School choice advocates are pressing outgoing Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session of the Texas Legislature before Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa takes office in January, aiming to shield the state's voucher program from her promised line-item veto.

The proposal, first reported by CW39, would move the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program into the state school funding formula. That shift would change TEFA from a standalone budget line item into a statutory entitlement, making it far harder for a governor to zero out with a veto.

Corey DeAngelis, a Heritage Foundation research fellow, said Abbott could call a special session "to protect school choice" for the more than 100,000 families currently enrolled. The program is funded through a discrete appropriation, DeAngelis told Heartlander News, "which means the incoming governor can use her line-item veto power to zero it out in the next budget."

Abbott's office has not publicly responded to the proposal. Heartlander News reported it reached out to Abbott's office for comment.

What it means for CCISD families

Clear Creek ISD is already navigating an $18.4 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2026-27, driven by enrollment decline, inflation and stagnant state funding, according to Community Impact. CCISD Chief Financial Officer Alice Benzaia said at a July 13 board workshop that the challenges are statewide.

Because Texas public schools receive state dollars based on student attendance and enrollment, districts lose funding when students leave for any reason, including to use TEFA accounts. Statewide, public schools could lose up to $294 million after students left districts to use TEFA funds, according to an analysis by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency and Every Texan, two organizations that oppose the program, Community Impact reported.

CCISD board member Arturo Sanchez said at the July workshop that stagnant state funding puts the district's standards at risk.

The political fight ahead

Hinojosa, a five-term state representative from Austin and former Austin ISD school board president, defeated Abbott on Nov. 3 after making public education a central campaign issue. She has said she is committed to "end the voucher scam," as CW39 reported.

Democrats will control the Texas House in the 90th Legislative Session, which convenes Jan. 12, according to Houston Public Media. Republicans keep their Senate majority. Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin, a Democrat, will preside over that chamber.

EdChoice President Robert Enlow said his organization has called on Texas to change the voucher funding mechanism for years. Moving TEFA into the formula would shift the battle from a budget fight "which she can just simply defund" to a legislative fight requiring votes in both chambers, Enlow told Heartlander News.

The TEFA program launched in the 2026-27 school year with $1 billion in state funding. As of a July 29 comptroller's report, 85,344 students held funded accounts statewide, with more than 121,000 on a waiting list. The comptroller's office had requested lawmakers double funding to $2 billion to maintain current participation, Houston Public Media reported.

Bill filing for the 2027 session opened Nov. 9. Whether Abbott calls a special session before Hinojosa's inauguration remains an open question.