DALLAS — While the Texas Senate has passed its version of school voucher legislation, more than two weeks into the third special legislative session, there’s still no movement in the Texas House.
And state Representative Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, doesn’t see that changing.
The chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus says most Democrats and rural Republicans will continue to oppose school vouchers, just as they have for years, because they argue the effort will decimate local public schools.
“The House is holding firm,” the Democrat told us on Inside Texas Politics. “We will not compromise by any means for vouchers in this special session, in the next special session, in another special session. We’re hardline no’s. There’s no compromise. There’s no deal.”
But now, lawmakers will consider HB 1. It would provide parents with 75% of the average amount each school receives per student, which under this bill would increase by a miniscule amount to $6,190.
The voucher payment to parents could also increase each year because of other school funding sources.
And in the first year of the program, only 25,000 Texas students would be eligible. That number would increase by 25,000 every year until 2027, when that cap goes away.
HB 1 would also provide educators a one-time $4,000 bonus.
Under the Texas Senate’s voucher legislation, SB 1, parents would receive up to $8,000 in taxpayer money to send their children to private schools.
And it’s open to most Texas students.
While the Governor has threatened to keep calling special session after special session until school vouchers are passed, Rep. Reynolds says the votes just aren’t there.
“They need 76 votes. Right now, I believe they have, you know, 50 something. So, they’re well short of the votes they need to pass this bill,” he said.