"The Texas Senate's passage of SB 2 is the biggest launch of any universal school choice program in American history, with $1 billion in funding for 100,000 students," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement Wednesday night.

Senate Bill 2 would devote public money to defray the cost of private education. Early plans would set aside $1 billion.

Texas Senators are debating Senate Bill 2 on the chamber floor, the piece of legislation that carries an education savings account (ESA) program that was recently declared an emergency item by Gov. Greg Abbott.