April 17, 2025 – In a historic shift, the Texas House passed a major school choice bill on Wednesday afternoon, marking the first time such legislation has cleared the chamber. After years of resistance, House lawmakers voted 85–63, mostly along party lines, to advance a school choice program championed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and the Texas GOP. The vote followed hours of contentious debate that stretched past 2 a.m., with Democrats introducing numerous amendments aimed at weakening the bill—none of which passed. The legislation would create Education Savings Accounts (ESAs),...