The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 5435, introduced as File No. 643, proposes a plan for the transformation of the State Board of Education into an advisory board within the Department of Education. It grants the Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Education, the authority to develop a plan that would (1) change the State Board of Education's role from being the department head of the Department of Education to an advisory board within the department, and (2) designate the Commissioner of Education as the department head. The Commissioner is required to submit any developed plan and related legislative recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly with jurisdiction over education matters by January 1, 2027.

The fiscal impact statement indicates a one-time potential cost of approximately $50,000 in FY 25 to the State Department of Education for the development of this plan. The cost would cover the hiring of a contractor to conduct the necessary research and planning to review the responsibilities of the State Board of Education and integrate them with those of the Commissioner. The bill has received favorable substitute recommendations from both the Education Committee and the Appropriations Committee. No municipal impact is anticipated, and there are no financial implications beyond FY 25.