(Austin, TX)  —  The Texas Senate is proposing an increase in the state’s share of public education spending of more than four-billion-dollars over the past two years.

The Senate made the proposal on Wednesday, the day after the Texas House proposed increasing the state’s public school funding by more than seven-billion-dollars.  The two chambers differ over how much of the increase should be paid for by drawing on the state savings account.

Leaders in both chambers say public school funding and property tax relief are the top priorities of this year’s session.