"The Texas Senate's passage of SB 2 is the biggest launch of any universal school choice program in American history, with $1 billion in funding for 100,000 students," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement Wednesday night.

Texans also heard from their fellow citizens as part of the Democratic Party’s response to Abbott’s speech, with state Democrats enlisting a public school educator, an OB/GYN, electricians’ union representative and the state’s Democratic chair to represent what the party hoped to project as the voice of everyday Texans.

After seven hours of debate over Senate Bill 2 on the Senate floor Wednesday, the chamber suspended rules so lawmakers could expedite the process and send it to the Texas House for consideration.

Senate Bill 2 now heads to the House, where top officials say they have the support to create education savings accounts.

By print deadline Wednesday, the Texas Senate was poised to pass a school voucher bill that would offer $10,000 to students for private school tuition

AUSTIN – The Texas Senate is expected to approve a “school choice” bill Wednesday that would let families use taxpayer dollars for private school education – the first major step for Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priority.

Top Republicans praised the Texas Senate's passage of "school choice" legislation as the proposal advances to the House where it was defeated in 2023.

The Texas Senate has passed SB 2, which now awaits approval from the House. Here's what lawmakers say about the proposed school voucher program.