SOUTH DAKOTA COUNSELING ASSOCIATION

LEGISLATIVE REPORT Week 2, 2025
Week two is in the books and it was busy as ever. Committees are holding hearings on various bills and the Appropriations Committee is hearing from the various agencies on their budget requests. The main issues this session will be the proposed budget cuts, prison issues, pipeline, eminent domain, property tax reductions, education funding (public education verses private and home school), sales tax, funding for the big three at 1.25 percent, fee increases on a variety of areas, etc.
The education lobbyist groups will handle most of the education issues concerning funding. Those issues are particularly vouchers and other issues attempting to change policies for public schools. The big voucher bills are HB 1009 and HB 1020 – both will be heard in House Education on Wednesday. HB 1020 is the main voucher bill and Rep. Odenbach has added an amendment – make sure you read it. The amendment creates a whole new type of school – nonpublic, nonaccredited school and funding takes 40 percent of the per-student allocation. It gives the DOE some control but very limited. Only requirement is to teach math and reading. It also has no accountability and does not speak to students with disabilities.
SB 51 – Mandates posting of the Ten Commandments in ALL classrooms and integrating it into the curriculum for all grade levels. This is a violation of church and state in the Constitution. What about commandments from other religions? Bill passed committee on 4-3 and is on the Senate floor.
There are a number of budget cuts including cuts to SD Public Broadcasting and Libraries which indirectly affect education
SENATE BILLS:
SB 18 – Require age verification by websites containing material that is harmful to minors with a penalty
SB 51 –Requires the display and curricular inclusion of the Ten Commandments in schools –bill passed Senate Education Committee 4-3 and is on the Senate floor on Monday.
SB 58 – Revise provisions related to human trafficking to prohibit the obstruction of human trafficking enforcement and to provide a penalty – AG bill SB 71 –Revise provisions pertaining to the compulsory age of school attendance – hearing on Tuesday 1/28
HOUSE BILLS:
HB 1002 – Requires all certified teachers and administrators to take a course in Indian Studies – passed House Education 12-3 and is on the House floor
HB 1004 – Provides tuition for student placed in a residential treatment center – bill was heard on Friday and a number of questions were presented on process and how DOE and DSS operate. Bill was delayed until next Friday to get the answers and further discuss the bill.
HB 1005 – Removes the requirement for payment of a private home study by DSS
HB 1009 – Creates a voucher program (now called an education empowerment account) for private and home school kids. Bill takes money from the state aid formula for this program and little or no accountability – bill is up for hearing on Wednesday in House Education Committee
HB 1020 – Voucher bill sponsored by Rep. Odenbach –bill proposes new program of $4 million for private and homeschool kids at $3000 per child. No accountability or transparency and new program.
HB 1039 – Repeals the programs reimbursing a teacher or school counselor for earning National Board Certification hearing on Monday, 1/27 in House Educ Committee
HB 1040 – Reduces the state’s contribution to a subsidized high school dual credit program – hearing on Monday, 1/27 in House Educ Committee
HB 1041 – Revises and repeals certain provisions pertaining to the state library and library board
HB 1053 – Require age verification by websites containing material harmful to minors with a penalty – passed committee 11-2 and is on the House floor
HB 1054 – Act to authorize volunteer chaplains to serve public schools – bill not needed as we can currently allow this
HB 1061 – Prohibit a health care provider from restricting or denying a parent or guardian access to certain medical records and other health information of a minor 1/28 hearing
HB 1068 – Allow a student to wear certain military decorations at school graduation 
Please make sure you keep in contact with your legislators and help us have a successful session. Thank you.

Day on the Hill is a day of legislative advocacy that assists with our visibility as an organization. Even when there aren't specific issues concerning us at the time of the event, we are there to remind the legislators who we are as constituents, who our organization represents, and who our clients are. It’s a great way to let legislators know we are available to serve as a resource to them.