A proposal to create a school voucher-like plan for Texas was advanced by the Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday night, giving voucher supporters like Gov. Greg Abbott their first major win of the legislative session.

Senate Bill 2, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), would create an "Education Savings Account" (ESA) program that would allow Texas families to use public tax dollars to help pay for private education.

The proposal, a priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, budgets $1 billion over the next two years to fund the private school vouchers.

Both chambers are off to a fast start, with each unveiling its plan to guide state spending for the two-year budget cycle that starts Sept. 1.

Legislation advances after a budget analysis estimates the cost of the voucher-style program will nearly quadruple in 4 years.

A bipartisan group of rural Republicans and Democrats killed the idea in the legislature two years ago. This year, Governor Abbott believes he has the votes.

Dan Patrick’s office described as maintaining “current border ... what lawmakers proposed for such a program during the 2023 legislative session. The school voucher-like program would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their children ...

Senate Bill 2 would set aside $1 billion in taxpayer money to give some parents $10,000 vouchers to spend at private schools.

AUSTIN, Texas - The first hearing on a new school voucher plan is now set for Tuesday, Jan. 28, at the Texas Capitol. Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said he would fast track the controversial legislation and on Friday morning, in the State Senate, SB 2 was referred to the Senate Education K-16 Committee .

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced his Senate priorities for the 89th legislative session. Of his 40 priority bills, the 25 he laid out in his announcement include school choice,

Outside of school choice, other priorities for Patrick include several rightwing culture war goals like “placing the ten commandments in school” and “stopping drag time story hour.”