The Texas House early Thursday passed a school choice measure that would allow lower-income families to use tax dollars to send their children to private school.

The 85-63 vote fell mostly along party lines and came after hours of spirited debate. Democrats opposed it.

The legislation would create an Education Savings Account program to provide taxpayer-funded subsidies of a little more than $10,000 per student.

The House version of the Senate bill would be capped at $1 billion annually the first two years.

Gov. Greg Abbott applauded the vote in a statement released early Thursday.

“For the first time in Texas history, our state has passed a universal school choice bill out of both chambers in the Texas Legislature,” the Republican governor said. “This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children."

One final vote in the House is required. After that, the legislation will go to a conference committee of members of both the House and Senate because the House changed the Senate version of the bill.