Texas House Approves Biennial Budget, Sends Controversial School Choice Provision to Senate
Late on May 28, 2025, the Texas House of Representatives concluded a protracted and often contentious floor session by approving the state’s biennial budget bill, officially designated as House Bill 1. The passage of this cornerstone piece of legislation, which outlines state spending priorities for the next two years, represents a crucial milestone in the legislative process. However, its approval did not come without intense debate, particularly concerning a key element included within the House version: a controversial school choice voucher program vehemently championed by Governor Greg Abbott.
The floor debate on HB 1 extended for many hours, characteristic of the intense scrutiny applied to the state’s primary appropriations bill. Lawmakers proposed and debated numerous amendments covering a vast array of state services, programs, and agencies, ranging from public education funding and healthcare services to infrastructure projects and state agency operations. The sheer volume and complexity of these amendments contributed to the “marathon” nature of the session, requiring representatives to consider spending decisions totaling billions of dollars under significant time pressure.
A central point of contention throughout the deliberation was the inclusion of the school choice voucher program. This initiative, a top legislative priority for Governor Abbott and many conservative Republicans, would allow parents to use public funds to offset the cost of private school tuition or other approved educational expenses outside the traditional public school system. Proponents argue that such programs increase parental choice, foster competition among schools leading to improved educational outcomes, and provide options for students in underperforming public schools.
Conversely, the measure faced significant opposition during the House debate. This opposition came primarily from a coalition comprising most, if not all, Democrats and a notable bloc of rural Republicans. The concerns voiced by these groups were multifaceted. Democrats often oppose voucher programs on principle, arguing they divert essential public funds from the state’s traditional public school system, which serves the vast majority of Texas students. They also raise questions about the accountability and oversight of private institutions receiving public money.
Rural Republicans, while often aligning with their party on fiscal matters, have expressed deep concerns that voucher programs could disproportionately harm smaller, rural public school districts. These districts typically lack nearby private school options and rely heavily on state funding formulas that could be negatively impacted if student enrollment (and corresponding state per-pupil funding) decreases due to students utilizing vouchers elsewhere. Their representatives argued passionately that the focus should remain on fully funding and improving the public schools that serve as vital community hubs in rural areas.
Despite facing these substantial challenges and attempts by opponents to remove or significantly alter the provision, the amendment for the school choice voucher program survived initial challenges on the House floor. The specifics of how it was protected or what maneuvers were employed to ensure its survival during the amendment process were central to the day’s political drama. This outcome demonstrates the strong backing the measure has among the House leadership and a majority of the Republican caucus, overcoming the bipartisan coalition of opposition.
The successful passage of HB 1 by the House of Representatives, complete with the controversial voucher provision, marks a crucial step. It signifies the House’s priorities for the state’s finances and policy direction for the 2026-2027 biennium. However, it is far from the final word on the budget or the school choice issue.
The bill now moves to the Texas Senate. The Senate will develop its own version of the biennial budget, typically designated as Senate Bill 1. While there is often overlap in overall spending levels, the Senate has its own set of priorities and policy riders it may choose to include or exclude. The reception of the House’s budget bill in the Senate is uncertain, and the fate of the voucher provision within the final state budget remain subject to further negotiation and debate.
The Senate could choose to remove the voucher provision entirely, modify its scope or funding mechanism, or adopt a similar measure. Once the Senate passes its version of the budget bill, any differences between the House and Senate versions must be resolved in a conference committee. This committee, composed of a select group of representatives and senators, will work to iron out disagreements and produce a single, compromise version of the budget bill that must then be approved by both chambers before being sent to the Governor‘s desk.
The inclusion of school choice in the House budget bill ensures it will be a central point of discussion during the budget reconciliation process. The outcome will depend heavily on negotiations between House and Senate leaders, as well as potential influence from the Governor’s office. Legislative observers anticipate intense discussions surrounding funding levels for various state services and the ultimate fate of the voucher program.
For now, the focus shifts to the upper chamber as Texas awaits the Senate‘s response to the House-approved budget and the potential next chapter in the ongoing debate over school choice in the state.
