AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in April, by executive order, barred state government entities from requiring “vaccine passports.” On Monday, that crackdown was extended to the private sector.

Senate Bill 968, passed in the waning days of the 2021 legislative session, punishes businesses that require proof of vaccination from customers.

“Texas is open 100%. Texans should have the freedom to go where they want without any limits, restrictions, or requirements. Today, I signed a law that prohibits any TX business or gov’t entity from requiring vaccine passports or any vaccine information,” Abbott tweeted.

Under the law, businesses that require proof of vaccination from customers will be denied state contracts and could stand to lose their licenses or operating permits.

While the U.S. government has no plans to require the so-called vaccine passports, something like that might be required for international travel in some instances.

According to a report by the Associated Press, the European Union, some Asian governments and the airline industry are working on systems that would allow travelers to use mobile phone apps to prove they’ve been vaccinated, which could help them avoid quarantine requirements at their destinations.

Abbott’s signature comes as mass vaccination efforts in Texas are ramping down. Mass vaccination sites are all but gone but pop-up vaccination sites still exist and vaccines remain available at numerous pharmacies and other medical facilities.

As of Monday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 10,622,474 Texans are fully vaccinated and 13,030,295 have received at least one vaccine dose. Texas is home to nearly 30 million people.

The state also on Monday reported 339 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, 29 new probable cases and just two new fatalities attributed to the virus.