--- title: HR 1299. United States Department of Education; dissolve and restore educational authority to the states; express support collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1299 cite_as: HR 1299, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1299 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1299.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1299/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73072 date: 2026-02-12 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1298.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1300.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1299.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1299 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-10 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Will Wade - Steve Tarvin - Chuck Efstration - Houston Gaines - David Clark text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1299/2025 upstream_id: 2113587 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Department of Education - federal vs state control - K-12 education policy - education reform --- # HR 1299. United States Department of Education; dissolve and restore educational authority to the states; express support ## Text House Resolution 1299 By: Representatives Wade of the 9th, Tarvin of the 2nd, Efstration of the 104th, Gaines of the 120th, and Clark of the 100th A RESOLUTION Expressing support for dissolving the United States Department of Education and restoring educational authority to the states; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the United States Constitution establishes a federal system that reserves those powers not delegated to the federal government to the states and the people; and WHEREAS, education is not a power delegated to the federal government and has historically been governed by states and local communities accountable to families; and WHEREAS, the creation of the United States Department of Education expanded federal involvement in education significantly, while academic achievement stagnated or declined; and WHEREAS, national assessments and polling show troubling trends in student reading and math performance, as well as a lack of basic civic knowledge; and WHEREAS, decades of increased federal spending and regulation have not improved outcomes for students, but have imposed burdens on states and their schools; and WHEREAS, federal control has created administrative bloat and bureaucracy that diverts resources away from classrooms and students; and WHEREAS, states are the drivers of innovation in education, leading effective education reforms that expand choice and improve outcomes; and WHEREAS, governors, state legislators, and local officials are directly accountable to parents and taxpayers for their decisions regarding education, providing clearer responsibility and responsiveness than unelected federal bureaucrats; and WHEREAS, prioritizing the needs of students and families requires placing decision-making authority with those closest to the classroom; and WHEREAS, Secretary McMahon has initiated significant organizational restructuring by reducing the United States Department of Education's workforce without adversely affecting educational services. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body affirm its responsibility to lead on education in a manner consistent with the United States Constitution and the principles of federalism; support efforts to dismantle the United States Department of Education, returning authority over education back to the states; and encourage shifting core responsibilities of the United States Department of Education to other agencies, in both state and federal governments, that are better suited to execute them. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body 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. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the Governor of Georgia, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairpersons of the appropriate House and Senate committees for consideration during the 2026 legislative session. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. 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. ### Plain-language summary 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 it 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. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-10) - Last action: House Second Readers (2026-02-12) - Sponsors: Will Wade, Steve Tarvin, Chuck Efstration, Houston Gaines, David Clark - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73072 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1299.md?full=1