HR174: HR174 State Board of Education; appointment of state school superintendent effective not later than January 1, 2031; provide - CA

Georgia currently elects its State School Superintendent statewide alongside the Governor. This proposed constitutional amendment would keep the person elected in 2026 in office through that term, but starting no later than January 1, 2031, or sooner if that person leaves office, the State Board of Education would appoint the superintendent instead of voters electing one. The resolution also changes how the State Board of Education itself is chosen. Board members would still represent each congressional district, but instead of gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation, they would be elected by members of the House of Representatives and Senate whose districts overlap that congressional district, serving four-year terms. Related constitutional provisions on succession, qualifications, and removal for felony indictment are updated to reflect the transition. Because this is a constitutional amendment, it must be submitted to Georgia voters for ratification or rejection on the ballot.

• Ends statewide election of the State School Superintendent, replacing it with appointment by the State Board of Education effective no later than January 1, 2031.
• Lets the superintendent elected in 2026 keep serving out that elected term unless they die, withdraw, resign, or are removed sooner.
• Changes how State Board of Education members are chosen, from gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation to election by House and Senate members representing each congressional district, for four-year terms.
• Updates the constitutional list of officials subject to suspension after a felony indictment to specifically reference 'the State School Superintendent elected for such office in 2026.'
• Requires the proposed amendment to be placed on the ballot for Georgia voters to ratify or reject.

Georgia voters, who currently elect the state school superintendent and would lose that direct vote after the transition; the sitting and future State School Superintendents; members of the State Board of Education, whose selection process changes; and members of the General Assembly, who would gain the power to elect board members.

If ratified, Georgians would no longer directly elect the state's top K-12 education official after 2031, shifting that decision to an appointed State Board of Education whose own members would be chosen by state legislators rather than the Governor, changing accountability lines for education policy.

• Section 1 updates the felony-indictment suspension provisions (Art. II, Sec. III, Par. I) to reference 'the State School Superintendent elected for such office in 2026' rather than the office generally.
• Section 6 changes State Board of Education member selection (Art. VIII, Sec. II, Par. I) from gubernatorial appointment with Senate confirmation to election by House and Senate members tied to each congressional district, with terms set at four years.
• Section 7 (Art. VIII, Sec. III, Par. I) sets the effective date for the shift to an appointed superintendent as the earlier of January 1, 2031, or the 2026-elected superintendent's death, withdrawal, resignation, or removal.
• Section 7 bars any sitting State Board of Education member from being appointed as superintendent during their board term.
• Section 8 sets the exact ballot question voters will see and requires the amendment to be submitted for ratification or rejection under Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution.

1. 2025-04-04House Withdrawn, Recommitted (House)
2. 2025-03-06House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
3. 2025-02-10House Second Readers (House)
4. 2025-02-06House First Readers (House)
5. 2025-02-05House Hopper (House)

• Matt Dubnik (R, HD-029)Primary sponsor
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Chris Erwin (R, HD-032)
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• John Corbett (R, HD-174)

• State School Superintendent
• State Board of Education
• constitutional amendment
• education governance
• ballot referendum