Texas Democrats File Seven Bills to Repeal School Choice
Lawmakers filed repeal bills against the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Homeschooling
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Should Texas keep its program helping families pay for private school tuition?
Texas Democrats filed seven bills to repeal the state's school choice program, which helps families pay for private school tuition and other approved expenses. Five House bills and two Senate bills target the Texas Education Freedom Accounts.
Why it matters
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program has funded more than 100,000 students, according to the comptroller, so a repeal would affect a large number of families across Texas. Democrats won the state House and governorship in the November election, but Republicans kept their Senate majority, which will shape whether any repeal can pass.
The comptroller reported in August that more than 100,000 students had received program funding. Seven repeal bills were filed in the first two days of filing, but none has yet advanced through either chamber of the Legislature.
The players
Royce West
Democratic state senator from Dallas who filed Senate Bill 294 to repeal the school choice program.
Gina Hinojosa
Democratic governor-elect of Texas who has pledged to end the program and redirect its money to public schools.
Zach Herbert
Democratic representative-elect from North Texas who filed House Bill 675 to repeal the program.
Katie O'Brien Duzan
Democratic representative-elect from North Texas who filed House Bill 1081 to repeal the program.
Moms for Liberty
National parental-rights advocacy group whose leaders warned that laws on girls' sports, school libraries, and parental involvement could face repeal.
The details
Sen. Royce West filed Senate Bill 294 with nine other Democrats, which would repeal the program effective September 1, 2027. North Texas Reps.-elect Zach Herbert and Katie O'Brien Duzan filed House Bills 675 and 1081 as part of the House effort. Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has pledged to end the program and direct the money to public schools.
Timeline
August 2026: The comptroller reported that more than 100,000 students had received program funding.
November 3, 2026: Democrats won the Texas House and governorship while Republicans kept the Senate majority.
January 12, 2027: The 90th Texas Legislature convenes.
September 1, 2027: Sen. Royce West's bill would repeal the program if passed.
Legal Context
The repeal effort targets the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the state's private school choice program, while the same session could also see Senate Bill 12 and Senate Bill 13, which expanded parents' rights over instructional materials and school library checkouts, come under pressure. Whether the Republican Senate majority will protect these laws will determine how far the 2027 session moves on education policy.
Families currently using Texas Education Freedom Accounts for private school tuition or other approved expenses should track the 2027 session, since a repeal bill would end the program effective September 1, 2027, if passed. Parents weighing school options can review the program's current eligibility and funded expenses before any changes are decided.
The takeaway
School choice policy in Texas is now contested between the incoming Democratic governor and House and the Republican Senate, so families should watch the 2027 session closely. Keep documentation of any program funding or approved expenses in case eligibility rules change.
What happens next
The 90th Texas Legislature convenes January 12, 2027, and any repeal bill must pass both chambers before it can reach the governor.
Further reading
For related coverage, explore Homeschooling in the Texas section to see how school choice and parental rights affect families.
Live Poll
Should Texas keep its program helping families pay for private school tuition?
