AUSTIN, Texas — The biggest celebration during the 89th Legislature’s regular session marked the end of a near-decade debate over private school vouchers.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a $1 billion program to move tax dollars to private schools through educational savings accounts that could total up to $10,000 for most students and $12,000 for students with disabilities.
“Gone are the days that families are limited to only the school assigned by government,” said Abbott.
As the legislative session ends, some lawmakers have even more reasons to revel than others.
For the first time since 2019, schools will get $8.5 billion funding boost, with specific allocations for basic costs, teacher and staff raises and other resources lawmakers believe will result in increased educational outcomes.
“These are measurable areas of expense that in the future could easily be adjusted for inflation. They are distributed based on enrollment funding. I think meeting the moment of what many districts have talked about,” said state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, who chairs the Texas House Committee on Public Education.
Meanwhile, Democrats feel like private school vouchers were prioritized over public school funding.
“I’m trying to understand. Is there a reason why, for six years, we have been unable or unwilling to provide the real funding needed to stop school closures, stop program cuts and stop teacher layoffs?” questioned state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin.
Public education got lucky this session along with the Texas Veterans Commission, both of which benefit from state lottery revenue.
State Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, authored a bill to dismantle the Texas Lottery Commission and one to save it.
“I’m sure there are plenty of places that we could find that money. Given the interim to look for it,” said Hall.
The Texas Lottery Commission has been on the defense all session, as lawmakers accuse commissioners of lax oversight of couriers that allowed one group to essentially game the lottery to win a $95 million jackpot.
“Harboring a organized crime syndicate in this state government that was specifically working to steal the money from the people of Texas. And as such, we should be shutting it down. But I’m told that, we need the income, that $1.3 billion a year. We need that to balance the budget. So we’re not going to be able to get rid of them,” said Hall.
The Texas Lotto will now be overseen by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a win for Texans who like to test their luck.
“We’ll continue it for two years, under tight scrutiny, to make sure that the criminal element stays out of it. Let the [Texas] Rangers do their investigation,” said Hall.
Texas doctors also received a sense of security from the bipartisan group of lawmakers who passed the Texas Life of the Mother Act.
Lawyers Amy and Steve Bresnen petitioned the Texas Medical Board to clarify exceptions to the state’s near-total abortion ban. The medical board did little to clarify the law.
“We hope that the OBGYN and other people that provide obstetric care will understand that the legislature has recognized their concerns, and been responsive to it,” said Steve Bresnen.
The Life of the Mother Act clarifies that doctors may perform an abortion for a life-threatening condition even before a patient faces imminent death or harm.
“We have until January 2026, to, basically make, you know, make a video, make it, you know, write a paper that explicit that explicitly explains what the bill does, what the prohibitions are, the definition of a medical emergency,” said Amy Bresnen.
And conservative Christians had a successful session passing bills to require the Ten Commandants to be hung in public school classrooms and to allow prayer in school.
“There is no such thing as separation of church and state,” said state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston.
The Legislature passed over 1,200 bills this session and the governor has until June 22 to sign them into law or veto them. If no action is taken by Abbott by that deadline, the bill automatically becomes a law.