Gov. Greg Abbott expressed confidence that the Texas House of Representatives has gathered enough support to pass his school choice legislation.
Abbott’s remarks came after 75 Republican lawmakers signed on as co-authors of House Bill 3, a bill filed by Rep. Brad Buckley that aims to allow families to use public funds for private school tuition.
The bill also seeks to offer educational savings accounts to families, a proposal Abbott claims will expand school choice options across the state.
“This session, Texas will usher in a new era where families have the opportunity to choose the learning environment that meets the unique needs of their children,” Abbott posted to X on February 26.
“I will continue working closely with both chambers of the Texas Legislature to get the biggest launch of any universal school choice program in the nation to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law,” He added.
The governor said the bill’s passage would be a big step toward granting families the freedom to select the best school for their kids, regardless of their zip code.
The House’s endorsement of HB 3 follows months of debate and differing opinions on how to best structure school choice for Texans. However, the 75 co-authors, a majority of whom are House Republican members, indicate that the bill has a strong chance of passing the legislative process.
There are still hurdles to clear, including balancing differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.
HB 3 and Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) passed the Texas Senate earlier this month and would set up education savings accounts for eligible families. These accounts would allow parents to use public funds to cover anything from private school tuition to textbooks, transportation, and other school expenses.
Both bills require a state investment of $1 billion to fund the accounts, according to Fox 4 KDFW, but they differ in several key areas. The House bill sets the funding for each student at 85% of the estimated statewide average amount of state and local funding per student. At the same time, SB 2 proposes a flat $10,000 contribution for each account.
Despite the heavy support from House Republicans, the bill has not necessarily gained traction with all lawmakers.
The co-author list notably lacks signatures from all 62 Democratic representatives and 12 Republicans, including House Speaker Dustin Burrows. Though Burrows has voiced support for school choice, he was absent from the list of co-authors.
Other Republicans who did not co-author the bill include key House figures, such as Representatives Gary VanDeaver, Jay Dean, and Dade Phelan.