House committee substitute to the 2nd edition makes the following changes. 

Section 1

Changes the effective date of the proposed changes to SL 1969-874, providing for the partisan election of the Catawba County Board of Education, and the accompanying directive related to terms of members elected in 2020 and 2022. Makes the changes effective on the date the the act becomes law (was, December 1, 2023), and applicable to elections held in 2024 and thereafter.

Adds the following new content. 

Section 2

Changes the elections for the Hickory City Board of Education (Board) set forth in SL 1971-930, as amended, as follows. Changes the elections from nonpartisan with no primary election to partisan, beginning in 2023, with seats filled by nomination in primaries and by election in general elections. Requires elections to be conducted in accordance with GS 163-279(a)(2) and GS 163-291. Requires registration and elections to comply with state education and election laws (GS Chapters 115C and 163; was, laws, rules and regulations applicable to elections for county offices). Establishes residency requirements for Board candidates, requiring all candidates to be qualified voters residing within the Hickory Administrative School Unit. Provides for vacancies for Board positions elected on a partisan basis to be filled by appointment by remaining members pursuant to GS 115C-37.1. Makes conforming and technical changes. Repeals Sections 5 and 6 of the session law, relating to nonpartisan election procedures. 

Provides that the terms of members elected to the Board in 2019 or 2021 are not affected by the act.

Section 3

Changes the elections for the Board of Trustees of the Newton-Conover City Administrative Unit set forth in SL 1935-200, as amended, as follows. Changes the name of the board to the Newton-Conover City Board of Education (City Board). Provides for staggered four-year terms, beginning in 2023, with three members representing the Newton district, and three members representing the Conover district (previously, four trustees were from Newton, and two from Conover, and served three-year terms). Makes elections partisan rather than nonpartisan. Requires elections to be conducted in accordance with GS 163-279(a)(2) and GS 163-291. Requires registration and elections to comply with state education and election laws. Establishes residency requirements for Board candidates, requiring all candidates to be qualified voters residing within the Newton-Conover Administrative School Unit. Provides for elected members to take office on the first Monday in December following election. Provides for vacancies for Board positions elected on a partisan basis to be filled by appointment by remaining members pursuant to GS 115C-37.1. Repeals obsolete language and provisions relating to nonpartisan election procedures. Makes further conforming and technical changes. 

Provides that the terms of members elected to the City Board in 2019 and 2021 are not affected by the act. 

Section 5

Applicable to the Hickory City School and Newton-Conover City Schools only, enacts GS 115C-37.1, setting forth the procedure for filling vacancies on the city boards of education which are elected on a partisan basis, with appointments by the person, board, or commission specified in the public or local act, subject to consultation with the county executive committee of a political party as required, within 30 days of the vacancy. Effective December 1, 2023. 

Makes organizational changes. Changes the act's titles.