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Legislation introduced by some of Georgia’s top lawmakers could change the way the state school superintendent is chosen. While this is currently an elected position statewide, House Resolution 174, could change to an appointed position by members of the State Board of Education, if Georgia voters give the okay.

If approved, HR 174 by Rep. Matt Dubnik, R-Gainesville, would appear on the ballot for Georgians in 2026 as a proposed state constitutional amendment.

This amendment would also change the way State Board of Education members are chosen. Members are currently appointed by the Governor, but this amendment would allow members of the Georgia House of Representatives and Georgia Senate of a congressional district the power to vote on State Board of Education members of the same congressional district. Those board members would appoint the state school superintendent.

House Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones, R-Milton, and House Education Committee Chair Chris Erwin, R- Homer, have also signed onto this legislation.

Dubnik has said he believes the state school board should pick the state superintendent like local school boards pick their superintendents — adding that this system aligns the priorities of the superintendent with those members of the education board.

In other education related news, the House Education Policy Subcommittee passed a comprehensive school safety bill.

HB 268 by state Rep. Holt Persinger, R-Winder, would create a statewide student information database run by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to improve information sharing between school systems, law enforcement, and mental health professionals. HB 268 also requires school systems to create threat management teams, include behavioral threat assessment management plans in school safety plans, and requires that students receive instruction on violence prevention and suicide awareness.

HB 268 was amended to state that if schools do not receive incoming students’ critical records within a designated time frame, schools may find alternative placement, including virtual student instruction, until the required records arrive.

HB 81 by state Rep. Bethany Ballard, R-Warner Robins, which seeks to enter Georgia into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, passed the full House by a vote of 165-2.