If the author and all co-authors vote for House Bill 3, it would pass the lower chamber. The controversial program, also called school choice, would use public money to pay for children’s private school tuition.

The 75 co-sponsors plus the bill’s author would provide enough votes to pass Gov. Abbott’s top priority measure in the 150-seat House.

The Texas House on Thursday filed a sweep of education bills including public school finance and school voucher proposals.

Public school advocates oppose any plan resembling school vouchers saying such programs drain resources from the campuses that educate more than 5 million children in Texas. Supporters of ESAs say families should get state funding for the educational settings that best fit their needs.

Supporters of voucher-like education savings accounts are trying to press their advantage early and build a sense of inevitability.

Families participating in the program could receive about 85% of the amount public schools collect for each attending student from state and local sources.

The Texas House has filed its school voucher bill. The legislation differs in several ways from what the Senate has already passed. The two chambers would have to hash out their differences before sending any legislation to Gov.

Texas Republicans’ demand for a school voucher-style program appears poised to clear a major hurdle as a slim majority of House members have signaled their support. Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated Wednesday that 75 Republican representatives signed on as co-authors to House Bill 3,