The controversial School Choice SB 2 has finally passed both the House and Senate. For Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, this bill was their top legislative priority — and now that it’s passed, they’re taking their victory laps and gearing up for full-on fundraising propaganda. (Don’t forget that key bills are always tied to fundraising.)

Whether or not you like the idea of School Choice, it is important to say again that School Choice was not one of the Republican Party’s official Legislative Priorities. As we have stated before, the GOP has eight Legislative Priorities this session, voted on by the entire body at the GOP State Convention, yet none of which have received the same level of attention or political muscle as the Governor’s School Choice (government regulated) bill. Not surprisingly, this bill, SB2, sailed through the legislature, while the rest of the GOP priorities stall or die quietly in Committee.

Perhaps more troubling than the procedural leaps this bill made is what this bill promises and what our elected officials aren’t telling you about it.  Just for starters, let’s talk about the money.

Have you seen the fiscal note attached to SB 2? Take a look at this line:

“This analysis assumes that any costs related to implementing the provisions of the bill would have a fiscal year 2027 cost of $1,000,000,000 in General Revenue Funds.” – from the Texas Legislature Online website

That’s one billion dollars. In two years! Where was this money before SB2? How does $1 billion suddenly appear to begin immediate distribution? Where are the accountability measures to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse? How big of a new bureaucracy will be created to manage this money. Is it even constitutional? Does it really solve the root problem of making the schools better? Who gets this money? Who doesn’t? What are the strings attached? What will it do to Private schools and homeschools? (see Alex Newman’s podcast on what has happened to states that bought the shiny objects in their respective states’ School Choice bills. Where is the historical data that proves this government-regulated school choice idea actually works?

Furthermore, Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Patrick have both pledged to lower property taxes. So here’s the question: How does a $1 billion price tag for one program help reduce your property tax bill? 

Finally, let’s not forget the irony here: we’re being told that government-run schools are failing — and the solution? More government involvement in the form of a massive new spending program.

Whether you’re for or against school choice, these are fair questions that are lacking in good answers. And right now, the people championing this bill aren’t giving Texans the answers they deserve.

So while some politicians celebrate a win, the rest of us are left asking: What did we really just pay for — and who’s going to foot the bill?

From the Texas Legislature Online site, “Estimated Two­ year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB2, As Passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($1,000,000,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.”

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Please send inquiries about the Dallas GOP Legislative Priority Committee to Liz Biesel and Beth Biesel.

View all Legislative Priority posts here.