Republican leaders are fast-tracking the first step in privatizing Texas public schools, proving that when billionaires spend tens of millions to buy politicians, they get results. The Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 2,

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the first 25 of 40 Texas Senate priority bills, outlining several hot-topic issues he says will bolster Trump's agenda.

The Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday night voted to advance school voucher legislation for a full vote in the Senate after hours of public testimony largely focused on whether the proposal would live up to its promise of prioritizing low-income families and children with disabilities.

After hours of testimony Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Education advanced Senate Bill 2, a school voucher bill, setting it up for a floor vote.

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.”

A fiscal note for SB 2 from the Texas Senate said the legislation would allow about 35,000 students to attend private school in 2027.

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.

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

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.

School choice is one step closer to becoming a reality in the State of Texas despite public school officials’ disapproval. The Texas Senate Education Committee is allowing the school voucher legislation to go up for a floor vote in the coming days.