House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

Staggers the four-year terms of the nine members of the Gaston County Board of Education (Board) (previously, just provided for four-year terms).  Removes provisions specifying that the predecessor’s term expires at the same time as their successor takes office. Removes changes to Board ballot provisions pertaining to notice of candidate filing deadlines and ballot content set forth in Section 7 of SL 1977-633. Instead of amending Section 4, pertaining to ballot and notice of candidacy and residence requirements, repeals that section. 

Removes proposed change to Section 7 of SL 1977-633 requiring vacancies in a residency district to be filled by a person residing in the same district in which the vacating member was elected to serve.  Instead enacts that requirement as a freestanding change applicable to Board members in residency districts elected in 2024. Also requires that any vacancy for a member elected in 2024 will be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the Board to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.  Removes provisions specifying that the act does not affect the term of Board members elected in 2022.

Makes technical and organizational changes.

Removes the December 1, 2026, effective date for the changes to GS 115C-37.1. Makes the act effective the first Monday in December of 2026 (was, when the act became law) and requires elections in 2026 to be conducted accordingly.