Education (Higher Education)

introduced · South Dakota · House Mar 4, 2026

HC 8024: honoring the life and legacy of Elizabeth Cook-Lynn.

This bill is a legislative commemoration honoring the life and legacy of Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, a scholar and advocate of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe. It formally recognizes her contributions to Native American studies, her academic work at Eastern Washington University and Arizona State University, and her advocacy for Indigenous sovereignty and land rights. The resolution expresses gratitude from the South Dakota Legislature for her achievements and enduring impact on Indigenous education and scholarship.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors a scholar who contributed to Indigenous education and academic work, recognizing her impact on educational fields.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 1306: authorize the provision of charitable contributions to a scholarship granting organization.

HB 1306 allows South Dakota residents to make charitable contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) that provide funds for eligible students. Eligible students must be South Dakota residents under 19, from households earning no more than 300% of the area median income, and not enrolled full-time in public school. Scholarships can cover tuition at private schools or microschools, educational materials, technology, transportation to school, and college entrance exams, but cannot exceed 82.5% of the state’s per-student funding level. SGOs must register with the Education Department, spend no more than 10% of contributions on administration, and submit annual financial reports detailing scholarship distribution.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes scholarships for private school tuition and educational expenses for low-income students, expanding access and funding for education through charitable contributions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

Track

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 11, 2026

HB 1325: prohibit the Board of Regents and institutions under its control from requiring certain students to reside in on-campus housing or purchase meal plans.

HB 1325 prohibits South Dakota's public universities (controlled by the Board of Regents) from requiring students to live in on-campus housing or buy meal plans after their first year of enrollment. This directly affects undergraduate students at institutions like the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University. The bill removes mandatory requirements for housing and meal plans beyond a student's initial academic year. It does not change first-year housing or meal plan policies but gives returning students the choice to live off-campus or arrange their own meals. The law takes effect upon enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves mandatory housing/meal plans, reducing costs and increasing student choice, supporting educational access for higher education students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · South Dakota · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 1291: amend the process for calculating a school district's general fund base percentage.

HB 1291 amends South Dakota's formula for calculating school district funding by changing how "fall enrollment" is determined. It specifically adjusts the count of students in state custody (like foster care) and those receiving tuition from other districts when calculating a district's base funding. The bill also updates the method for calculating "target teacher ratio" based on district size and ties future teacher salary adjustments to the consumer price index (inflation). These changes directly affect how much state funding school districts receive under South Dakota's education finance system.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAmends state education funding formula to adjust allocations and tie teacher salaries to inflation, strengthening budget management for education programs.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTies teacher salary adjustments to inflation (CPI), directly supporting educator compensation and retention within education funding framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Higher Education School Funding Teachers

Track

signed · South Dakota · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 116: make an appropriation for the design and construction of an indoor athletics facility at Dakota State University and to declare an emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates $13.33M for university facility construction, directly allocating state budget funds under public construction and higher education subjects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds athletic facility construction at Dakota State University (higher education), directly supporting campus infrastructure under education topic's infrastructure focus.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Higher Education

signed · South Dakota · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 1051: revise property tax levies for school districts and to revise the state aid to general and special education formulas.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesSets maximum property tax rates for school districts, promoting fiscal responsibility in education funding through defined tax caps and revised state aid formulas.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRevises property tax levies and state aid formulas to adjust school district funding mechanisms, explicitly updating state aid calculations for general and special education funding.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Higher Education School Funding Special Education

in committee · South Dakota · House Mar 2, 2026

HB 1202: authorize the construction of a trades center on the campus of Lake Area Technical College, to make an appropriation therefor, and to declare an emergency.

This bill appropriates $5.2 million from the state general fund to construct a trades center at Lake Area Technical College, providing new classrooms, labs, and student services for technical training programs. The college must secure matching funds from non-state sources (gifts, grants, etc.) equal to the state appropriation before the funds are released. The legislature declared an emergency to expedite the project, which will not use bonds for completion and requires approval of expenditures by the Department of Education and state auditor. The center directly affects students and staff at Lake Area Technical College by expanding hands-on training facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $5.2M from state general fund for public college infrastructure, directly funding higher education through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $5.2M for new technical training facilities at Lake Area Technical College, directly funding higher education infrastructure and program expansion per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget Career & Technical Education Higher Education

Track

signed · South Dakota · House Feb 26, 2026

HB 1003: 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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances school safety by mandating background checks for staff, protecting students through stricter vetting requirements for school employees.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · South Dakota · House Feb 23, 2026

HB 1168: provide a property tax credit for the payment of nonpublic school tuition.

HB 1168 creates a property tax credit for South Dakota homeowners who pay for qualifying K-12 education expenses for children aged 5-19. The credit covers tuition, school fees (including sports/fine arts), textbooks, tutoring, test fees, transportation, and educational technology. It limits the credit to $1,000 per year or 80% of the school district taxes owed. Homeowners must apply annually by June 1st with documentation from the school or alternative instruction provider.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax credit reducing burden for K-12 education expenses, offering tax relief to homeowners per bill's tax credit structure.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides property tax credit for K-12 education expenses (tuition, fees, materials), increasing affordability and access for families per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly includes 'educational technology' as a qualifying expense, funding tech use in K-12 education through property tax credits.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Tax Credits Higher Education K-12 Education School Choice

Track

signed · South Dakota · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 84: increase thresholds for the value of and eligibility for the partners in education scholarship.

SB 84 increases the income threshold for students to qualify for South Dakota's Partners in Education scholarship program. It raises the initial income requirement from 152% to a higher percentage of the national free/reduced-price lunch income standard (currently 152% for initial eligibility), directly affecting low-income students seeking tuition assistance at participating nonpublic schools. The bill maintains that students who qualify initially remain eligible for three years or until high school graduation without income checks, but must later meet a 250% income threshold to renew. This change expands access to the scholarship program by allowing more households to qualify under the new higher income cap.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands scholarship eligibility, increasing state budget allocation for low-income education assistance by raising income thresholds.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases income threshold for scholarship eligibility, expanding access to low-income students for nonpublic school tuition assistance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid