HB 1249 modifies the process for school districts to request waivers of financial penalties under South Dakota law. It requires the School Finance Accountability Board to create specific rules for how districts can apply for waivers, including documentation needed to prove "special circumstances" (like retirement impacts on cash balances). The bill also adds that waiver conditions must include maintaining cash balance requirements for three years or meeting teacher pay standards for three years, with penalties for noncompliance. These changes directly affect school districts facing financial penalties under Sections 13-13-73.5, 13-13-73.6, or 13-13-73.8. The bill clarifies the board’s role in reviewing waiver requests and the Joint Committee’s authority to approve or amend them.
HB 1051 revises South Dakota school districts' property tax limits and updates state funding formulas. It sets new maximum tax rates: $4.22 per $1,000 of property value for general funds, $1.13 for agricultural land, and $2.51 for owner-occupied homes, all based on valuations at 85% of market value. The bill also changes how school enrollment is calculated for state aid, clarifying that students in state custody (e.g., foster care) count toward enrollment and adding rules for tuition payments. These changes directly affect all South Dakota public school districts by altering their tax capacity and state funding calculations.
HB 1017 allows South Dakota school boards to require students exhibiting aggressive or violent behaviors that disrupt school safety or operations to receive instruction in alternative learning environments. This policy directly affects students whose conduct poses a threat to school safety, providing school districts with a formal mechanism to address such disruptions. The bill explicitly states it does not override existing enrollment options under state law or conflict with federal special education protections (IDEA and Section 504). It focuses solely on school safety responses, with no changes to special education eligibility or placement procedures.
HB 1143 allows students with diabetes to possess and self-administer nasal glucagon (a medication for severe low blood sugar) on school property or at school events. It directly affects students diagnosed with diabetes who require this specific treatment. The bill requires a licensed healthcare provider’s diagnosis, written parent authorization, and a physician’s statement detailing the medication’s purpose, dosage, and administration guidelines to be kept on file at the school. Schools must maintain these documents in the student’s health record or with the school nurse. This change expands existing provisions for asthma and anaphylaxis medications to include nasal glucagon for diabetes management.
SB 223 modifies South Dakota's process for school districts to refer excess tax levies to voter approval. It changes the petition signature requirement from a flat 50 voters to "at least five percent of the registered voters" in the school district. The bill also adjusts notice rules, waiving newspaper publication requirements if the district mails the resolution to all property taxpayers within 20 days. This affects school districts seeking voter input on tax increases and directly impacts local taxpayers who may petition to refer levy decisions.
SB 116 appropriates $13.33 million for the design and construction of an indoor athletic facility at Dakota State University's Beacom PREMIER Complex in Madison. It directly affects Dakota State University's athletic programs and campus infrastructure. The bill authorizes the Board of Regents to use the funds for the project, including related services like utilities and landscaping, and allows adjustments for inflation (capped at 125% of the original estimate). It also permits accepting additional funds from federal sources or donations into a dedicated project fund, while declaring an emergency to expedite the funding. The facility will support athletic practice and competition, with no state liability for related expenses.
HB 1213 appropriates $2.5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education for a statewide educator retention initiative. The bill provides grants to public school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to address retention challenges, using both quantitative and qualitative data to identify and resolve underlying issues. School districts must apply for funding, with grants covering program costs during fiscal years 2026-2029, and the Department may use up to 5% of the appropriation for administration. This initiative requires a comprehensive approach to support educators, with funds allocated based on approved applications and expiring June 30, 2029.
HB 1204 creates the South Dakota school construction fund, administered by the Department of Education, to provide zero-interest loans to school districts for building or expanding school facilities. Loans cover up to 40% of a project's cost, with repayment over 20 years at 0% interest and no collateral required. Funds are allocated 30% to districts with 4,000+ students and 70% to other districts, beginning with a $1 transfer from the general fund (replenished by loan repayments). The bill also establishes reporting requirements for the Department of Education to a legislative committee.
Senate Bill 174 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the South Dakota Department of Education to help cover school districts' operational costs, such as staffing and supplies. The funds will be distributed directly to school districts based on each district's 2026 fall enrollment relative to the state's total enrollment. Districts must use the funds for day-to-day operational expenses, not capital projects, and any unspent money by June 30, 2027, will revert to the state. This bill affects all public school districts in South Dakota through their 2026 enrollment figures.
This bill updates South Dakota's background check requirements for school employees. It requires criminal background investigations for technical college instructors and student teachers during initial hiring, while allowing multi-district employees to use existing checks (within 5 years) if districts share results with written consent. School districts must report terminations due to criminal convictions to the Department of Education within 10 days. The bill exempts event referees from background checks and clarifies that districts may refuse employment for certain serious offenses like sex crimes or violence.
