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Texas Passes Landmark School Choice Bill, Sends Measure to Governor Abbott’s Desk [WATCH]

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April 18, 2025
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Texas Passes Landmark School Choice Bill, Sends Measure to Governor Abbott's Desk [WATCH]

After years of stalled attempts, the Texas Legislature on Wednesday passed a comprehensive school choice bill that will establish publicly funded education savings accounts (ESAs) for families across the state.

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The bill, which passed following hours of debate that stretched past midnight, now heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for signature.

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“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,” Governor Abbott said following the vote.

 

The legislation will provide families with access to state-funded accounts to cover education-related expenses outside the traditional public school system.

Under the bill, families who opt out of public school can use ESA funds to pay for private school tuition, homeschooling costs, and other approved education expenses.

According to the proposal, families with children in private schools will receive about $10,000 annually per child.

Children with disabilities would qualify for $11,500. Homeschooled students would be eligible for $2,000 per year, or $2,500 for those with disabilities.

Republican state lawmakers have proposed using $1 billion from the state’s nearly $24 billion surplus to fund the initiative.

However, a legislative advisory board projected the program’s costs could rise to nearly $4 billion annually by 2030 if demand increases.

Despite Republican control of the state legislature, the bill faced bipartisan resistance. Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill broadly, and a few Republicans also voted against the measure.

Among them were House Speaker Dade Phelan and Rep. Gary VanDeaver, both of whom are former public school superintendents and longstanding opponents of school choice policies.

Rep. Ron Reynolds (D) criticized the measure during debate, calling it “unpatriotic” and “un-American.”

In recent months, Governor Abbott had made school choice a priority and targeted Republican holdouts in the primary season who previously voted against similar legislation.

Following a failed attempt to pass the bill in a prior session, Abbott endorsed pro-school choice challengers to unseat Republicans who opposed the measure.

Texas school choice advocate Ross Schumann said the new policy gives families greater flexibility to find education models that fit their children’s individual needs.

“School choice is a vital lifeline for Texas students,” Schumann said.

“There are great public schools in our state, and there are bad public schools. But even a great school may not be great for all students.”

He added that the new law “will at least get us closer to a free market approach and empower parents and students to make decisions based on the best options to fill their individual needs.”

In the final days before the vote, Democrats attempted to derail the bill by proposing a statewide ballot initiative for voters to decide in November.

“The taxpayers should have a say,” argued Rep. James Talarico (D).

Protests were held inside the Capitol building during the vote.

Opponents of the bill chanted “No vouchers!” while supporters wearing “Parents matter” shirts rallied in favor of the legislation.

President Donald Trump weighed in on the outcome with a post on Truth Social, offering congratulations to Texas leaders for securing the win.

“Congratulations to my friends, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dustin Burrows, along with Texas Legislators, for finally passing SCHOOL CHOICE, which I strongly endorsed – this is a gigantic Victory for students and parents in the Great State of Texas!” Trump wrote. “We will very soon be sending Education BACK TO ALL THE STATES, where it belongs. It is our goal to bring Education in the United States to the highest level, one that it has never attained before. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Trump, who has long advocated for expanding school choice nationwide, is expected to continue supporting federal legislation that broadens education options for parents.

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