Texas House Advances School Voucher Bill Ahead of Vote

The Texas House Public Education Committee approved a school voucher bill, Senate Bill 2, which would allocate taxpayer funds for private education, with an initial spending cap of $1 billion over two years. House Speaker Dustin Burrows expressed confidence that the bill would pass in the GOP-led House, following significant support from Republican lawmakers. However, Democrats raised concerns about the lack of transparency during the committee meeting, calling for a live video feed to allow public scrutiny of the process. The bill prioritizes low-income students and those with disabilities, while limiting slots for higher-income families. Additionally, the committee also approved a companion school finance bill that would raise the basic per-student funding, marking the first increase since 2019. Governor Greg Abbott has made passing a school voucher plan a key priority for the upcoming legislative session.