**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
**AUSTIN, Texas** – Texas State Representative James Talarico has formally introduced legislation aimed at requiring a clear separation between church and state educational funding, following a contentious legal review of school voucher programs.
**WHO:** Texas State Representative James Talarico (D-Round Rock), a former public school teacher and current seminary student.
**WHAT:** Talarico has filed House Bill 5474, which would prohibit the use of public taxpayer funds, including any future school voucher or education savings account (ESA) programs, from being used for private religious schooling or sectarian instruction. The bill explicitly states that state funds cannot be used for tuition at schools that require religious worship, doctrinal instruction, or discriminate based on religious beliefs.
**WHEN:** The bill was formally filed on Monday, ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Talarico announced the filing earlier today during a press conference at the Texas Capitol.
**WHERE:** The legislation is proposed for the State of Texas, specifically targeting the potential expansion of school choice programs into the private religious sector.
**WHY:** Talarico cited ongoing legal challenges and constitutional concerns regarding the use of public money for religious institutions. He argues that the bill is necessary to protect the principle of religious freedom by preventing the state from directly funding sectarian education, maintaining that taxpayers should not be compelled to support religious instruction. The move comes as Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made school vouchers a top legislative priority.
**IN HIS OWN WORDS:** "Religious freedom belongs in the pew, not in your paycheck. We cannot ask a Jewish taxpayer to fund a Christian school, or an atheist to tithe to a Catholic institution. This bill is about keeping the church and state separate," Talarico stated.