TX HB612

Establishes an Education Savings Account (ESA) program administered by the comptroller, providing eligible children with annual payments equal to the state average maintenance and operations expenditure per student to use for private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, educational therapies, technology, and other approved educational expenses

Requires children to have attended public school the prior year, be entering kindergarten, or have previously participated in the program to qualify, with priority given to returning participants, their siblings, and children with disabilities when funding is limited

Creates an insurance premium tax credit for entities contributing to the ESA program fund, capped at $200 million for fiscal year 2026, with the cap increasing by 25% annually if 90% or more of available credits are utilized

Establishes a 9-member parental review committee (appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker) to approve education service providers and vendors, requiring private schools to be accredited and tutors/therapists to undergo background checks

Imposes joint and several liability for attorney's fees on any person or entity that unsuccessfully challenges educational choice laws in court, with prevailing defendants able to recover costs even if claims are dismissed for any reason