Today in Austin, Texas, Senator Paul Bettencourt of Houston expressed his support for Senate Bill 2, known as the Texas Education Freedom Act. This legislation aims to provide universal school choice to families across Texas. Senator Bettencourt joined Chairman Brandon Creighton and other Republican members of the Senate Education Committee in backing this initiative.

Senator Bettencourt stated, "An old saying is iron sharpens iron, so shall school choice sharpen the entire Texas education system." He emphasized that Senate Bill 2 would empower parents and prioritize student success by offering comprehensive educational savings accounts (ESAs). These accounts are designed to give families the freedom to select the educational environment that best fits their children's needs.

The bill includes provisions for ESAs with anti-fraud measures. Senator Bettencourt noted, "By offering ESAs with anti-fraud provisions, we are not only providing choices but also fostering a competitive environment that can lead to improvements across the entire education system." He pointed out that similar programs have been successfully implemented in 32 other states.

Senate Bill 2 is the result of years of effort by the Texas Senate to pass meaningful school choice legislation. Although previous proposals have passed in the Senate, they stalled in the Texas House. With Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's leadership and Governor Greg Abbott's strong support, there is hope that this session will be different.

Reflecting on past efforts, Senator Bettencourt said, "On a historical note, I passed a tax credit scholarship out of the Texas Senate in 2019, so the Education Committee has been promoting versions of school choice for six years." He anticipates that under Senator Creighton's leadership, the Texas Education Freedom Act will soon move to the floor of the Texas Senate for debate following today's hearing.