Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill creating Education Savings Accounts program in Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation into law on Saturday that creates Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in Texas.

Texas Republicans call the legislation “school choice.” The $1 billion program will allow families to spend state funds on private school tuition.

Abbott signed the bill at the Texas Governor’s Mansion on Saturday afternoon, where he was joined by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-Texas), House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) and the two state lawmakers who authored the legislation: State Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), who chairs the Senate Education K-16 committee, and State Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Salado), who chairs the House Public Education Committee.

Other state lawmakers, leaders and advocates who supported the policy were also in attendance as Abbott signed SB 2 into law.

Last week, Patrick and Creighton recommended the Senate concur with, or agree to, the changes House lawmakers made to the bill, sending the bill to the governor’s desk.

The bill’s passage is a major political victory for Abbott, who listed “school choice” as his top priority this legislative session. Similar legislation has passed the Senate a handful of times in previous sessions, but the proposals had previously always failed in the House.

In recent weeks, Abbott said it has been the best relationship with chamber leaders he’s had since becoming governor in 2015.

ESA advocate Shinara Morrison and Joel Enge, the director of Kingdom Life Academy in Tyler, also joined Abbott for the signing.