Gov. Abbott to call special sessions if legislature doesn’t pass school choice bill
May 17, 2023
With less two weeks left in the regular legislative session and ahead of a scheduled House committee vote on a watered-down school choice bill, Gov. Greg Abbott warned the Republican-led legislature that he would veto any school choice-related bill if it doesn’t come close to SB 8, a parental rights and school choice bill, and special sessions would be called until the legislature passes it.
On Sunday night ahead of a scheduled vote by the House Public Education Committee on a watered-down version of SB 8, Abbott said, “This latest version does little to provide meaningful school choice, and legislators deserve to know that it would be vetoed if it reached my desk.
“Instead, the original House version of the Senate bill provides a more meaningful starting point to begin House-Senate negotiations.”
Special sessions will be necessary, Abbot said, if a meaningful school choice measure is not sent to his desk.
“Empowering parents to choose the best educational path for their child remains an essential priority this session,” he added. “A majority of Texans from across the state and from all backgrounds support expanding school choice.”