MRT 4/17/25 (free): School Choice Bill Passes TX House 85-63 in Historic First // TX Senate Approves $500M in Film Incentives // Crockett Posts $1.7M Q1

MustReadTexas.com – @MustReadTexas
BY: @MattMackowiak 

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THURSDAY | 4/17/2025

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• TOP NEWS

"In historic first, Texas House approves private school voucher program,” Texas Tribune's Jaden Edison and Jasper Scherer -- "The Texas House gave initial approval early Thursday to a bill that would create a $1 billion private school voucher program, crossing a historic milestone and bringing Gov. Greg Abbott’s top legislative priority closer than ever to reaching his desk.

The lower chamber signed off on its voucher proposal, Senate Bill 2, on an 85-63 vote. Every present Democrat voted against the bill. They were joined by two Republicans — far short of the bipartisan coalitions that in previous legislative sessions consistently blocked proposals to let Texans use taxpayer money to pay for their children’s private schooling.

“This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children,” Abbott said in a statement, vowing that he would “swiftly sign this bill into law” when it reached his desk.

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The vote came more than 10 hours after the chamber gave preliminary approval to its sweeping $7.7 billion school funding package, which would give local districts more money per student and raise teacher salaries. House Bill 2, which passed on a 144-4 vote, also aims to improve the quality of special education services by allocating funding based on the individual needs of children with disabilities.

Democrats argued the funding boost barely scratches the surface of what districts need to come back from budget deficits or to cover growing costs after years of inflation, but they ultimately supported the bill after a few hours of debate.

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The more dramatic showdown came over the voucher bill, which Democrats tried to thwart with an amendment that would have put school vouchers up for a statewide vote in November. But the last-ditch maneuver attracted support from only one Republican — Rep. Dade Phelan of Beaumont, the former House speaker — spelling the demise of Democrats’ one major play to derail the bill.

The landmark voucher vote marks the first time since 1957 that the Texas House has approved legislation making state money available for families to use on their children’s private schooling. The outcome validated Abbott’s crusade to build a pro-voucher House majority during last year’s primary by targeting Republicans who tanked his previous proposal in 2023. Now, all that is left is for Republicans in both chambers to iron out the differences between their voucher plans, leaving Abbott and his allies on the brink of victory.

The House’s plan would put $1 billion to create education savings accounts, a form of vouchers that families could use to pay for private school tuition and other school-related expenses, like textbooks, transportation and therapy. The bill would tie the voucher program’s per-student dollars to public education funding so the amount available to each participating student would increase when public schools receive more money and dip when public education funding declines.

If public demand exceeds the program’s capacity, students with disabilities and families defined by House lawmakers as low income would be prioritized — though they would not be guaranteed admission to any private school.

Democrats expressed disappointment over the House’s approval of vouchers, saying the outcome represented big money interests prevailing over those of everyday Texans.

“This bill is everything that is wrong with politics,” said Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin.

After Thursday’s vote, the House will still need to cast a final vote to approve both the voucher and school spending bills, largely a formality. The measures would then head to the Senate. At that point, members from both chambers would work to reconcile the differences in their voucher proposals in a closed-door conference committee. The biggest differences center on how much money participating students should receive, which applicants should take priority and how the program should accommodate students with disabilities.

The House debate on vouchers started Wednesday afternoon and ended early Thursday. Lawmakers changed a provision in the bill that would have limited funding for people without disabilities or from wealthier households — defined as a family of four making about $156,000 or greater — to only 20% of the program’s total budget until after the 2026-27 school year. The 20% cap would now apply to each year of the potential voucher program.

The bill now also requires private schools to have existed for at least two years before joining the program; grants the state auditor more power to review the activities of organizations contracted to administer the program; and requires the state’s annual report on the program to include dropout, expulsion and graduation data on participating students with disabilities — broken down by grade, age, sex and race or ethnicity.

Wednesday’s debate over SB 2 covered many of the talking points for and against vouchers echoed throughout the legislative session.

Republicans sought to assure their colleagues that the bill would prioritize low-income children and students with disabilities. Democrats noted that the legislation imposes no admission requirements on private schools, meaning they can deny any student, even those the state wants first in line for the program.

Higher-income families whose children were already attending private schools have primarily benefited from the large-scale voucher programs enacted in other states." Texas Tribune

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• #TXLEGE

"In private school voucher push, Gov. Abbott breaks through by playing hardball” Texas Tribune

"Texas Senate approves $500 million infusion for film incentives” Texas Tribune

"House Republicans refuse to pass ceremonial resolution honoring Cecile Richards” Texas Tribune

• STATE GOVERNMENT

“AG Ken Paxton sues Dallas over gun policy at the Majestic Theater and Music Hall” DMN ($)

• TEXANS IN DC

“Dallas Rep. Jasmine Crockett raises nearly $1.7M, posting best fundraising quarter” DMN ($)

NEWS FROM AROUND THE STATE

> SAEN: "Texas developer at center of Paxton's impeachment sentenced to supervised release, $1 million fine" SAEN

> THE TEXAN: "School Choice, Public Education Funding Bills Pass Initial Vote in Texas House" THE TEXAN

> AAS: "More than 260 Texas international students had visas revoked, legal status changed" AAS

> AAS: "Texas House gives initial OK to $7.7 billion school funding package" AAS

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Oak Ridge North police chief faces potential termination following turnover, culture concerns" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> AAS: "As Texas Republicans push to loosen gun laws, shooting survivors push back" AAS

> AAS: "Would school vouchers help Texas students with special needs? House to weigh 'school choice'" AAS

> EP TIMES: "Texas Rep. Joe Moody, committee honored for efforts to delay execution, seek new trial" EP TIMES

> HOU CHRON: "Houston City Council votes to rename Terminal E after late U.S. Rep. Jackson Lee" HOU CHRON

> THE TEXAN: "Texas House School Discipline Bill Passes After Debate Between Lawmakers" THE TEXAN

> THE TEXAN: "Harris County 2022 Judicial Election 'Do-Over' Delayed Due to Appeal" THE TEXAN

> EP TIMES: "Texas House OKs bill that gives schools more latitude to discipline students" EP TIMES

> THE TEXAN: "Texas Cyber Command Legislation Passes Texas House" THE TEXAN

> AAS: "Now that Paxton is running for US Senate, who will run for open Texas attorney general seat?" AAS

> AAS: "Texas House shoots down proposal to let Texans vote on school vouchers" AAS

> SAEN: "Alamo Colleges bond should be a slam dunk for San Antonio voters" SAEN

> THE TEXAN: "REDACTED #056: Student Visas and the Limits of Dissent" THE TEXAN

> SAEN: "Australian prime minister says he trusts Trump and Xi during debate with election rival" SAEN

> DMN: "Day after shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School, several questions remain" DMN

> DMN: "Wilmer-Hutchins shooting suspect entered school through side door" DMN

> FWST: "Foul smell leads family member to 74-year-old killed by his son, Texas cops say" FWST

> FWST: "4 students injured in shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas" FWST

> FWST: "Accused Dallas Wilmer-Hutchins High shooter was let in by another student: warrant" FWST

> HOU CHRON: "Report shows which sexually transmitted diseases rising in Harris County" HOU CHRON

> COMMUNITY IMPACT: "Liberty Hill ISD budget cuts prompt changes" COMMUNITY IMPACT

> FWST: "Family of Northlake woman killed in 2021 ice storm pileup settles with toll authority" FWST

> THE TEXAN: "World's Leading AI Chip Manufacturer Announces Texas Investment, New Plants" THE TEXAN

> MRT: "The dry line is back. Does that mean rain this weekend?" MRT

> DMN: "Suspect in Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooting identified" DMN

• EXTRA POINTS

Last night's Texas sports scores:
> NBA: Dallas 120, Sacramento 106
> MLB: St. Louis 4, Houston 1
> MLB: Texas 3, LA Angels 1
> NHL: Nashville 5, Dallas 1

Tonight's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: LA Angels at Texas

Tomorrow's Texas sports schedule:
> 7:05pm: MLB: LA Angels at Texas
> 7:10pm: San Diego at Houston
> 8:30pm: Dallas at Memphis (ESPN)

DALLAS MAVERICKS / DALLAS STARS: "Mavs, Stars headed for split over differing arena priorities after 32 years as roommates’" DMN ($)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: "As front office embarrasses itself, Mavericks make statement with win over Kings’" DMN ($)

DALLAS MAVERICKS: "Even without Ja Morant, Mavericks aware of tough matchup against ‘very prideful’ Grizzlies’" DMN ($)

DALLAS STARS: "Stars playoff roundtable: Can Dallas succeed without top defenseman Miro Heiskanen?" DMN ($)

HOUSTON ROCKETS: "How does Houston Rockets' Amen Thompson lock in on defense? He keeps receipts" Houston Chronicle ($)

TEXAS FOOTBALL: Golden: "Why Texas football will have to be true road warriors away from DKR in 2025" AAS ($)

TEXAS RANGERS: "Corey Seager gets 3 hits and 2 RBIs as the Rangers beat the Angels 3-1" AP

HOUSTON ASTROS: "Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña is struggling — but these changes have him moving 'in a good direction'" Houston Chronicle ($)

HOUSTON MEN'S BASKETBALL: "Emanuel Sharp will return to Houston Cougars for his final season" Houston Chronicle ($)