Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said that he’d urge the Texas Senate to accept the House version of the bill, instead of trying to negotiate a compromise.

After hours of debate — and years of pushing from Gov. Greg Abbott — the Texas House approved a bill to create an Education Savings Account plan. The school voucher program would allow parents to use public funds toward private school costs.

The bill would let families use taxpayer dollars for their children’s private schooling. Lawmakers also signed off on a sweeping $7.7 billion package to boost public school funding.