Senate Bill 2 would devote public money to defray the cost of private education. Early plans would set aside $1 billion.

The Republican-led Texas Senate passed one of Gov. Greg Abbott's top legislative priorities Wednesday: school choice. The vote came along party lines, 20-11. It came after hours of debate that began after 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Lawmakers approved a number of amendments to Senate Bill 2.

Senate Bill 2 would create state-managed education savings accounts that let families use public funds to subsidize private school tuition. Opponents question whether the bill would help low-income families.

After seven hours of debate over SB 2 on the Senate floor Wednesday, the chamber suspended rules so that they could expedite the process and send it to the Texas House for consideration.

Texas families could use tax dollars to fund their children’s private school tuition under a Republican-backed bill that sailed through the Senate late Wednesday.

The Texas Senate is expected to approve a school choice bill Wednesday that would let families use taxpayer dollars for private school education — the first major step for Gov.

The Republican-led Texas Senate passed one of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's top legislative priorities late Wednesday night.

Once passed in the Senate, the school choice bill will head to the House. Governor Abbott said he remains very confident that school choice will pass in the chamber, even though Democrats promise a fight.