AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Lawmakers in the Texas House voted to approve an amendment to the lower chamber's education funding bill that would strip out education savings accounts, putting the House at odds with the Senate and Gov. Greg Abbott in the midst of a fourth special session.
The House voted 84-63 in favor of an amendment offered by Rep. John Raney of College Station - including 21 Republicans who sided with Democrats to support it.
Friday's move is just the latest roadblock to school vouchers in the Legislature.
Gov. Greg Abbott, who has spent much of the year campaigning for school choice in some form, has vowed to veto any education funding bill that hits his desk without it.
House Bill 1, clocking in at almost $7 billion, would increase the basic allotment paid for each student to districts across the state from $6,160 to $6,700; it would also be adjusted for inflation beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Full-time teachers, counselors, nurses, and librarians are also slated to get a $4,000 one-time bonus under the proposal.
The amendment removed the voucher component, which would have created education savings accounts for roughly 40,000 students across the state to receive as much as $10,500 per year for private school expenses. Low-income families and students with disabilities would be prioritized, but otherwise no restrictions would be placed on the program.