The Texas House for the first time in state history passed a school choice bill after previous attempts failed in multiple legislative sessions.
The House passed SB 2, filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and its companion legislation filed by state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, after 15 hours of being in session on Wednesday. After eight hours of debate that went into the early morning hours on Thursday, the measure passed along party lines by a vote of 85-63.
Gov. Greg Abbott lauded the bill’s passage after largely being responsible for it. In the last legislative session, he targeted 21 House Republicans who opposed the earlier measure, 16 of whom ran for reelection and lost to candidates he supported and campaigned for. After those Republicans won contentious primaries and vowed to vote for the school choice bill, they were sworn into office in January and followed through on their commitment.
“For the first time in Texas history, our state has passed a universal school choice bill out of both chambers in the Texas Legislature,” Abbott said. “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. Texas could not have accomplished this without the hard work and unwavering support from Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Chairman Brandon Creighton, and Chairman Brad Buckley.”
He also said he will sign it as soon as it reaches his desk, which he argues creates “the largest day-one school choice program in the nation.”
House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, had said earlier in the session that the bill would pass and oversaw much of the proceedings on Wednesday. Throughout the legislative session, Burrows joined Abbott at events promoting the bill, The Center Square reported.
