Texas Democrats filed at least seven bills to repeal the state’s school choice program in the first two days of filing for the 2027 session. After the November 3 election, Moms for Liberty leaders warned that laws on girls’ sports, school libraries and parental involvement could also face repeal.
Five House bills and two Senate bills target Texas Education Freedom Accounts, which help families pay for private school tuition and other approved expenses. The comptroller said in August that more than 100,000 students had received funding.
State Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) filed Senate Bill 294 with nine other Democrats, including state Sen. Taylor Rehmet (D-Fort Worth). West’s bill would repeal the program effective September 1, 2027. North Texas Reps.-elect Zach Herbert (D-District 112) and Katie O’Brien Duzan (D-District 94) filed House Bills 675 and 1081, respectively.
Democrats won the Texas House and governorship, ending more than two decades of unified Republican control. Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa (D) pledged to end the program and direct the money to public schools, as The Dallas Express reported. Republicans kept their Senate majority. A repeal bill must pass both chambers before it reaches the governor.
Texas AFT, a teachers union, celebrated Democratic gains in the House and on the State Board of Education.
Parents warn of wider rollbacks
Christie Slape, a Texas ambassador for Moms for Liberty and a leader on its legislative committee, said she hopes the Senate will protect laws the group backed.
“Moms for Liberty is dedicated to the survival of America by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government, regardless of the outcome of any election. We recognize that many of the bills we supported last session are at risk of being reversed, and that is highly concerning. We advocated to protect girls’ sports and private spaces, advocated for school choice, supported book boundaries in school libraries, and fully endorsed the Parental Bill of Rights. It would be devastating to children and families to lose these protections, but we are hopeful that the Texas Senate will hold the line in defending potential legislative reversals,” Slape told The Dallas Express.
Senate Bill 12 expanded parents’ rights to review instructional materials and consent to certain student surveys and screenings. Senate Bill 13 lets parents limit what their children check out from the school library. Texas also sets rules for girls’ school sports and shared school restrooms based on biological sex.
Denise Bell, the group’s Harris County chapter chair and legislative committee vice chair, said the organization will work with elected officials from both parties.
“We will no doubt see changes in Texas in the coming years, but we are a non-partisan organization that will forge ahead to protect our children and the rights of parents to direct their child’s education, medical care and moral upbringing. We have built working relationships with school board members, statewide officials and legislators since our founding, and we will continue to do so with the newly elected officials in our communities and at the state level. We can find common ground regarding guardrails on AI in schools, reducing screen time in the classroom, and removing harmful ingredients from school lunches. We are not deterred or dismayed. Moms will never stop fighting for their children,” Bell told The Dallas Express.
A close race could flip the education board
Democrat Dana Van de Walker led Republican incumbent Audrey Young by 564 votes in the secretary of state’s unofficial District 8 returns. A win would give Democrats an 8-7 board majority, as The Dallas Express detailed.
The board sets curriculum standards and votes on instructional materials. Its process for changing standards includes two readings, a 30-day public comment period, a final vote and an implementation date.
The 90th Texas Legislature convenes January 12, 2027.
Provided by Dallas Express
