Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 1299: United States Department of Education; dissolve and restore educational authority to the states; express support
Last action February 12, 2026 · House Second Readers
A Georgia House resolution would put the House on record supporting the dissolution of the federal Department of Education and returning control over K-12 education to the states.
The summaries below were written by an AI model (claude-sonnet-5) from the text of the resolution and are not part of it. Quote the text, not the summary. The stored text is the Introduced version, the latest the General Assembly's website lists.
In plain language
This resolution does not change any Georgia law or federal law by itself. It is a statement of the Georgia House of Representatives' position, expressing support for dismantling the United States Department of Education and shifting its responsibilities to other agencies at the state and federal level. The resolution lists reasons for this position, including claims that federal involvement in education has not improved student outcomes, that education is not a power the U.S. Constitution gives to the federal government, and that state and local officials are more directly accountable to parents and taxpayers. It commits House members to seek opportunities to regain control over Georgia's kindergarten through 12th grade schools, and directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and relevant committee chairs for consideration in the 2026 session.
What the bill does
- Formally states the Georgia House of Representatives' support for dissolving the United States Department of Education.
- Encourages moving the federal department's responsibilities to other state or federal agencies seen as better suited to handle them.
- Commits House members to seek opportunities, working with federal agencies, to regain state control over Georgia's K-12 schools.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and relevant committee chairs for the 2026 session.
- Does not amend any Georgia statute, create any new program, or carry any funding or legal penalty; it is a nonbinding expression of position.
Who it affects
This resolution primarily affects the political and policy stance of the Georgia House of Representatives itself. It has no direct legal effect on schools, teachers, students, or families, though it signals House members' views on federal versus state control of K-12 education policy in Georgia.
Why it matters
Because it is a resolution rather than a bill, it does not change any law, funding, or school operations on its own. Its practical effect is to put House members on record and direct copies to state leaders, which could influence future legislation or Georgia's response to federal education policy changes.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses lay out the House's reasoning, including constitutional federalism arguments and claims about stagnant academic outcomes under federal oversight.
- The first resolving clause states House members' support for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and returning authority to the states.
- A second resolving clause commits members to seek cooperation with federal agencies to regain control over Georgia's K-12 schools.
- A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and House and Senate committee chairs for the 2026 session.
From the bill
“support efforts to dismantle the United States Department of Education, returning authority over education back to the states”
“express their resolve to seek every opportunity, in cooperation with other federal agencies, to regain control of kindergarten through grade 12 schools in this state”
Discussed in meetings (4)
The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.
House Special Rules Committee, March 2, 2026
From 0:15:54 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor presented HR 1299 as support for reorganizing the federal government and returning more educational responsibility to states. The sponsor argued that the U.S. Department of Education had become too large and imposed prescriptive rules and unfunded mandates without improving educational outcomes. The sponsor said the proposal would reorganize support rather than eliminate it, describing Agriculture as a destination for feeding programs and Health and Human Services for special-needs support. Asked where federal student grants and Pell Grants would go, the sponsor said Treasury was a current idea, while acknowledging that reorganization might not be completed under the current administration. A committee member questioned the need for the change because states already control curriculum and the federal department does not design it. The sponsor responded by emphasizing federal rules affecting classroom teaching. A motion to approve received no second, and the chair declared the measure dead. The sponsor said it might be brought back at another meeting.
House Special Rules Committee, March 12, 2026
From 0:21:26 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said HR 1299 urged returning education authority to states and reorganizing or dismantling the federal Department of Education to reduce administrative burdens. The sponsor said nutrition, Title I and special education support would continue under federal law or through other agencies. One member questioned disruption to the $1.7 trillion student loan program and Title I funding. The sponsor proposed Small Business Administration management of loans and Department of Labor administration of Title I. A second member supported reducing paperwork. A third member, a practicing teacher, defended special education recordkeeping and asked who would enforce students' rights. The sponsor said federal disability law would remain and a smaller federal department might initially retain that role, with possible later state administration. Another member questioned funding, equity and accountability for diverse districts. The sponsor said details would require congressional and state debate. No changes were offered. The initial roll call was five yes and six no; the chair then voted yes, producing a recorded 6-to-6 tie. Members questioned the chair's voting authority. The final disposition was not clearly announced. A later question about bringing the measure back received no recorded action.
Status timeline
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Will Wade (R, HD-9)
- Steve Tarvin (R, HD-2)
- Chuck Efstration (R, HD-104)
- Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
- David Clark (R, HD-100)
Topics
- Department of Education
- federal vs state control
- K-12 education policy
- education reform