The next step in the legislative process for school choice in Texas has now been taken, with state leaders determining the advancement of the education savings account (ESA) bill that passed on the House floor last week.
Following nearly 12 hours of debate, Senate Bill (SB) 2 passed with 86 of 150 members voting in favor, all of them Republicans, and 63 against. Two Republicans joined Democrats in voting against: Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) and the former speaker of the House, Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont). The debate on the House floor, and the bill’s eventual passage, was a significant step for school choice legislation, as it has notoriously faced difficulties making it through the lower chamber.
