Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a call for comprehensive school choice legislation as the Texas Legislature nears the end of its session, cautioning that he will veto proposals with a limited scope.
"Empowering parents to choose the best educational path for their child remains an essential priority this session," said Gov. Abbott. Criticizing the latest House version of the school choice bill, he warned it does "little to provide meaningful school choice," as it restricts eligibility to approximately 800,000 students compared to the Senate's broader proposal that covers 5.5 million students.
Abbott expressed concern about the reduced funding for special education students and limited access for low-income families in the recent House proposal. "This latest version... denies school choice to low-income families that may desperately need expanded education options," he noted, adding that such a bill would face his veto.
The governor also underscored the growing support in the House for school choice, urging lawmakers to consider changes to the original House version of the Senate bill to secure more backing and bridge the Senate divide.
Asserting his commitment to achieving broad school choice, Abbott stated, "My staff and I will continue to work around the clock with the legislature to reach that goal." He warned of potential special sessions if the scope of school choice isn't expanded to align more closely with the Senate's version or the original House version of the Senate bill. "Parents and their children deserve no less," he concluded.