Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for February 4th, 2025
Texas House of Representatives
None
Texas Senate
Subject: Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) – School Choice
- Author: State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe)
- Caption: Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program.
- TFR Position: SUPPORT/AMEND
- Background:
- As proposed, SB 2 establishes an Education Savings Account (ESA) program for Texas children. The bill is expected to cost roughly $1 billion for FY 2027 for approved education expenses such as private school tuition, tutoring and special education services. The program is administered by the Texas Comptroller through Certified Educational Assistance Organizations (CEAOs), which oversee applications, payments, and compliance. Priority is given to low-income families and children with disabilities. Participating students would receive $10,000 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool. However, SB 2 does not provide true universal school choice, as the program will likely only provide ESAs for a tiny fraction (likely less than 2%) of Texas’ 6 million school children.
- TFR supports school choice and empowering parents to make decisions about their child’s education. However, SB 2 should be amended to include all Texas school children, and remove strings such as the requirement that the funds be used for a government “preapproved education service provider or vendor of educational products.”
Reminder: Vote Notices are provided to both Texas state lawmakers and the general public, sharing Texans for Fiscal Responsibility’s position on issues to be rated as a part of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Notices are provided prior to votes being taken in each legislative chamber.
Disclaimer: We reserve the right to consider amendments to legislation that may be introduced without notice as a part of issues to be rated on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. We will make every effort to provide notice on amendments that are pre-filed.
