HB 1003 South Dakota House · 2026 Regular Session

amend provisions pertaining to the required criminal background investigation of certain school employees.

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.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Feb 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Feb 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Education Engrossed Enrolled · 6 edits · Feb 19, 2026
MODERATE
This document is the enrolled final version of House Bill 1003, which amends South Dakota's criminal background investigation requirements for school employees. The bill establishes fingerprint-based background checks for new school employees, allows temporary employment pending results, and clarifies rules for student teachers and multi-school employment. The enrolled version includes the formal certification and signature blocks required for the bill to become law.
Scope change
The bill applies to all accredited schools in South Dakota and covers employees hired on or after the effective date, with specific provisions for student teachers and those employed at multiple schools.
REQUIREMENT

Added mandatory fingerprint-based criminal background investigations for all school employees over 18 years old hired by accredited schools, conducted through the Division of Criminal Investigation and FBI.

Clarified that student teachers must undergo criminal background investigations conducted by their accredited school, and that results can be shared with other schools where they complete student teaching.

Added provision that school employees working at more than one accredited school only need one background investigation if conducted within five years of employment at the additional school.

Maintained existing provisions that schools may refuse to employ individuals convicted of crimes involving moral turpitude, crimes of violence, sex offenses, or narcotics trafficking.

ELIGIBILITY

Established that employees may begin work on a temporary basis while awaiting background check results, with schools allowed to withdraw offers or terminate employment if disqualifying records are found.

TECHNICAL

Added enrolled version certification blocks including signatures from the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President, along with filing dates and official attestations required for the bill to become law.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2026 · House Jan 28, 2026

How they voted

340
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 35
Feb 18, 2026
D Democratic3
3 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican32
31 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
18
Key actions
11
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Feb 26, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor on 2026-02-26 H.J. 452
executive
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President S.J. 346
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 373
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 34, NAYS 0 S.J. 296
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (34-0-1)
senate
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, S.J. 13
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Upper · Passed
Education Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 6, NAYS 0 S.J. 13
upper
Jan 29, 2026
Introduced
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Education S.J. 143
upper
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 65, NAYS 2 H.J. 166
lower
Jan 28, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (65-2-3)
house
Jan 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Certified uncontested, placed on consent , Passed, H.J. 6
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Education Do Pass Amended , Passed, YEAS 14, NAYS 0 H.J. 5
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Introduced
Education Motion to amend , Passed, H.J. 5 Amendment 1003B
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
First read in House and referred to House Education H.J. 12
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.