Estimated Time to Read: 6 minutes
For the first time in Texas history, a majority of the Texas House of Representatives has coalesced around a school choice proposal. House Bill 3 (HB 3), spearheaded by State Representative Brad Buckley (R–Salado), has gained the support of 75 Republican lawmakers, ensuring it has enough votes to pass. This development marks a significant milestone in the push to establish an Education Savings Account (ESA) program in Texas.
Key Provisions of House Bill 3
HB 3 proposes the creation of an ESA program that would allocate approximately $10,000 per child, with an initial budget of $1 billion. This would enable roughly 100,000 students to participate in its first year. Families could use these funds for a variety of educational expenses, including:
- Private school tuition
- Homeschooling resources
- Specialized educational services
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Therapy and other support services
A distinguishing feature of HB 3 is its funding mechanism. The bill ties each ESA’s value to 85% of the estimated statewide average of state and local funding per student in average daily attendance. This ensures that ESA funding adjusts alongside public education spending.
Governor Abbott’s Endorsement
Governor Greg Abbott (R) has made school choice a top priority this legislative session. In a statement celebrating HB 3’s support, he emphasized the significance of the bill:
“For the first time in our great state’s history, ther Texas House has the votes to pass a universal school choice program. This is a remarkable achivement for the countless parents, students, and educators across Texas who want school choice expanded to all Texas families. This truly was a team effort. I thank Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Burrows, Chairman Creighton, Chairman Buckley, and the members of both the Texas House and Senate for fighting for parents’ right to choose the best education path for their child. This session, Texas will usher in a new era where families have the opportunity to choose the learning environment that meets the unique needs of their children. I will continue working closely with both chambers of the Texas Legislature to get the biggest launch of any universal school choice program in the nation to my desk, where it will be swiftly signed into law.”
How HB 3 Compares to Senate Bill 2
The Texas Senate has already passed a similar school choice measure, Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), which also aims to establish ESAs. While the two bills share common objectives, they differ in a few key areas:
- Funding Allocation – SB 2 proposes a flat $10,000 per student, while HB 3’s funding is dynamic, adjusting annually based on the statewide average per-pupil expenditure.
- Eligibility and Expansion – Both bills prioritize students with disabilities and those from low-income families. However, HB 3 includes provisions for expanding the program in future years to accommodate growing parental demand.
Legislative Support and Opposition
The Senate passed SB 2 on February 5th by a vote of 19-12, with one Republican, Sen. Robert Nichols (R–Jacksonville), voting against it. SB 2 has now been referred to the House Public Education Committee for further consideration.
On the House side, HB 3 has now been referred to the House Public Education Committee as well. With 76 lawmakers publicly supporting the bill, it has the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. The full list of supporters includes:
- Alders, Daniel (Tyler)
- Ashby, Trent (Lufkin)
- Bell Jr., Cecil (Magnolia)
- Bell, Keith (Forney)
- Bonnen, Greg (Friendswood)
- Bumgarner, Ben (Flower Mound)
- Button, Angie Chen (Garland)
- Cain, Briscoe (Deer Park)
- Capriglione, Giovanni (Southlake)
- Cook, David (Mansfield)
- Craddick, Tom (Midland)
- Cunningham, Charles (Humble)
- Curry, Pat (Waco)
- DeAyala, Mano (-Houston)
- Dorazio, Mark (San Antonio)
- Dyson, Paul (Bryan)
- Fairly, Caroline (Amarillo)
- Frank, James (Wichita Falls)
- Gates, Gary (Richmond)
- Gerdes, Stan (Smithville)
- Harris, Cody (Palestine)
- Harris Davila, Caroline (Round Rock)
- Hayes, Richard (Hickory Creek)
- Hefner, Cole (Mount Pleasant)
- Hickland, Hillary (Belton)
- Holt, Janis (Silsbee)
- Hopper, Andy (Decatur)
- Hull, Lacey (Houston)
- Hunter, Todd (Corpus Christi)
- Isaac, Carrie (Wimberley)
- Kerwin, Helen (Glen Rose)
- Kitzman, Stan (Brookshire)
- LaHood, Marc (San Antonio)
- Landgraf, Brooks (Odessa)
- Leach, Jeff (Allen)
- Leo Wilson, Terri (Galveston)
- Little, Mitch (Lewisville)
- Lopez, Janie (San Benito)
- Louderback, A.J. (Victoria)
- Lowe, David (North Richland Hills)
- Lozano, J.M. (Kingsville)
- Lujan, John (San Antonio)
- Luther, Shelley (Tom Bean)
- McLaughlin Jr., Don (Uvalde)
- McQueeney, John (Fort Worth)
- Metcalf, Will (Magnolia)
- Meyer, Morgan (Dallas)
- Money, Brent (Greenville)
- Morgan, Matt (Richmond)
- Noble, Candy (Lucas)
- Olcott, Mike (Aledo)
- Oliverson, Tom (Cypress)
- Orr, Angelia (Itasca)
- Patterson, Jared (Frisco)
- Paul, Dennis (Houston)
- Pierson, Katrina (Rockwall)
- Richardson, Keresa (McKinney)
- Schatzline, Nate (Fort Worth)
- Schofield, Mike (Katy)
- Schoolcraft, Alan (McQueeney)
- Shaheen, Matt (Plano)
- Shofner, Joanne (Nacogdoches)
- Slawson, Shelby (Stephenville)
- Smithee, John (Amarillo)
- Spiller, David (Jacksboro)
- Swanson, Valoree (Spring)
- Tepper, Carl (Lubbock)
- Tinderholt, Tony (Arlington)
- Toth, Steve (The Woodlands)
- Troxclair, Ellen (Lakeway)
- Vasut, Cody (Angleton)
- Villalobos, Denise
- Virdell, Wes (Brady)
- Wharton, Trey (Huntsville)
- Wilson, Terry (Georgetown)
Who Has Not Signed On?
While all 62 House Democrats remain opposed to HB 3, 12 Republican lawmakers have also withheld their support so far. These lawmakers include:
- Barry, Jeff (Pearland)
- Darby, Drew (San Angelo)
- Dean, Jay (Longview)
- Geren, Charlie (Fort Worth)
- Guillen, Ryan (Rio Grande City)
- Harless, Sam (Spring)
- Harrison, Brian (Midlothian)
- King, Ken (Canadian)
- Lambert, Stan (Abilene)
- Phelan, Dade (Beaumont)
- VanDeaver, Gary (New Boston)
What is Next?
With both House Bill 3 and Senate Bill 2 referred to the House Public Education Committee, public hearings on the legislation are expected soon. If the committee advances HB 3, it will then move to the House Calendars Committee, which will determine when it gets a vote on the House floor.
With the 89th Legislative Session ending on June 2, 2025, lawmakers will need to move swiftly to ensure final passage. If successful, Texas could soon launch one of the most expansive school choice programs in the nation.
Final Thoughts
The Texas House’s newfound majority support for school choice marks a seismic shift in education policy. While opposition remains from both public school advocates and a handful of House Republicans, the momentum behind HB 3 suggests that Texas is on the verge of a historic policy change.
With Governor Abbott eager to sign a universal school choice bill into law, the coming weeks will determine whether Texas successfully expands educational freedom for families across the state.
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