The Texas Senate has passed Senate Bill (SB) 1, which would create a virtually unlimited voucher program that would divert public funds available for public education to instead pay those already attending private schools.

Led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), the Senate passed SB 1 Thursday night on a vote of 18-13, despite bipartisan opposition that included longtime public education supporter Sen. Robert Nichols (R–Jacksonville) and a united Democratic caucus.

The voucher program would divert $500 million in funds currently available for public education to instead pay $8,000 per year to those attending private schools and $1,000 per year to homeschoolers. The Senate adopted nearly a dozen amendments, including expanding voucher eligibility to homeschoolers and allowing the state to spend public funds to advertise the voucher program.

The Senate separately passed SB 2, which would add $5.2 billion in public education funding over the next two years. The funding includes expanding the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), increasing school safety funding, and providing a $3,000 stipend for most teachers and a $10,000 stipend for teachers in districts with fewer than 5,000 students—an offer intended to win over legislators representing rural districts who have traditionally been vigorous opponents of vouchers.

Although the voucher and funding bills were passed separately, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced Thursday that he would not allow school funding and teacher pay to be passed until the voucher bill is on his desk, reemphasizing his intention to hold schools and teachers hostage to a bill that will allow him to defund them.

The Senate also passed bills Thursday related to border security and a bill that would ban businesses, including hospitals and health care settings, from requiring employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The legislation will now head to the Texas House, which could pass SB 2 unamended and force the governor’s hand on school funding and teacher pay. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R–Beaumont) has publicly indicated he is willing to bow to Gov. Abbott’s wishes despite the continuing bipartisan opposition to vouchers among House members.

ATPE members can let your representative know how you feel by taking part in our Advocacy Central campaign to urge the Texas House to stand strong in support of public education and oppose any deal that would eliminate resources for the 5.4 million public school children of Texas through private school vouchers.