Tennessee House and Senate education committees passed the governor’s private-school voucher program Tuesday, speeding the $450 million first-year expense to final votes before week’s end. Senators voted 8-1 to send the measure to the finance committee to be considered Wednesday.

The Senate could vote on the proposal as soon as next week. Democrats on Tuesday criticized the bill saying it fails to prioritize the state’s neediest children.

Late Tuesday night the Texas Education Committee voted to advance State Bill 2 with a 9-2 Republican majority pushing the bill forward despite facing opposition on both sides of the political aisle.

Gov. Bill Lee’s bill to expand school vouchers statewide has sailed through two House committees, setting up a final floor vote as early as Wednesday.

Vouchers would let parents use public funds to pay for their kids’ private education. Learn about how they could work and the political battle around them.

The proposal, a priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, budgets $1 billion over the next two years to fund the private school vouchers.

Lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill today after school vouches passed through the committee process Tuesday.

Under Senate Bill 2, families whose income is 500% at or below the federal poverty level would be considered a low-income household. Democrats say the roof is too high.