The Texas Senate voted on Thursday to send legislation creating a statewide private school voucher program to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk to be signed into law, all but concluding an ugly intraparty battle that has dominated state politics for much of the last two years.

The controversial school choice bill allows for taxpayer money to be used to help qualifying students pay for private school tuition.

Texas lawmakers have passed a $1 billion education bill that allows families to use public money to pay for private school tuition