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.

Governor Greg Abbott’s top priority cleared a key hurdle after 2 a.m. Thursday morning. The Texas House approved a $1 billion school choice voucher program which would allow roughly 100,000 families to use public school dollars on private and home schooling.

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.