The Texas voucher bill has been signed by Governor Greg Abbott. The legislation creates a school voucher program using taxpayer dollars to help cover private and religious school tuition.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 3, 2025
CONTACT: [email protected]
AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Greg Abbott today signed school vouchers, Senate Bill 2, into law. The legislation creates a school voucher program using taxpayer dollars to help cover private and religious school tuition. The bill passed the Texas Senate in February and was approved by the Texas House in April following extensive public debate and opposition.
In April, legislators introduced 44 amendments to the bill. Amendment 3, brought by Representative James Talarico, proposed an amendment referendum that would’ve allowed Texans to vote on school vouchers at the ballot box in November. The Republican-led Texas House voted to table all 44 amendments and never returned to address them, including Amendment 3, effectively rejecting this opportunity to let voters decide on the issue.
The program is now scheduled to launch in the 2026–27 school year.
Texas Freedom Network Executive Director Felicia Martin (she/her/ella) issued the following response:
“Governor Abbott just sold out Texas students and families. He ignored parents. He ignored teachers. He ignored the will of the people, who have repeatedly and overwhelmingly rejected voucher schemes, to appease wealthy donors and extremists.
“This reckless legislation drains public schools of the resources they desperately need and hands them over to private institutions that discriminate and dodge accountability. This was never about helping kids. It’s about politics, power, and profit. Abbott and his allies have chosen to dismantle our public education system and have made it clear they care more about their ambitions than our children’s futures. Texans will remember this betrayal.
“TFN and our allies will not back down. We will continue fighting until every child — no matter their race, zip code, income, faith, or LGBTQIA+ identity — has access to a high-quality public education funded and protected by the state that promised to serve them.”
