Texas House passes landmark school choice bill
Caroline MolloyThe Texas House voted 85-63 just after 2 a.m. Thursday morning to pass a landmark $1 billion school choice bill, advancing Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priority and paving the way for the largest program of its kind in the nation.
The vote came “after lawmakers debated Senate Bill 2 to near exhaustion. It fell largely on party lines,” Dallas News reported. “The bill will require one last vote before it is passed in the House, though the margins rarely change on final approval. …Once that is complete, it has a clear path to the governor’s desk.”
The legislation creates a statewide school choice program offering education savings accounts (ESAs) that will make public education funds directly available to families, who may choose to use the money for private school tuition, homeschooling, and other approved education expenses. Annual awards would range from $2,000 for homeschoolers to $11,500 for private school.
CatholicVote endorsed this legislation.
“For the first time in Texas history,” Abbott stated after the vote, “our state has passed a universal school choice bill. This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children.”
“When it reaches my desk, I will swiftly sign this bill into law, creating the largest day-one school choice program in the nation,” he added.
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops backed SB 2 earlier this year, citing its strong protections for religious freedom and private school autonomy.
“HB 2 strengthens public schools while SB 2 increases access to educational alternatives; this is a win-win for Texas education,” Executive Director Jennifer Allmon said Monday.
The bill’s passage follows months of campaigning by Abbott, who made school choice a top priority after past efforts were blocked in the House.
President Donald Trump, a longtime proponent of school choice, had personally called Texas House leadership Wednesday morning to offer his support.
