House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes. Further amends provisions concerning election to the Jackson County Board of Education (Board) under Section 5(a) of SL 2024-14 as follows. Adds that a person not eligible to file or be elected to the Board unless they are a qualified voter and resident of the residency district in which the candidate seeks to be elected. No longer specifies that the partisan elections are to be as provided in GS 163-291.

Adds that this act does not affect the term of office of any member elected to the Board in 2024. Requires any vacancy on the Board for a member elected in 2024 to be filled by appointment by the remaining members of the Board to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Requires each member elected in 2024, or any member appointed to fill a vacancy in 2024, to serve until a successor has been elected and qualified.

Removes the change to Section 5 of SL 2024-14 (concerning elections for the Board) that made the section effective the first Monday in December 2025 instead of 2026. 

Changes the effective date for the entire act to the first Monday in December of 2026, and requires elections in 2026 and thereafter to be conducted accordingly. 

Makes conforming changes to the act's long title.