HB 1078 South Dakota House · 2026 Regular Session

direct the amendment of the Administrative Rules of South Dakota regarding the coursework required for high school graduation.

HB 1078 requires South Dakota's Board of Education to amend administrative rules by September 2026 to update high school graduation coursework requirements. The bill mandates specific credit counts: 4 units of language arts (including writing, speech, and American literature), 3 social studies units (U.S. history and government), 3 math units (including Algebra I), 3 science units (including biology), plus required courses in personal finance, fine arts, physical education, health, and electives. It allows substitutions for one science credit using approved advanced computer science or agriculture science courses (but not for biology), and permits up to one fine arts credit through extracurricular activities with documented alignment to state standards. This directly affects all South Dakota public high school students and school districts implementing graduation standards.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Jan 2026
House Passage
Jan 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Jan 26, 2026
Floor votes · House Jan 23, 2026

How they voted

3331
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 70
Jan 23, 2026
D Democratic5
5 Nay
100% Nay
R Republican65
33 Yea 26 Nay 6
50% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
4
Committee
1
Jan 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Reconsidered , Passed, YEAS 33, NAYS 34 H.J. 133
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Intent to reconsider , Passed, H.J. 128
lower
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
House of Representatives Deferred to another day , Passed, H.J. 115
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Lower · Passed
Education Do Pass , Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 3 H.J. 1
lower
Jan 16, 2026
Introduced
First read in House and referred to House Education H.J. 42
lower
17 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors