House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Deletes the content of the previous edition and makes the following changes to SL 1969-774, subject to approval by a majority of the qualified voters of Alexander County in a referendum conducted at the time of the general election in 2024.

Amends Section 1 to set the membership of the Alexander County Board of Education (Board) at seven (was, six) members, elected for staggered terms from seven single-member electoral districts. Requires one member to be elected from each district by the qualified voters of each district. Require candidates to reside in the district for which they are seeking election.

Amends Section 2 to require board members be elected on a partisan basis at the time of the general election in each even-numbered year as terms expire. No longer requires Board candidates to be eligible electors. Requires notice of candidacy to be filed in the same manner and time as county officers. Requires the election to be conducted according to the provisions of GS Chapters 115C and 163.

Amends Section 4 by removing outdated language.

Amends Section 7 to require vacancies to be filled in accordance with GS 115C-37.1 (Vacancies in offices of county boards elected on partisan basis in certain counties). 

Repeals Sections 2 (apportioning board members into 4 districts), 4, 5 (outdated provisions), 6 (concerning filling vacancies in the four districts), and 8 (concerning candidates for re-election).

Repeals Section 9(a) of SL 2015-103, which removed Board term limits.

Specifies that the above does not affect the terms of office of any person elected to the Board in 2022 or 2024. Requires Board vacancies for a member elected in 2022 or 2024 to be filled by the remaining Board members. Requires Board members elected in 2022 or 2024, or any member appointed to fill a vacancy of a member elected in 2022 or 2024, to serve until a successor has been elected and qualified.

Makes conforming changes to GS 115C-37.1, effective December 1, 2026.

If approved in the referendum, changes to the session law become effective with respect to elections conducted in 2026 and thereafter.

Amends the act's long title.