Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on Friday announced he would recommend the Senate accept House changes to SB 2, the controversial school voucher proposal.

After nearly 11 hours of debate, the Texas House approved early Thursday a controversial bill that would provide eligible families with public funds to help pay for private school tuition. The school choice bill was passed in an 85-63 vote – two were absent.

After nearly 30 years of stalled efforts, Texas is in line to become the largest state with a universal private school choice program. The Republican-controlled state House of Representatives approved a $1 billion measure Thursday—which gets the legislation closer than ever to the governor’s desk.