Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced the first 25 of 40 Texas Senate priority bills, outlining several hot-topic issues he says will bolster Trump's agenda.

Budget estimates released Tuesday showed the cost of the Texas Senate’s “school choice” bill would nearly quadruple in four years. The analysis from the Legislative Budget Board came shortly before GOP lawmakers gave the proposal – Senate Bill 2 – a cozy reception in the Senate’s Education K-16 Committee.

The Texas Senate Education Committee on Tuesday night voted to advance school voucher legislation for a full vote in the Senate after hours of public testimony largely focused on whether the proposal would live up to its promise of prioritizing low-income families and children with disabilities.

After hours of testimony Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Education advanced Senate Bill 2, a school voucher bill, setting it up for a floor vote.

The proposal, a priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, budgets $1 billion over the next two years to fund the private school vouchers.

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.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), who serves as president of the Texas Senate, announced 25 of his top 40 priority bills for the 89th legislative session on Wednesday.

The proposal would create education savings accounts and give families $10,000 a year in state funds to pay for their children’s private education.

The Senate education committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 2, which would establish education savings accounts.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says the Texas Senate will approve a bill next Wednesday to allocate $1 billion in taxpayer money for thousands of students to attend private schools. The bill, SB 2, has already passed the Senate Education K-16 Committee.