Georgia CommonsHouse · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session
HR 1789: United States Department of Education; dissolve and restore educational authority to the states; express support
Last action March 25, 2026 · House Committee Favorably Reported
A Georgia House resolution would formally declare the chamber's support for dissolving the U.S. Department of Education and shifting control over K-12 and other education programs back 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 by itself. Instead, it states the Georgia House of Representatives' position that education should be controlled by states rather than the federal government, and that the U.S. Department of Education should be dismantled. It lists reasons for that position, including concerns about student test scores, federal spending, and administrative bureaucracy, and notes ongoing federal efforts to move programs like special education oversight and student loans to other federal agencies. The resolution says Georgia House members support reorganizing federal education programs into other agencies without cutting funding, and that they will look for ways to regain state control over kindergarten through 12th grade schools. It directs the Clerk of the House to send copies to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and relevant committee chairs for consideration during the 2026 session.
What the bill does
- Declares the Georgia House's support for dissolving the U.S. Department of Education and returning education authority to the states.
- Encourages reorganizing federal education programs, such as special education and student loan programs, into other federal agencies without reducing their funding.
- States the House's intent to seek opportunities to regain state control over Georgia's kindergarten through grade 12 schools.
- Directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and relevant committee chairs for the 2026 session.
- Does not itself amend any Georgia statute or change how any Georgia school, program, or agency currently operates.
Who it affects
Georgia's K-12 public schools, state education officials, and families with children in public schools are referenced throughout, since the resolution concerns who controls education policy. It also names the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and legislative committees as recipients of the resolution.
Why it matters
Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it does not immediately change funding, programs, or oversight for Georgia schools. Its practical effect is to put the Georgia House on record favoring a shift of federal education authority, including special education and student loan programs, to other agencies or the states.
Key provisions
- The whereas clauses lay out the House's reasoning, including claims about stagnant test scores, federal bureaucracy, and planned transfers of federal education programs to agencies like the Department of Labor and Health and Human Services.
- The first resolving clause affirms the House's role in leading on education and supports dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.
- The same clause encourages reorganizing federal education programs into other agencies with no funding cuts and shifting core department responsibilities elsewhere.
- A further resolving clause expresses the House's resolve to seek ways 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 relevant 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”
“seek every opportunity, in cooperation with other federal agencies, to regain control of kindergarten through grade 12 schools in this state”
Discussed in meetings (5)
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 23, 2026 (part 2)
From 0:00:27 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The presenter described HR 1789 as urging the dissolution and dismantling of the United States Department of Education. A committee member moved to approve the resolution, and another member seconded. No questions or further discussion followed. The committee approved it by voice vote, with no count stated, and the chair announced that it would go to the Rules Committee.
House Rules Committee, April 2, 2026
From 0:24:55 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel
Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor described HR 1789 as urging dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education and restoration of authority to states. The sponsor argued that this would reduce bureaucracy without cutting student funding and could save taxpayers money. A committee member asked whether responsibilities would fall back on Georgia. The sponsor said student loans would move to the Treasury Department, food programs would be handled by the Agriculture Department, and IDEA would remain unchanged. The sponsor also argued that Georgia education officials could act more quickly. The questioning member called the proposal extreme in light of Georgia's reading and math performance and strongly disagreed with the sponsor's position. Another member asked for greater civility after objecting to the sponsor's suggestion that the questioning member read the resolution. The sponsor acknowledged the concern, and the chair closed questions. No vote or calendar placement was shown.
Status timeline
- House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- House Second Readers (House)
- House First Readers (House)
- House Hopper (House)
Sponsors
- Will Wade (R, HD-9)
- Trey Kelley (R, HD-16)
- Martin Momtahan (R, HD-17)
- Rob Clifton (R, HD-131)
- Reynaldo "Rey" Martinez (R, HD-111)
Topics
- U.S. Department of Education
- education policy
- states' rights
- special education funding
- federalism