Texas Governor Greg Abbott received good news on one of his top policy priorities at both the federal and state levels, as the state Legislature is moving forward with an education proposal incorporating vouchers while President Donald Trump signed an executive order making school choice an urgency for the Department of Education.

A proposal to create a school voucher-like plan for Texas was advanced by the Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday night, giving voucher supporters like Gov. Greg Abbott their first major win of the legislative session.

The education savings account package is the first bill to be sent to the Senate floor this year, reflecting urgency from Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to pass the legislation after similar proposals died during the 2023 legislative session.

Senate Bill 2, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), would create an "Education Savings Account" (ESA) program that would allow Texas families to use public tax dollars to help pay for private education.

"The die has been cast. That fact is it's gonna pass," Sen. Royce West said during a Tuesday committee hearing. "The question is how you make it a better bill?"

The Texas Senate revealed a bill on Friday to create an education savings accounts program, a top priority for Gov.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) wants Congress to reimburse his state for more than $11 billion spent on border security since the start of the Biden administration.

Legislation advances after a budget analysis estimates the cost of the voucher-style program will nearly quadruple in 4 years.

The Texas Senate Education Committee advanced a controversial school voucher bill, SB-2, for a full Senate vote.

The push expands on efforts from the last legislative session in 2023, when state lawmakers banned DEI programs at public universities statewide.

A bipartisan group of rural Republicans and Democrats killed the idea in the legislature two years ago. This year, Governor Abbott believes he has the votes.

House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, Jan. 22. The proposals include billions of dollars for border security, property tax cuts, public school funding, water infrastructure and private school vouchers.