Overview

• The Texas House gave initial approval to Senate Bill 2, a $1 billion private school voucher program, in an 85-63 vote early Thursday morning.
• The program establishes Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), offering up to $10,000 per student for private school tuition and $2,000 for homeschoolers, with priority for low-income and disabled students.
• Key differences between the House and Senate versions, including a cap on high-income participation, will need to be resolved in a conference committee before final passage.
• Gov. Greg Abbott, who invested significant political capital and $6 million in pro-voucher campaigns, has pledged to sign the bill into law once reconciled.
• If enacted, Texas would become the largest state with a school voucher program, joining over 30 states in expanding school choice initiatives.