The Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 2, Senate Bill 2, a $1 billion education savings account program on Thursday, and sent measures to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for his signature.
The bill allows families to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition fees, indicating historical changes in Texas education policy.
The Senate voted 19-12 to accept a version of Senate Bill 2 in the House, avoiding the need for further negotiations and paving the way for the country’s largest school selection program, according to a report by Kxan Austin.
“This is an extraordinary victory for thousands of parents who have ADV.Abbott said in a statement.
Abbott’s top priority, the law faced years of resistance at a Texas home where Democrats and rural Republicans had previously blocked voucher proposals. The House approved the bill on April 17th with 86-61 votes, mainly along the party line, after intense political pressure from Abbott and support from wealthy donors who supported pro voucher candidates in the 2024 primary.
Senate Bill 2 aims to provide families with around $10,000 per student to cover the costs of private schools. The House also passed House Bill 2, a companion major, allotted $7.7 billion to increase public school funding.
“Texas is within reach of launching the nation’s largest school selection program,” Abbott said after the House Public Education Committee moved forward on April 3rd.
Opponents, including public school advocates, have expressed concern about diverting funds from public education.
“Many times the Texans have said no to vouchers – parents, teachers, students, and even local conservative leaders. But Governor Abbott and his allies chose to ignore them anyway and promote their agenda.”
Some Democrats proposed amendments to increase funding for low-income students, but these were rejected.
Senate approval followed a rapid process, with Lt. Col. Dan Patrick advocating for the adoption of the House version to facilitate the passage of the bill.
“When it reaches my desk, I will quickly sign this bill into law, create the largest daily one-day school selection program in the country, and guide Texas on the path to becoming America’s best state to educate children,” Abbott repeated in a statement.
The bill is currently awaiting Abbott’s signature. He has committed to potentially transforming, potentially transforming, potentially transforming, potentially transforming the Texas educational landscape by providing unprecedented access to private school funding.
