LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers approved a “school choice” bill on Wednesday, sending the bill to Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk for approval.

State senators passed LB 753 on a 33-11 vote in the Legislature.

Passage of the “Opportunity Scholarships Act” makes Nebraska the 49th state to approve such legislation.

Proponents said the tax break would allow low-income families to send their children to private schools.

Critics argued that the bill could violate the constitutional separation of church and state, with many private schools in Nebraska having religious affiliations. Opponents also slammed the bill as a tax break for corporations and the wealthy.

The Nebraska State Education Association has vowed to fight the bill with an effort to overturn it with a ballot initiative.