The Texas Senate on Thursday approved Senate Bill 2, a landmark $1 billion education savings account program, sending the measure to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for his signature.
The bill, which would allow families to use taxpayer dollars for private school tuition, marks a historic shift in Texas education policy.
The Senate voted 19-12 to accept the House’s version of Senate Bill 2, avoiding the need for further negotiations and paving the way for the largest school choice program in the nation, according to a report by KXAN Austin.
“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,” Abbott said in a statement.
The legislation, a top priority for Abbott, faced years of resistance in the Texas House, where Democrats and rural Republicans previously blocked voucher proposals. The House approved the bill on April 17 with an 86-61 vote, largely along party lines, after intense political pressure from Abbott and support from wealthy donors who backed pro-voucher candidates in the 2024 primaries.
Senate Bill 2 aims to provide families with approximately $10,000 per student annually to cover private school costs, prioritizing students transitioning from public to private schools. The House also passed a companion measure, House Bill 2, allocating $7.7 billion to boost public school funding, which helped secure support for the voucher program.
“Texas is within reach of the largest school choice program launch in the nation,” Abbott said after the House Public Education Committee advanced the bill on April 3.
Opponents, including public school advocates, expressed concerns about diverting funds from public education.
“Time and again, Texans have said no to vouchers — parents, teachers, students, and even local conservative leaders. But Governor Abbott and his allies chose to ignore them and push their agenda anyway,” said Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) during House debates.
Some Democrats proposed amendments to increase funding for low-income students, but these were rejected.
The Senate’s approval followed a swift process, with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick advocating for adopting the House’s version to expedite the bill’s passage.
“When it reaches my desk, I will swiftly sign this bill into law, creating the largest day-one school choice program in the nation and putting Texas on a pathway to becoming the best state in America for educating our kids,” Abbott reiterated in a statement.
The bill now awaits Abbott’s signature, which he has pledged to provide promptly, potentially transforming Texas’ education landscape by offering families unprecedented access to private school funding.