Yesterday, on November 17, the Texas House engaged in an intense discussion over a divisive school finance scheme involving education savings accounts (ESAs). A group of rural house Republicans, spearheaded by State Rep. John Raney, filed an amendment to entirely excise ESAs from the bill. 15 other Republicans also signed the amendment as reported by KXAN.
Should the amendment pass, the discussions are projected to be relatively brief. However, if ESAs miss out on the House-approved bill, the chances of Senate rejection are high. Governor Greg Abbott has even hinted at a veto of such a bill. The Legislative Budget Board predicted that House Bill 1 could cost the state over $36 billion through 2028, including $7.6 billion in the upcoming two years.
House Bill 1 faced opposition from liberals and conservatives. Some conservative representatives, including State Rep. Matt Schaefer, believe the bill's cost does not ensure adequate provisions for ESAs for many children according to a KXAN report. Conversely, Democrats, including State Rep. Carl Sherman, fiercely oppose any ESA provisions, insisting on priority being given to teachers and public schools over vouchers.
In a related report on the same day, a CBS News Texas article revealed Republican Representative Brad Buckley launching HB 1 during the ongoing third special session summoned by Governor Greg Abbott. Governor Abbott's approach diverges from the bill as he pledged to elevate public school funding only post-school choice plan approval by both chambers. Speaker Dade Phelan admitted to the conflict and stressed the necessity of negotiations. He pointed out that the House would not sanction school choice without a parallel increase in funding for school districts and teachers.
House Bill 1 pairs public school funding augmentations with school choice provisions, with proposals over $4,600 in taxpayer subsidies for private school enrolment. The bill also commits to a $4,000 retention bonus for public school teachers, with the aim of maintaining their commitment to their careers. It also facilitates an increase in the per-student funding for school districts: a $30 boost to $6,190 in the first year and a further increase of $300, taking the total to $6,500 in the second year in reference to CBS News Texas.
Contrastingly, the Senate-approved SB 1 proposes more funds for ESAs, offering $8,000 in subsidies for private school education. SB 2, another bill approved by the Senate, proposes a $3,000 bonus for most teachers, whereas small and medium-sized school districts' teachers would receive a $7,000 bonus. Additionally, the per-student allotment in school districts would also see an increase of $75, thus totaling $6,235.
