AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Education savings accounts are one step closer to reality, with members of a Texas House committee giving their approval to two key bills Thursday.
The House Committee on Public Education voted to approve Senate Bill 2 by a 9-6 party line vote, amended with the addition of a $1 billion spending cap for the first two years of the program.
Members also voted to approve House Bill 2 on a 13-2 vote; the bill would increase the basic allotment - the money that school districts across the state receive for each student - by $395; the first increase since 2019. The allotment would also increase every two years tied to property tax growth.
Thursday's meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but was delayed after an analysis of the bills was released late Monday.
Vouchers are a key legislative priority for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who named them as one of his emergency items for the legislative session.
Both bills will now head to the full House for consideration.