new guidelines for office-based employers, which takes immediate effect. The most notable changes are: Employers can open the office to the greater of 10 people or 25% of the total office workforce (previously the greater of 5 peopleRead more

COVID-19 has forced many businesses to alter their operating procedures and, in many cases, temporarily stop offering services or refund the cost of prepaid services. Property Owners Associations (POA) have also been forced to alter their normal operating procedures and adopt emergency procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic by closing amenities and temporarily pausing services. ShouldRead more